kids..

[IAMA_chick]

i was wondering whan you all thought would be an appropiate age for children to start in martial arts.

[Kumite988]

I'd say 3 years of age and up.

[kilo]

I guess it depends on the art. I know for Judo we wnat them to be at least 7 and 14 for aikido. But thats just us.

[White_Tiger]

Our school has a class for 4-5 year olds. They get a watered down version of the curriculum, and their classes are only 30 minutes in length. They have fun, and are learning real techniques. The parents are not looking for them to defend themselves against an adult, but if you are teaching them discipline, they are learning something, and they are having fun everyone is happy.

 

Hope this helps.

[TJS]

dpends on your goal.

 

If you goal is to give them something fun that helps with fitness, discipline, coordination etc than 3-4 range proabably.

[gheinisch]

My Hanshi will take no under 12yrs. He doesn't charge for classes and feels like it might be a problem with parents just dropping thier kids off to be watched. Doesn't want it to become a daycare.

[Kyle-san]

My sensei doesn't allow anyone under 14 to be a part of the class, no exceptions.

[AndrewGreen]

At 4-5 they should be able to get started, BUT it depends on what you train and how you train it

[sk0t]

I agree with Kumite...

 

I think that 3 years is an appropriate age (I am biases cause that is when i started)...

 

But it cant be full curriculum...because they wont get it...and they will quit...

 

Games and Fun Focus Drills and such should be incorporated...

[Tal]

it depends on what style of MA, the individual student, and the sensei. some people simlply cannot teach very young children effectively, while to others it comes naturally. if i was a sensei, i wouldn't want to teach anyone under 12, yet i started karate when i was 7. i don't see anything wrong with 5 year olds or even younger training as long as they and their instructors are capable of it.