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Denae
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Ditto on that. I mean, yeah we have forms, and they are artistic, but self defense and the “martial” comes first.
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mamacita
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**My 2 oldest (boy age 9 and girl age 5) just started tae kwon do. They absolutely love it!!! They have been at it for about a month now and DS already moved up to yellow belt, YAY!!!
Now sparring, that’s not something required, it is optional. My kids don’t do it, they have no interest in it. It is very good for self esteem, I have noticed a difference already!!
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Now sparring, that’s not something required, it is optional. My kids don’t do it, they have no interest in it. It is very good for self esteem, I have noticed a difference already!!
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Sailor_Kenshin
Guest
Amen and keep those thoughts coming.
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DL82
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As an iaido practitioner (Japanese swordsmanship) I would say the two are inseperable. There is almost no situation in the real world in which I would ever be required to draw a sword and cut someone, but the skills developed by learning to be proficient with the sword lead to greater confidence, which leads to a decreased threat-level when in difficult situations. I think any good martial artist will find this kind of peacefulness comes from their practice, anyone who’s just waiting for a fight to test their skills out has unresolved anger issues that they need to deal with. Sadly, there are many such people in the martial arts world.Ditto on that. I mean, yeah we have forms, and they are artistic, but self defense and the “martial” comes first.
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aboverubies
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Can anyone advise on which form would be good for a 4-5 yr old boy to start on? I’m thinking karate but I don’t really know enough about it. Tae Kwon Do also seems popular with the younger age group. ???
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Denae
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Well, I don’t know much about Tae Kwon Do, but I do know that karate (especially for little kids) puts an emphasis on listening, discipline, courtesy and respect. I think those are good skills to have when you are young.
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DL82
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I’d say leave it a couple of years.
Many of the martial arts schools that will take on 4yr olds will be the McDojos mentioned earlier in this thread, money factories providing glorified childcare.
For a 4-5yr old, it’s better that they learn to control their bodies first, learn to swim or do athletics or gymnastics. Something where they can run around more and have more fun. Any serious martial arts training needs to wait. Most good instructors I know won’t take anyone on before the age of 7.
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aboverubies
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Thanks Denae - that sounds promising!
Really? Good to have some ‘insider’ info, thanks. I would actually love my boys to do at least a year or two of ballet but they aren’t so keen and neither is DH!
But it would give an excellent foundation in balance and grace that would benefit them in any sport they wanted to continue with. You’d be hard pressed to find a fitter athlete than a male ballet dancer. And I only said a year or two! Hey I’m a former ballet obsessive and the mother of three boys and no girls - what do they expect lol! 
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DL82
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Why not do something in between, like gymnastics? It’s not quite as effeminate as ballet, but it’s probably as good for all the things you suggest, balance, grace, etc.Thanks Denae - that sounds promising!
Really? Good to have some ‘insider’ info, thanks. I would actually love my boys to do at least a year or two of ballet but they aren’t so keen and neither is DH!
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aboverubies
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But DL82, I need ‘pink’, I need ‘hairclips’, I need ‘tutus’.
Only KIDDING!!!
And I shall forgive you for the ‘effeminate’ comment.
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Steadfast_love
Guest
Tae Kwon Do is exceptional because of it’s focus on kicks, especialy jump kicks. It’s a fun skill for children to learn and children’s joints are well suited for all the leaping about. If you wanted them to do Tae Kwan Do AND Ballet you’d get synergy in ballancing on one foot, leaping and flexibility. The signature move, shown in countless illustrations, is a flying side kick. It looks great and can be used to kick someone off a horse.
Karate is exceptional because it is a very practical fighting style designed to get people ready to fight side by side. It is a major source of US Marine hand to hand combat training. Karate teaches *stability *but neglects ballance. It’s a great skill for games where you have to push, shove or hold the line, but if you teach your kids Karate AND Ballet, they’ll be learning essentialy two seperate skills.
Both Karate and Tae Kwon Do are very popular styles, so they’re good choices if you want to travel to tournements and have a wide selection of Dojos.
Off the top of my head, I’d say if you wanted them to do a Ballet style martial art Kung Fu is probably your best bet.
That said, the best way to judge a teacher is by his or her students. Whatever the four year students look like now is roughly what your kids will be capable of in four years.
Update: My 10 month old son did his first back breakfall today! From standing, he fell on his back, tucked his chin to his chest and slapped the ground. He didn’t hit his head or cry! :extrahappy:
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SeekerJen
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Yep!
My husband is a 1st degree black belt in ju-jitsu. I’ve been to a few practices as well as his black belt test, and yeah, it does look a little scary in the dojo. But I’ve also seen how it calms my husband to have that sort of physical energy outlet, how interested he’s become in the history of the art, how much it comforts him that he could protect me if we’re out together and attacked, and how good he is at teaching the younger dojo members. It’s been great to watch the younger boys who came in as children grow up and learn self-control and self-discipline, and to watch the younger girls learn self-defense and the confidence that comes with it.
DH’s sensei also teaches his students that you only fight if you can’t avoid it. If you try a dojo and the students there are interested in fighting for fighting’s sake or in establishing dominance, then it’s not a good dojo.
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SeekerJen
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I think gymnastics are great for boys. It teaches balance, muscle control, and it’s a safe outlet for the little boys who act like they’re part monkey. My DH was the type who was always at the top of the jungle gym or the nearest tree, and he wishes there’d been somewhere for him to study gymnastics.
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athanasiusrc
Guest
I took karate back in grade school and it gave me self confidence, better balance and some physical strength I hadn’t had before.
In fifth grade I stood up to the school bully (I got hit, I hit back, we both got in-school suspension) but he never bothered me again and actually treated me with respect through the rest of school.
In fifth grade I stood up to the school bully (I got hit, I hit back, we both got in-school suspension) but he never bothered me again and actually treated me with respect through the rest of school.
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Argh
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I was in TKD for years, got to my black belt and stopped. I’ve also done a little bit of Tai Chi (Taiji) and now I’m really getting interested in grappling/judo/jujitsu.
If anything, any martial art is really good exercise and something for kids to focus their energy into, imho.
Oh, and usually studios/gyms have the option of not sparring if you don’t want to. In most instances, pads are used when striking but even then, broken bones and the like still happen. When “rolling” or grappling in judo/jujitsu, there’s especially the chance of injury if you’re foolish enough not to tap out when you should! Injuries happen in all sports. Bullying and the like isn’t confined to martial arts practitioners. Use common sense for the most part.
If anything, any martial art is really good exercise and something for kids to focus their energy into, imho.
Oh, and usually studios/gyms have the option of not sparring if you don’t want to. In most instances, pads are used when striking but even then, broken bones and the like still happen. When “rolling” or grappling in judo/jujitsu, there’s especially the chance of injury if you’re foolish enough not to tap out when you should! Injuries happen in all sports. Bullying and the like isn’t confined to martial arts practitioners. Use common sense for the most part.
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surfinpure
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As a former Tae Kwon Do instructor and a black belt in two styles, no, it is not too violent.
In fact, I have personally seen countless inner-city street kids taken out of violent situations and taught self-discipline, self-control, respect, and dignity. Children who had previously seen few alternatives to violence learned that the proper place for fighting was in defense of the self and the innocent, and more importantly, they learned to diffuse potentially violent situations and to walk away.
As for all the other children, the ones who stuck with the classes and earned their black belts became some of the most well-mannered, independent, confident, and respectful young people I have ever known. Martial arts did not make them violent individuals. Actually, some of the gentlest people you could hope to meet are highly skilled martial artists.
What people don’t realize is that there is much more to martial arts than fighting. And even in the fighting, the emphasis is on self-mastery and self-control. The most skilled fighters are always the safest to put into the ring with the amateurs, because they effectively control their techniques, whereas the novices are known for their lack of restraint and need to “prove” something, and therefore cannot always be trusted with other inexperienced fighters.
I would encourage you to let your son continue if he has a serious interest in it. There are many virtues that can be gained, believe it or not.
In fact, I have personally seen countless inner-city street kids taken out of violent situations and taught self-discipline, self-control, respect, and dignity. Children who had previously seen few alternatives to violence learned that the proper place for fighting was in defense of the self and the innocent, and more importantly, they learned to diffuse potentially violent situations and to walk away.
As for all the other children, the ones who stuck with the classes and earned their black belts became some of the most well-mannered, independent, confident, and respectful young people I have ever known. Martial arts did not make them violent individuals. Actually, some of the gentlest people you could hope to meet are highly skilled martial artists.
What people don’t realize is that there is much more to martial arts than fighting. And even in the fighting, the emphasis is on self-mastery and self-control. The most skilled fighters are always the safest to put into the ring with the amateurs, because they effectively control their techniques, whereas the novices are known for their lack of restraint and need to “prove” something, and therefore cannot always be trusted with other inexperienced fighters.
I would encourage you to let your son continue if he has a serious interest in it. There are many virtues that can be gained, believe it or not.
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surfinpure
Guest
I have never encountered a serious school that allowed students to opt out of sparring. It was a major requirement for us, especially in our black belt tests. New ranks could not be attained without proven endurance in the ring. Furthermore, there must be an application to the techniques, because one needs more than theory when confronted with a real-life attacker.
I have only seen a few injuries occur in sparring. The occasional black eye, broken nose, cracked rib. But this usually happens when someone steps into the ring with a grudge or something to prove. And it happens to men much more than women.
And your’e right – injuries happen in all sports.
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aboverubies
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Wow - how cool about your son! Sounds like a great skill for all toddlers to learn. Interesting point about the similarity between ballet and Tae Kwon Do - thankyou.
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basil07
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I have used my martial arts to defend myself in what would have been a very dangerous and serious situation. All it took was one of these incidents to make me so grateful for all the time and money I had spent! I strongly encourage the practice of martial arts. Good luck!
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Dai_Yoshida
Guest
Sorry, I’m jumping in a little late in this thread.
One word of caution:
Ed Parker, the founder of Kempo Karate was a devout Mormon. He stated in more than one occasion that the use of Mormon symbolism in his style is no accident. He considered his school to be a place of Mormon indoctrination. More than 200 of his senior student converted to Mormonism and they in turn started their own school to convert more students.
For many young people, learning martial arts is a door to New Age philosophy and Eastern religion. This is no accident. Many instructors considers the religion part of the art.
As a convert from Buddhism with 35 year of martial arts training I urge Catholic parents to send their children to only rock-solid Catholic instructors. Do your homework.
One word of caution:
Ed Parker, the founder of Kempo Karate was a devout Mormon. He stated in more than one occasion that the use of Mormon symbolism in his style is no accident. He considered his school to be a place of Mormon indoctrination. More than 200 of his senior student converted to Mormonism and they in turn started their own school to convert more students.
For many young people, learning martial arts is a door to New Age philosophy and Eastern religion. This is no accident. Many instructors considers the religion part of the art.
As a convert from Buddhism with 35 year of martial arts training I urge Catholic parents to send their children to only rock-solid Catholic instructors. Do your homework.
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