Martial arts? Which one for my son?

Question

My son is 6 years old. He is a small boy and I want to get him into the Martial Arts. My family is big on Kenpo...but I don't know much about it. If I ask them they will say Karate is the only thing for him. Are there other types of karate or just one? What about other styles? I want him to learn discipline, respect, and self-confidence. He will be growing up in a family of TALL people all 6'0 and above. He will only be 5'8.....mmmmaaaaybe. I want him to be comfortable with his frame and earn the advantages that come with his size. Perhaps a style that focuses on balance and agility instead of strength or aggression? Any help or information would be appreciated.

Answer 1

There are lots of styles of martial arts, and several styles of karate as well. Many are suitable for your 6 year old. More important than the style or type of martial art is the school itself.

Ask other parents in your area if their children take m-arts, if so, are they satisfied, are the children treated with respect, are the instructors good with kids, etc.Do the children really EARN their belt levels or do they just get them for showing up? Are the classes run well and organized? A good school should allow you and your son to observe a class and participate in one class no charge. There should also be no contracts or increasing fees as the child progresses. Ask the instructor which organizations he is affiliated with and who his master is. Beware of the instructor who says he reports to nobody! Since martial arts is largely an unlicensed industry, you only have an instructor's own integrity to go by. Most martial arts schools are mom-and-pop businesses, so the people are very down-to-earth. Usualy pop teaches (as well as has a day job) and mom does the books. Sometimes mom is an instructor too!

Hapkido and jiu-sitsu may also be good for a smaller person because they teach grappling and joint-locking as means to overcome an opponent. The school I go to, however, does not teach Hapkido to kids under 12 because of the danger of dislocating a classmate's joint during practice. But there is a large jui-jitsu school near me which teaches children of all ages and they have competed nationally.

Tae Kwon Do is very popular for kids and adults and does emphasize agility over strength. None of our TKD black belts are real big guys (or women) but they are very tough.

Answer 2

Since this if for your son I would shop the instructor and school and not the style. Look for a school where the instructor relates well to the kids, works with them, and develops them into good students and better more confident and disciplined indiviudals. Some instructors and schools do a better job of that than others. If your son is somewhat competive then you also might want to take that into consideration and pick a school that competes. Some traditional schools don't compete at all or very little and while that is not a bad thing it can be for someone that wants to compete. Also try to select a place that is convenient for you since you will be taking him. Selecting a great school and instructor an hour away really makes it hard and your schedule and his may not accomadate that very well over the long run or during the school year with all the other things like homework, other sports and activities that he might decide to do, etc. Also look at the real and hidden costs as your son becomes involved in a school. Testing fees, short or long term contracts, equipment and uniform costs are just some of the ways greedy instructors can stick it to your pocket book. Select a school that you can afford so that his study of that martial art is not disrupted. By doing this you are more likely to make the best choice and as he matures and if his interests change then you can always go in another direction with another school and instructor if desired.

Answer 3

Take a look at Jeet Kune Do or Tae Kwon Do. He's still young, but getting him to like martial arts is the first step... if he doesn't like it, have him take a different activity/sport/discipline... don't force him into something he doesn't like at such a young age.

If he likes it, he may want to take up Jiu Jitsu (jujutsu) or Aikido when he gets into his teens for more grappling defenses. You may know these two styles since your family is big on Kenpo. Kenpo is a mixed blend of the two (often with basics of Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu mixed in for quicker learning.)

Answer 4

I took Tang Soo Do Korean style for several years it teaches respect and self discipline it was great it's not all about beating the other kid up if you know what I mean and I'm a very small girl and I could take out my brother whom was much larger then me