How to persuade parents to let me take martial arts?

Question

Hey,
I'm a sophomore in high school and I lead a pretty busy life.
I've been wanting to take martial arts for a couple of years now, but my parents are saying that I don't have time and that I should be focusing on my schoolwork. They're also saying that I should just stick to fencing (swordplay fencing).
I am pretty busy, but I usually have time during the weekends.
I know all martial arts take time and effort, and weekends only doesn't sound like putting time into it. However, it's not like I want to be a fighting champion. I just want to earn a black belt.
How can I persuade my parents? I've been telling them that I could probably fit it in, but they're still insistent. I know I can persuade them though.

Answer 1

yeah well it's good to see that ppl have enough inteligence to give a school kid such STUPID F_N ANSWERS,whats wrong with you ppl.find a proper school that can teach you in the hours you have available.get the right info then talk to your parents and tell them how much you want to do it and why present then with right info and tell them how responsible you'll be regarding your school work etc.if you can do sat. and sun. classes it,s no different to any other day.most ppl only train 2 days a week.as the rest of your stuff decreases then you can put more time in.it's not a race.

Answer 2

I have suggested this in the past,it works if you do your part

First you will need a few dollars.
Purchase the book
"Kenpo Karate 101" (by Lee Wedlake) $15.00
Read the book and ask yourself "is this for me?"
If the answer is yes then purchase
"Ultimate Flexibility"(complete guide to stretching)$15.00
By S.H.Kim
And
"Kenpo Karate for the Young Student" (Ed Parker) $15.00
Put together a few more bucks and buy a basic uniform
and white belt.You can save money here buy checking local
thrift stores.look on the clothes racks for work uniforms,
often there are good Gi's (Karate uniform) for only a few dollars.
Now,in your spare time,(not schoolwork time)
(not fencing time),your spare time,start with warm up and stretching and teach your self the basic moves.
Do some rolling,do some push ups,do some running,do some sit ups.Practice punches,practice kicks,practice blocks
Always give yourself a good workout,work up a good sweat.
The money you spend should be money you "earned"
Money you saved up for your "Hobby"
When your parents ask "what are you reading?"
You answer "a book on basic Karate"
When they say "why are you reading that?"
You say "Well,lessons are out of reach right now but I can
enjoy Karate as a "Hobby" and train here at home in my spare time"
They will probably leave it at that.
Now you have to do your part.Train,and train "Hard".
Once your parents see you are able to "stick to it" and your mom has put your uniform through the washing machine
some where between 25 and 50 times.
They likely will go for lessons at a local school.

This plan doe's not work if you do not do your part.

Kenpo Karate or American Karate is a well rounded system,
most all the readers of answers would agree that a person that worked hard and trained hard and earned a Black Belt
in Kenpo would be able to defend him/her self "Very Well"
If you read "Kenpo Karate 101" and feel "this is not for you" give the book to a friend that has some interest in
Martial Arts and you are out only $15.00.
You may even give someone that little push they needed
to start looking into Martial Arts.

Answer 3

Why have you started to hate it? Why would you come this far just to quit? Do you hate it because you think you are being forced to do it? Is the training becoming harder and that's why you hate it? What do your parents think would be a suitable replacement? Was this something you asked to start eight years ago and now you just don't feel like it anymore? These are a just a few questions you should sit down and figure out, once you do go and have a mature talk with your parents. If you have logical reasons for not wanting to continue and you have a suitable replacement, then your parents should have no problem letting you stop training. I'm not saying this is what it is, but if you asked to start this eight years ago and now the training is getting to hard for you well, I'd have to say suck it up. You can't just quit cause it's getting to hard, life is hard and you can't quit life cause it's to rough or you just don't feel like it anymore. Hope I was helpful and good luck in your decision and journey, thisguy Edit: Don't listen to the people that say keep nagging your parents, because guess what, they can be as stubborn as you. That's what a four year old does and if that's what you do I hope your parents never give in.

Answer 4

Try finding an art that can incorporate what you have learned while fencing. Kendo is practiced at some karate schools, while TKD schools sometimes offer Kumdo. Perhaps if your parents were to watch a class with you, it might convince them that it's worth a shot. You will probably have to give something up to make time to really "learn" a martial art, though. Before I was injured, I went for 7-10 hours a week.

Two other things (my opinions)

1: School should take precedent over everything else.

2: Diablo was 100% on the money. A belt is a piece of cloth. And too many schools will willingly let you have one for a minimal amount of work. If you want to "earn" one as you said, be ready to dedicate yourself to whatever MA you may end up trying.
Best of luck to you.

Answer 5

Oh that's an easy one. First tell your parents it builds confidence(and every one should know how to defend themselves in case attacked). Then actually start focusing on your school work, like bring in some A's and B's that will make them happy, and then keep telling them how good you are doing in school and how they should let you take martial arts because of this. And if all else fails and you really want to take it, quit some other stuff and make room, besides you have to practice any way.

Answer 6

well, you could tell them the benefits of studying Martial Arts, Many Martial Arts schools have incentives for students who keep their grades in good standing.

ask them to come with you to watch a couple of classes and talk to the instructor at the school, or even better, speak to some of the students' parents or the students themselves.

while you should be focusing on your school work because in another year or two you'll need to be thinking about what college you want to attend, but it doesn't hurt to have a healthy hobby to keep up with.

Answer 7

tell your parents that if they dont support your well being by allowing you to train, then they support the thug that one day may beat you to death. by not allowing you to train, the are indirectly enabling you to be a victim. shame on them

do they want a fencer who will never use it in real life, or a strong, confident son who will never be the victim.

thats the only way you can put it. do they support your growth, or support your demise?

ignoring the realities in life wont change the fact that they are there, and waiting...
tomorrow may be too late. I assume that your parents have a negative view of it, and believe that all martial artists are violent. then ask them if all men are rapists? you see, dumb philosophy.

at least with me, being chased home by adults wanting to steal my clothes, getting broken noses, and chipped teeth, showed my parents that it WAS time to act. late, but better late than never.

forget the black belt though. it is not what you should aim for. you should aim for the stars, not just a belt. belts only show you the level of proficiency a person has WITHIN their own style, and does not represent life outside the training halls.

Answer 8

Weekend participation just isn't going to do it -- especially if you want to get a black belt!

Your best bet is "martial arts" INSTEAD of fencing. If you want to continue your fencing, it sounds like you probably don't have the time required for BOTH.

EDIT: BTW: Fencing IS a martial art!
With your background in fencing you might want to consider the Bo or the Jo staff if you want to switch to an EASTERN martial art.

Answer 9

I'm not sure you are getting into martial arts for the right reasons. "I just want to earn a black belt." The belt color is only as good as the person who is wearing it.

Answer 10

When I took up martial arts,my parent's wouldn't let me.Tough I joined a kung fu club and when I got home home I told them that I joined a martial arts club and they couldn't do anything about it.Now they've accepted it cause they saw how much I like it.You should talk to them and explain them how much you want to practice martial arts and you should convince them that even if you'll take up martial arts,you won't neglect you school and your duties as a student!