I am looking into a karate/martial arts program for my 5 year old son. Anything specific I should look for?

Question

He did go to Tiger Schulmanns for a while, but for the next round of classes they are charging close to 4k. I want to continue karate but maybe with another school. Any suggestions what I should ask the school or look for to make sure they are an accredited and good institution?

Answer 1

Hi there

There are a few things you should look out for. First thing to do is view a class or try out the first lesson to see what you think? If you get a bad vibe then its probably right.

Secondly ask the instructor questions to find out more information. Ask them what organisation they belong to, who are they ensured with, How long have they been training etc. Some people even ask to see instructors certificates but i dont know many instructors who would openly show them. All the other stuff can generally be cross checked on the web.

The bigger the organisation the better. Most of the big styles such as Judo or Akido will be part of large organisations that were set up to provide standards. For some of the obscure arts you may find it difficult to find information. Thats when it comes down to your own judgement.

Check out whats available in your area and dont sign up to the first club you visit.

The best instructors tend to be humble and polite people and will probably be happy to see you when you arrive. They should be able to answer any questions you may have.

Watch for things like good discipline of the students. If its a kids class are the children running all over the place?

Does the teacher shout all the time or force people to do things they dont want to?

You dont force students to do 50 press ups anymore for being naughty. You turn them away. Thats another sign of a good instructor in that they choose their students carefully. Its a two way thing.

And most importantly are people enjoying it!

If it looks like the Cobra Kai then walk out as fast as you can. ;)




Regards

Idai

Answer 2

4k is ridiculous and someone is getting rich off of you and I am sorry to say that I do have friends that charge like this. Unfortunately with higher rent, utilities and other costs along with good old common greed it has pushed it up at some studios. Shop around and while prices have gone up you can find something almost as good or as good as that and cheaper probably. Watch a class-if they wont let you then you probably don't want it. Are all the ages lumped together or are some of the classes separated by age and rank. What motivates and challenges a 5/6 year old is boring to a 9/10 year old. How does the instructor relate to the children-some are great with teens and adults and terrible with kids. How big are the classes-one instructor for 35 kids with no help is too many for any of them to get real individual attention. Also look at the hidden costs; testing fees, uniform costs, etc. Are there contracts or is there a no-contract fee and are the contracts short or long term? Often-times at these schools the guy whose name is over the door is not the one teaching the majority of the classes-his assistants do. If you shop and take a little time I am sure you can find something that is more reasonable if you live in a major metropolitan area or an instructor that still cares about his craft and students and their development and who won't gouge you if you take the time to shop around.

Answer 3

4k is a rip off. Really good schools don't charge anywhere close to that much.

I am a part of shaolin schools, Shaolin-do, owned by grandmaster Sin kwang The. Although I don't know the kid price, the adult prices are only about 100$ monthly for unlimited access to weekly tai chi and kung fu classes.

This line of schools spans across the US and I believe has firm international grounding as well. These schools are well equipped and have good teachers and a solid curriculum, including self-defense techniques.

I believe they have an online website you can use to find locations nearest you. Also, google maps would help.

none of the schools I am in charge more than 130 monthly and they are all very good.

If interested in ki-aikido or somthing else, send an e-mail

good ratings to many of these answers

Answer 4

The school should let you and in fact should encourage you to observe a class, even take a free class or two.
The instructors should be unfailingly polite, respectful, and cheerful to the students.
Classes should look organized, with instruction appearing to follow a lesson plan.
Students should behave respectfully and attentively at all times, and should continue their respectful behavior when class is finished.
There should never be any roughhousing or dangerous play, or displays of temper on anyone's part.

Young students or children should be given the same respect as adults, and should in turn learn about managing their own discipline and being respectful to others, helping to equip them for the long years ahead. It should still be fun for them, after all they are still children. The school should therefore have instructors that understand the need to mix exercise and training with educational play.
The key to recognising a good school is to watch how they treat students without natural athletic ability. Do instructors focus only on the stars, leaving the strugglers to muddle along as best they can? Do they point out struggling students for ridicule? Do they appear irritated at questions or requests for help? All of these are trouble signs.

In the end, the best guide is your gut feeling and bearing in mind that you are not stuck for life with your decision. If it turns out that the school just doesn't suit you, don't give up on martial arts entirely. Be patient and persistent, and you will find the right place to train.

Answer 5

Firstly, dont worry he is 5 he has a long way to go before not being able to read becomes a problem. I dont think my sons were reading alone at this age. Find out what is causing his behaviour problem at school, is it boredom or frustration because he does not understand. Get his eyes tested. There has been a lot in the news about the Omega fish oils helping behaviour and concentration, I was a bit sceptical but they do help. Keep reading to him and do not pressure him to try and read on his own too much, share the reading let him pick a word from the book that he will shout out when it appears on the page. For my sons reading was like riding a bike one day it just suddenly clicked. Dont just read books when you are out read road signs, shop signs, newspapers, magazines, comics, food packaging, computer games reading is everywhere for him. When you are going out for the day make little games up like the first one to spot a certain word gets a treat. Save your money on the tutor and spend the time with him yourself he will enjoy this more and benefit from it more than a tutor. There is so much testing and competition that the minute your child does not come up to scratch you panic, (not you personally parents in general, it is 5 in the morning and I am up worrying because my son passed his 11+ yesterday and part of me cant believe it and the other part is worrying that I wont be able to support him through secondary school properly with his work) but there is no need he is too little bless him. If he wants to be a pilot find him books and articles regarding this. Good luck and it is hard but really dont worry.

Answer 6

Yes, several things:
1) No contract. No ethical instructor asks for a long term commitment for a 5 yr old.
2) Traditional school with traditional values. You don't want you son to become a sandbox bully & there are some schools that will do just that.
3) Instructor must be patient. % yr olds are children, not short adults.
4) Credentials. find out:
a) Instructor's rank.
b) Source of rank.
c) Credentials of the person who granted the rank.
There is no regulation of MA in the US & anyone can & some people do claim ranks they have not earned.

Answer 7

First, make sure that your child is interested in martial arts. I've taught plenty of children who are in class because their parents want them to be there. Also, some 5-year-olds are more mature and disciplined than others. Some kids need to start training when they get a little older.

Next, find a place that has classes specifically for his age group. If he winds up with kids that are too much older than him, it can be difficult to keep up with the class.

Also, if a class is too big, he may not get the individual attention he needs. I prefer classes of 10 or less.

Classes for 5-year-olds really shouldn't be longer than 45 minutes. In general, they don't have the attention span or endurance to commit much longer than that.

Always watch a class or two before enrolling your son in a school. This shouldn't be a problem at most schools. Look for an instructor who insists on a little bit of discipline as well as LOTS OF FUN. Young kids need a mixture of both.

As for price and contract obligations, check all of the schools in your town to see what they require. In my area, prices range anywhere from $75 to $100 a month. Usually you can get a trial offer that includes x number of classes and a uniform.

Unlike some of the other posters, in my experience it is very common for schools to charge for uniforms, testing, as well as a yearly membership. Unfortunately, contracts are also becoming more common. Only sign something if you can cancel with a 30-days notice. There is no reason you have to sign a 5-year-old up for one year.

Think about what you want your child to achieve. There are a lot of "fast food" schools out there that promise to deliver black belts in a year or two. With a more traditional school, your child will have to wait longer but will reap the rewards of experience.

As for certification, anyone can fake their credentials. Go with your gut. You don't need a 10-time World Champion tournament winner to be the instructor. There are plenty of traditional schools out there that don't brag about their excellence and display hundreds of trophies in their window.

Answer 8

I personally believe that boxing would be the best choice for your child. I think a commercial chain like Tiger Schulman's doesn't give a child the one on one time they need.
I have a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, and a Brown Belt in Shotokan. I have over 10 years of martial arts training.
For the last 2 years I have taken up boxing and I believe that in the first 6 months of boxing, I've learned more practical fighting skills than in all my years of martial arts.
I have 2 very young children in my house and when the time comes I will put them in boxing, not martial arts.
When choosing a place, look at the history of the trainer and his/her accomplishments.

Answer 9

Personally I feel that 5 years old is WAY too young.

Look forward to broken furniture and (if you have any staircases in your house) be prepared to replace a LOT of banister struts.

The big question in my mind is:
WHY do you think that a 5 year old should be taking martial arts in the first-place?

My suggestion would be to wait until your child has reached the AGE OF COGNIZANCE!

At least he would have a chance of grasping the basic philosophical principles behind the martial art.
.

Answer 10

You should find a GOOD school. Shuman's charges way too much.
Here are some tips:
Never sign a contract
Never pay for rank testing
Ask to observe their sparring
Take a free class
Ask the teacher for their lineage
Find a clean school with respectful people.

Quality training does not have to cost an arm and leg.
Good luck!