Anyone have any experience with Karate?

[Bob Slydell]

MIL just signed up DS for Karate class (Tae-Kwan-Do technically) and I don't have a clue about anything martial arts stuff. MIL just sort of dropped off DS at our house last night, said she signed him up for classes and handed me his uniform, the belt and some patch.

Am I supposed to attach the patch on a certain side of his robe (that's probably not the technical term for that, is it? )??

Is there a certain way to tie the belt on him??

Is there anything else I need to know??

Thanks in advance for any help or advice.

 

[Beanie]

I have no advice, but I found this funny because just yesterday my 7 year old son asked me to sign him up for Karate lessons!!

 

[nuke]

Every school usually wants their patches sewn on a specific way. I would check with the school and see what they want.
The outfit is called a gee.
There is also a specific way to tie the belt. I can't do it so my husband has that job. :lol

They look so cute dressed up in their outfits.

 

[dizagain]

What fun! DD,8 takes martial arts classes once a week and LOVES it! Do you know how often he must go to class? I know most "official" schools require 2-4 times a week! We go to a kid's gym with classes once a week for now because we do other things too...

I'm not sure about the patch. The only one DD has she earned by having good behavior and it was placed on the left shoulder. As far as the belt goes, they'll teach him at class and he can do it himself. I still don't know how to do it myself! The robe is called a gee but I have no knowledge of how to spell it! It's a hard "G" sound, though!

It's great excercise...you'll find out during your first parent participation class! Oh! And they learn to count in Korean and Japanese - kinda cool. Good luck and hope he has fun!

 

[The Duchess]

Okay, I'm looking at DS's (he's6) karate uniform. The patch is on the left side of the "gee" (his left), but make sure the patch is sewn on so it is straight up-and-down when it's on him, NOT lined up with the lapel of the gee/jacket when the left side of the gee/jacket is crossed over and tied.

Huh?!! That's what I said when this was explained to me.

In other words, when you tie the gee/jacket closed the right side of the gee/jacket ties first and ties inside, then the left side goes over that and ties on the outside. So, when the jacket is all tied, the patch should be straight up and down even though the label is at an angle. Good luck. I don't sew and I explained to this to my mom who then proceeded to sew the patch on incorrectly.

As for the belt, wrap it around backwards then cross over in the back, then double tie in the front.

That's about it. Most parents where I go drop off the kids and leave, but I like to watch. It's pretty entertaining.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Thanks guys

dizagain -- I guess he's signed up month-to-month and can go to any of the classes in his age group (Tiny Tigers). They have classes Tues, Thurs and Fri nights and Sat mornings, so we'll probably try to go two or three of those days.

 

[chris1gill]

Well, I say good for MIL!! Wish my MIL had signed our son up, we had to do it ourselves LOL..... DS Just earned his first degree black recommended this past weekend He's been at it 2.5 years already! Yikes!

 

[nuke]

I love to watch the little guys do jumping jacks. It cracks me up!

 

[KristiKelly]

I'll help as much as possible. DS took Tae Kwon Do for a year, got up to green belt then decided to quit. Fine with me, it was $80 a month.

Okay, assuming all Tae Kwon Do academies do the same as far as patches go. Is the patch a USA or Korea patch? If it's USA, it went on the right arm, if it's Korea - left arm. As for the belt, DS didn't get his white belt until he had completed 3 beginner classes. I know how to tie it but don't have a clue how to explain it. I would take him to class early & get the instructor to show you. The website where DS took is www.leebrotherskick.com this may help to answer some of your questions.

 

[caitycaity]

Tiny Tigers

how cute!!!!

 

[snoopy]

DH, who is a black belt, always had to tie my kids belts too. I could never get the hang of it for whatever odd reason, and I'm usually good with that type of thing.

 

[alabamaalan]

Well, technically being Korean the robe is a Do-bahk (hope I spelled that right; it's been awhile) rather than a Gi

TaeKwonDo was the only sport I really enjoyed and I took my daughter to visit some TaeKwonDo and TangSooDo classes a few months ago.

She is not really interested so we moved on. I was shocked at what has changed since I was involved as a teen.

I did see the Tiny Tigers program and, in my opinion, would wait until they are 7 or older to join the regular class. But that's just me, because I saw a lot of things I liked about it too.

Either way, as long as you have a good instructor it is great for exercise, self defense, self confidence and discipline.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

My 10 DD has being doing Karate for about a year. She really likes it however, the past month she's missed a few lessons because she'd rather stay with her friends. She has a 6:30 class tonight, so we'll see.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Originally posted by KristiKelly
I'll help as much as possible. DS took Tae Kwon Do for a year, got up to green belt then decided to quit. Fine with me, it was $80 a month.

Okay, assuming all Tae Kwon Do academies do the same as far as patches go. Is the patch a USA or Korea patch? If it's USA, it went on the right arm, if it's Korea - left arm. As for the belt, DS didn't get his white belt until he had completed 3 beginner classes. I know how to tie it but don't have a clue how to explain it. I would take him to class early & get the instructor to show you. The website where DS took is www.leebrotherskick.com this may help to answer some of your questions.

Thanks Actually the patch is not a flag, it's a Tiny Tigers logo. I guess we (read: DW -- I don't sew ) can sew it on the left side.

I'm hoping to be able to take DS either Sat. morning or next Tuesday so I can see his class -- I'll ask the instructor about the belt and stuff like that. MIL sort of handed me the belt and said, "This has to be tied a certain way. I don't remember how they tied it though". (gee, thanks! )

The cutest thing was when DS stood at attention, put his hands at his side and bowed for me.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Originally posted by snoopy
DH, who is a black belt, always had to tie my kids belts too. I could never get the hang of it for whatever odd reason, and I'm usually good with that type of thing.

Black belt really? Nice!

DH's best Friend, who is in the FBI, instructs Ju-Jit-Su (sp?) and has been trying to get DH to start up.

I am going to look into this for DD in a year or so.

Good Luck to your son! I'm sure he looks adrobale in his outfit.

 

[snoopy]

Originally posted by Jenn Lynn
Black belt really? Nice!

DH's best Friend, who is in the FBI, instructs Ju-Jit-Su (sp?) and has been trying to get DH to start up.

Yup, its one of the reasons he was hired on with the SS. Definately an asset when one is in a physical job like that. Much to his chagrin, neither of my boys had much of an interest -- Luke can't think past the football field, and Drew is into soccer. Oh well, at least they are playing sports, DH would have died a thousand deaths if they had been not into sports at all.

 

[minniepumpernickel]

My nephew loves Tae Kwan Do. He has moved up the ladder really fast too. It teaches kids discipline and gives them something to strive for. Good luck to your son!

 

[tkd lisa]

The TKD in my screen name stands for Tae Kwon Do. I'm a second degree black belt, and used to be senior instructor at our school.

Yes, the school or unit patch goes over your left heart area (think where you put your hand over your heart when you say the pledge of allegiance and you'll hit the right spot).

Tying belts is always fun. I'll try to explain it, but if you don't get it, any teacher at the school will be happy to show you! It wasn't until I started teaching that I could tie anyone's belt except my own, because they were all backward!

You wrap the belt around twice. The easiest way to do this is to fold it in half, and put the fold on your belly button. Then grab the ends in the back and bring them back around to the front. The knot is a square knot (right over left and under, left over right and under), but be sure when you go under to slide under both layers of belt.

And yes it is a do-bok in Tae Kwon Do. Gi is the term for a karate uniform. Tae Kwon Do has forms, while karate has kata.

Now that I've shared more than anyone ever wanted to know about TKD, I'll be quiet now.

Hope your son has fun!

 

[DoeWDW]

In Tae Kwon Do, as posted earlier, the uniform is a do-bahk. Tae Kwon Do is a Korean martial art and they often give instructions in Korean. The instructor is called by his/her Korean title - ours was Sah Bum Nim.

Karate is a Japanese martial art and the uniform is a gi. The instructor is usually called Sensei.

As far as the patch, please ask at the school before you sew it on. Every school does it different, it seems.

If you go a little early, one of the instructors or another parent will teach you how to tie the belt. If they do it in the traditional Korean style, it is rather complicated to put into words but easy when you see it done a few times.

Best wishes! My kids loved Tae Kwon Do and both earned their black belts. It taught them so much!

 

[ChristmasElf]

Tae Kwon Do is one of the best things you can do for your child. IMO. My kids have been doing it for years and it provides a great amount of discipline both with school as well as in just talking to other people. I love the manners Yes/No Sir, Mam.
It also provides incredible amounts of self confidence. Sometimes too much! LOL
You may decide you want to join as well! I do want to add though that you may want to go several times per week. My children go 5-6 days per week and often stay for 2 classes each time.