OT - Tae Kwon Do...

[tnkr_bell]

I'm looking to sign my kids up for Tae Kwon Do classes and was wondering if anybody had any suggestions on things I should look for as far as good points/bad points. My ds is 6 1/2 and dd is 4, will be 5 in June.

Thanks

 

[chcmama]

My girls take karate so I will tell you what things I like about where they go. The instructor doesn't just teach karate he talks to them about respect, responisbility, focus, self-discipline and many other things like these. Each week they have a word of the week and they talk about what it means and how he expects them to act. I think he does a good job of dealing with the kids that aren't paying attention or cooperating, he is firm but not scary or mean. We have friends that had a son taking karate at a different place and he wasn't behaving like he should and the instructor took his belt away and said he couldn't have it back and the boy didn't want to go back again. Our instructor said he would never take their belt away as they have earned it and in the case of this boy his parents had paid for it because they had belt fees. The girls have a list of things they are expected to know before they can test for the next belt. I think that helps them know what they need to do. There are lots of different ways for deciding when to test. Our instructor tests on a regular basis so if you keep up with what you need to know you will know exactly when you will belt test. DH and I used to do Tae Kwon Do and that instructor did belts tests when he wanted so you never really knew when he might do one or if he would let you test or not. I don't know if this will help at all, if you have more specific questions I might be able to help.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

My DS9 does Tae Kwon Do and loves it. I really like his program as well.

The biggest thing I'd look at is the way the teachers interract with the kids. Our teachers seem strict, they get a lot of respect from the kids, but underneath they are cupcakes -- it's a perfect combination. I'd watch the kids and see, are they being respectful, are they making progress, do they seemed relaxed?

I'd also look at what they use to motivate the kids. At DS's program they give the kids little strips of duct tape to go on their belt called "stripes" (I think other programs may sew actual stripes on the belt, but our are literally duct tape, or rather black duct tape). My kid will work so hard to get that duct tape, it's amazing. So they don't need to yell at the kids or shame them, they just say "this is what you need to practice to get the duct tape" and the kids do it.

Given that your little one is really young, I'd also watch a class or two and see what the little ones' experience is like. Even though our guys are more gentle with the little ones, some of them still seem to find it stressful. Like the teacher will stop by and whisper "other left foot" when they get their stance backwards, and some kids will giggle and switch but others seem to take that as criticism, and get a little upset. We tried the program DS is in when he was 5 and he simply wasn't ready, so we came back at 7 and it's his favorite thing.

 

[Omma]

My oldest dd(7) has taken TKD for about 18mos now. She started in the Little Dragons program and then moved to the Juniors program with the "big kids". She LOVES it. As another poster mentioned, our kids earn tape stripes on their belts for a set of skills they master. She loves earning stripes. Our studio gives out a "respect stripe". That one can be taken away if Mom or Dad says the kids are not being respectful at home. I've never done it - but it is nice to remind her I have that power.

Our ds tried it when he turned 5 and it was too much for him. He says he will try it again when "he gets bigger". I think attention span was his issue.

I recently started class too but am temporarily out on the injured list. I can tell you I LOVED going with dd to class and she loved it too. See if your TKD place offers family plans. It is easy to help them practice if you know how to do it yourself.

One thing I would watch for - is there a consistent instructor for the class, do they rotate, do other students ever teach class? It may not bother you but my dd prefers when it is her "real teacher" and not one of the college students who have to fill in for him.

See if you can all go try a class for free first and see what you think. Good luck!

 

[hoosiergirl7]

DS 4 just started taking Tae Kwan Do 2 weeks ago and can't get enough. He wants to go every day but with soccer obligations too we just can't. He goes 2x's a week. DH also signed up. DS is in the Tiny Tigers basic program for now. But based on discussions I had with his instructors today they said that he is very strong and very accurate with his punches and kicks. So in the next month or so when he has the moves down we'll probably move him up to the Black Belt Club.

We signed up with ATA which is less than 5 minutes from our house but the instructors there are just awesome and that was the selling point. Plus we're a military family and we want to be able to take our membership wherever we go next and that's one of the benefits of ATA since they are a nationwide school.

DS's instructor teaches them about respect for others, respect for themselves and some of the same things a PP mentioned. Plus he's teaching them self-defense from strangers which to me is important in today's world.

Maybe one of these days I might even start doing it myself.

 

[Ariel8676]

Hey small world..My DD(5) goes to ATA here in NJ. She has been taking TKD for almost a year now and absolutely LOVES it. She actually told me a few weeks ago that she wants to do this forever, and wants to be an instructor when she is old enough.
The instuctors teach a lot besides TKD, respect, self discipline, doing good in school and at home... and they are very strict, but absolute sweethearts.

 

[BeckyScott]

Our whole family has taken tkd at times- the kids did it for a while, then DH did it, then I started up and took the kids back- at the moment, none of us are going, and I do miss it. But wierd work schedules have gotten in the way.

A few tips, to go along with what the others have said:

For a kid, I'd think you want an ATA school. They have a pretty standard "curriculum". Your oldest would probably go into the regular beginner class, and the youngest into Tiny Tigers. So you will be camped out there for a couple of hours. Bring a book.

Tkd is not the cheapest sport you can pursue, just warning you now. It's not just the lessons. They will do testing about every 8 weeks and that's about $50 per kid. They will encourage you to go to tournaments which can get pretty pricy. Once the oldest hits camo belt, you'll need sparring gear (ebay is a good option) which new will cost about $200. At some point you'll have to buy practice weapons. It seemed like every time we turned around, there was more money needed. Some schools have a Leadership program which costs extra, or they do special workshops or summer camps. It can add up very quickly.

Some schools offer a "deal" if multiple family members sign up. Ask about it. At our school, I took for free because both the kids were signed up. I am so not a taekwondo person! You know in every class like that, not just taekwondo but dance or swimming or sports, there is that one complete dork that you just feel bad for? That would be me. But it was good exercise and everyone was friendly and encouraging.

 

[tnkr_bell]

Thanks for all the great advice everyone.

I do realize the TKD is not the cheapest sport, but the main reason I picked it is because my 6 1/2 yr old has some real social problems. He seems to have some high anxiety and doesn't really know how to paly with the other kids. It's not that he's a bad kid, he's really well behaved, but I think he really needs the confidence that TKD would help give him. I also didn't want to pick a group sport for him because he is a quiet/shy kid and has a bit of a learning problem and tends to not do well in group situations. He just doesn't really seem to get things unless you talk to him one on one. We also did a few trial classes last year and he really loved them.

As for his sister, she also took the classes and could really use the dicipline that TKD offers. Plus, she would be very upset if big brother got to go and not her. They've both been asking to take classes since last year when we did the trial classes.

Thanks again for all your advice.

 

[james'mommy]

My DS 5 has been taking TKD for almost 2 years. I would try out any school before you sign a contract. We just happened upon a great school. Our master is amazing. He's fantastic with kids but is tough on them in a way that they don't even realize it. If our master ever leaves to start his own school I think everyone will follow him. My son sometimes gets yellow lights at school. All I have to do is tell him that I'm telling Master Jonathan if he gets another and it solves the problem right then and there. It's not a cheap sport though. I swear I'm always paying for new uniforms, belts, sparring gear.