Questions about YOUNGER kids martial arts classes.

[Papa Deuce]

1. Is 5 too early to start?

2. What do they cost? Do they discount a 2nd child?

3. Besides exercise, what do you like most about your kids taking the classes?

4. What should I look for in a teacher or arts style.

5. Is there a "best" style for 5 year olds?

6. Anything else you want to share?

Thanks!

 

[pigletz]

I don't know if this will help since I can't answer most of your questions, but my brother takes a family karate class with my niece (11) and nephew (5) . They all love the class especially the 5 year old.

 

[Steamboat Marti]

1. Is 5 too early to start? No - our dojo starts them at 4
2. What do they cost? Do they discount a 2nd child? Ours is considered pricey and we pay $119 a month and yes, they discount other family members.
3. Besides exercise, what do you like most about your kids taking the classes? Respect for himself and others, manners, and he genuinely has fun.

4. What should I look for in a teacher or arts style. I'll answer below.
5. Is there a "best" style for 5 year olds? Your area will dictate what is being offered.
6. Anything else you want to share? see below

Thanks!

Martial arts has many good qualities about it - strength (inner and muscle), a good workout, mental preparedness etc. But at this age the best quality it has is gets the kids out and working out without realizing its "working out". My son 8 has taken two kinds of martial arts. When we lived on Long Island he took Jui Jitsu for a year and a half and now that we are upstate New York there was no one that offered Jui Jitsu. He had progressed through three belt levels but had to start back at white belt for karate. The differences between the two weren't as noticeable because of his age and belt level. Once he got to higher belt levels there would be larger differences. I found jui jitsu to be a more physical martial arts and karate to be a more mental martial arts. Isinrui Karate uses something called "katas"; a series of moves put together to practice elements of the art. If you watched Survivor recently you saw Bruce practice his katas on the beach.

That being said I think children should be in the martial arts if they want it. Our son asked for it for a year before we enrolled him. Once you start they expect a committment; not only from the student but also from the parent that would committ to bringing the child to the class. We were asked to sign a one year commitment (not unusual in the martial arts world) and renew it each year. Our son loves it so much we've signed a three year commitment so that he can be in the "Black Belt Club" and work with weapons (wooden versions of the real deal). You must visit all the dojos (schools) in your area - get a feel of how they teach the class and how they respect the children. Our school offers one month free - they don't want you to sign up until the end of the free month so that you know you are ready for it. DS goes twice a week; one day of Kata and one day of sparring. Anything above that is because he wants to go. He's made many friends there and has done extremely well. PM me if you have any questions.

 

[fabumouse]

1. Is 5 too early to start?

2. What do they cost? Do they discount a 2nd child?

3. Besides exercise, what do you like most about your kids taking the classes?

4. What should I look for in a teacher or arts style.

5. Is there a "best" style for 5 year olds?

6. Anything else you want to share?

Thanks!

My DD5 and her best friend (boy) really enjoy their Taekwon-do class. They started a year ago. So -

1. I don't think 5 is too early to start, unless a child is excessively fidgety.

2. The cost varies widely. I think we paid somewhere around $500 for six months of classes, but studios have different pricing schemes and are often reluctant to give prices over the phone.

3. What I like is the opportunity for her to learn to keep herself still while waiting for other kids to take their turns. And I appreciate that she is learning how to protect herself within a code of ethics (courtesy, perserverence, etc.)

4. Lots of martial arts teachers are "Yellers". My DD's teacher is not, but the teacher's husband IS, which I really don't like. I would look for someone who clearly enjoys kids first and foremost.

Good luck! There is a joy in moving up the belt "ladder" that is very satisfying to young children.

 

[paigevz]

Our rec center starts at age 3. I am thinking about this for my younger son, but leaning more towards gymnastics because I think it will use more of his body, and the bright equipment will be more exciting for him.

Our rec center charges 35 dollars for one class per week, and it is held throughout the year. They have Tae Kwon Do, Tong Il Lo, and Shotokan Karate..................anybody know the differences?

My older child started gymnastics and swimming at 3, soccer at 4, baseball at 5, football at 8.........he's not done martial arts.

Edited to add the kinds of martial arts.

 

[Papa Deuce]

My DD5 and her best friend (boy) really enjoy their Taekwon-do class. They started a year ago. So -

1. I don't think 5 is too early to start, unless a child is excessively fidgety.

2. The cost varies widely. I think we paid somewhere around $500 for six months of classes, but studios have different pricing schemes and are often reluctant to give prices over the phone.

3. What I like is the opportunity for her to learn to keep herself still while waiting for other kids to take their turns. And I appreciate that she is learning how to protect herself within a code of ethics (courtesy, perserverence, etc.)

4. Lots of martial arts teachers are "Yellers". My DD's teacher is not, but the teacher's husband IS, which I really don't like. I would look for someone who clearly enjoys kids first and foremost.

Good luck! There is a joy in moving up the belt "ladder" that is very satisfying to young children.

See, this REALLY concerns me. My one daughter is VERY sensitive to being yelled at.

They took a class at the YMCA and it was fun, but they were among the smallest kids, having just turned 4 when they took it. They said they liked it, but my one daughter accidentally got bopped in the head, and then she seemed reluctant to attend. She did like it before that!

 

[fabumouse]

See, this REALLY concerns me. My one daughter is VERY sensitive to being yelled at.

Unfortunately (or fortunately??), so is mine. I was not pleased the first time he yelled and said something to the female teacher. The response that I got back (and I've known this woman for years around town) was "even though he's my husband, he's my boss and I cannot change his teaching methods".

Oh, nice.

So, I agree that's one thing to be pretty cautious about. It seems like most parents in my town do NOT have a problem with this "method" of teaching, as they view it as part of learning respect. My DD's dance instructor keeps 15 rambunctious kids running around for an hour each class, with no yelling at all. Guess who I think is the better teacher?

 

[Skywalker]

We're still new at this, my two boys have ony been going for two weeks. My 2 cents follows:

1. Is 5 too early to start? -- My boys are 7 and 5 and they (most especially the 5-year-old LOVE it! Of course, my boys love Star Wars and they call it "Jedi Training" so perhaps that helps, LOL).

2. What do they cost? Do they discount a 2nd child? -- Second child was a 1/3 discount...we are paying $1200.00 for one year for the two of them (not each) and that is for a one hour lesson, twice a week.

3. Besides exercise, what do you like most about your kids taking the classes? -- Co-ordination and self-confidence.

4. What should I look for in a teacher or arts style. -- That I don't know, I just went on friends' recommendations.

5. Is there a "best" style for 5 year olds? Again, don't know. My boys take Tae-Kwon-Do and it was recommended to us instead of Karate by a few people in town. That may just be because of the local instructors involved though, not the martial art itself.

6. Anything else you want to share? Just that my boys absolutely love it and I also think it is the greatest choice of "activity" to enrol a young child in...it touches their bodies and their minds.

However, if you are the type of parent who tends to "coddle" your children (not that there's anything wrong with that) be prepared that discipline and obedience are expected of them. Our instructor is VERY firm during class time (but fun and approachable at all other times). It is NOT playtime.

Anyway, those are my impressions as a newbie. I am thrilled with what I see though.

 

[southernbella]

My DD (age 5) takes Kung Fu. The man that runs the schools is NOT a yeller when it comes to the little ones. I would be scared to see what he would do if someone did yell at them! He has a "presence" about him when he walks into the room. He comands so much respect yelling isn't usually nessesary.

Now, some of the other teachers will get stern with them if they are getting out of control, but no more than I would. Matter of fact, I wish they would ride my DD a little harder.

She started at a young 5 & loves it. Our only issues have been with the running they do to warm up. But, she got over it in a few weeks.

We picked Kung Fu because I wanted her to learn something she could use in the real world. Others styles of martial arts teach you to compete for points (please no flaming, I'm not knocking any other styles). I want her to be able to defend herself if she ever needs to, heaven forbid.

SBella

 

[Becky2005]

1. Is 5 too early to start? Ours start at 5.

2. What do they cost? Do they discount a 2nd child? Our cost for this summer was $63 for 9 weeks. Usually the sessions are 12 weeks. Then we pay $40 for belt testing (you have to be in the class at least 2 full sessions before you can test).

3. Besides exercise, what do you like most about your kids taking the classes? In our case, I just like that my kids enjoy it. I also like it because both my boys that take it have extra difficulties, my one has learning disability so it's a chance for him to not struggle so much with something. The other one has motor skill difficulties, so this is a way to improve his motor skills.

4. What should I look for in a teacher or arts style. My kids are taking Shotokan style.

5. Is there a "best" style for 5 year olds? Couldn't tell you.

6. Anything else you want to share?

Here is how I ended up deciding on which class...my older boy had been asking to take karate since he was real little (4). I'm too cheap to want to buy the uniform, ESPECIALLY knowing my older boy -- quite possible for him to take a couple sessions of something, get bored and then we are done with it. We take ours through our park district.

About a year ago, I was flipping through the book when it arrived, Shotokan was there...lo & behold the uniforms were OPTIONAL. DS was 8 at the time, I signed him up with the deal of IF he completed one whole session and wanted to continue I would buy the GI. Unfortunately for him, he had almost completed that first session and then broke his arm! Oops! So that didn't count, he had to wait until he completed another session. I got him the uniform around Christmas time last year. He is really enjoying it. He tested for the first time in May. Our system works on stripes so you don't just go up belt levels (it's kind of complicated to explain but I LOVE the system!). He is now a 2 stripe white belt (they move up on the 4th stripe).

Older DS then talked my younger DS (the 6 year old) into taking the class. He was 5 at the time he started (turned 6 in the first session though) and he loves it. He keeps asking when he can get his GI but I want to wait for him just a tad bit longer. They have the classes broken down by age/belt levels here so my boys are in 2 seperate classes.

That's just how I do it. It works for us.

 

[annegal]

Let them take ballet or Gymnsatics!

Both my brother and sister's kids (boys and girls) took Martial Arts & ultimately the high cost was a factor in quitting. They all now play city league and school sports instead.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Let them take ballet or Gymnsatics!

Both my brother and sister's kids (boys and girls) took Martial Arts & ultimately the high cost was a factor in quitting. They all now play city league and school sports instead.

Thay took gymnastics and will again. Ballet is not what they want to do. I think they like it a little more physical ( until they get bopped in the head ).

 

[clarabelle]

My DD 11 is finishing her first (and last) year in Tae Kwon Do.
She like it at first -until they started the sparring. She does not like getting hit (even with the pads on).

We are just waiting on her contract to be up so she can quit.
The place we go is expensive and they also charge for each time you test for the next belt level. We will have spent around 1200.00 by the time the year is out.
If she just loved it and it was doing a lot for her self esteem I would gladly pay it. I wish now we had not signed a year contract -but she seemed so excited at first.

I will confess to feeling a bit like it is a scam. We pay the monthly fee, then we she made green belt we paid for a sparring kit, then we pay for the tests.
They also have books and videos and encourage extra one on one sessions that you pay for as well.

I understand that they are in the business to make money- but this is a pricey hobby. I know when they do dance you pay for recital costumes and pictures etc.... I guess this is similar.

Hope this helps

 

[southernbella]

Whoops, forgot the costs. Ours cost $99 a month. They can take Mon-Sat, as many times as they want to go. The school does ask at least a day in between classes for the little ones (every day would be too much). We try for 2-3 times a week. Sbella