| Are you considering the martial arts for your | | | | And that's just the beginning of the confusion. |
| child? Are you concerned about the level of | | | | Add to that the fact that most adults have no |
| bullying, hazing, and danger that your child could | | | | idea what to look for when it comes to self |
| encounter as they enter school? | | | | defense, or even where to begin, and you end up |
| One of the most common questions that I'm | | | | with quite a mess. |
| asked concerns the best age to start a child in | | | | So, the training for this age must be centered |
| martial arts training. While every school is different | | | | around the child's needs and what he or she may |
| - not just in the age that a child may start, but | | | | run into in a real-world incident. We would never |
| also in the type of program that is offered. | | | | teach a child the same things that we teach |
| This article is designed to give you sense of | | | | adults because they are not going to get into a |
| clarity on the subject, as well as to offer my | | | | scientific "slug-fest" with another kid their age. It's |
| opinion from the standpoint of self defense - | | | | just not going to happen. |
| rather than how "cute" Johnny looks in his uniform! | | | | That means that training should focus on evasion |
| I suggest starting a child between the ages of 3 1 | | | | and avoiding of things like: |
| 2 & 4 years old. While my own daughters began | | | | - pushes |
| at 2 1/2, they were "home-trained" by me and | | | | - shoving |
| didn't really enter the dojo setting until the age of | | | | - slapping, and... |
| 3 or 3 1/2. At this age, they are starting to | | | | - kicking techniques... ...from bullies that are the |
| develop a better attention span, memory | | | | same age and older. |
| retention, and the ability to communicate well and | | | | And, it should include defenses for pick-up attacks |
| stay on topic. | | | | where an adult abductor is trying to carry the |
| That being said, it really depends on the child. | | | | child off. |
| However, the one thing that needs to be kept in | | | | In addition, skills that focus on coordination, |
| mind is that the child is not an "adult-brain" in a | | | | socialization, manners, respect, and discipline could |
| child's body. I know how obvious that sounds, but | | | | (and should) be incorporated. |
| you would be amazed by the number of people | | | | Remember, your child, like all students of any age, |
| who believe that their children are learning the | | | | has specific needs and dangers that must be |
| stranger rules for the same reason that the | | | | accounted for and met when looking for a |
| adults are teaching it. | | | | children's martial arts program. |