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Original poster

YES/NO Martial arts for 6yo DS?

52 replies

Sixer · 22/10/2007 09:25

He has been in trouble at school quite a bit. DP and I are now starting to think maybe Martial Arts will help with the discipline. I am afraid he will learn a judo kick and go into school and use it. Could we be adding fuel to fire. Help us decide please.

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Sixer · 24/10/2007 08:14

Thanks this is really helping us. Sorry about your DC bad experience ingles. Sounds like i'll be watching the instructors (?) very carefully. We will start with Karate Kai tonight. We'll pop along and have a lookie, then take it from there. I'll let you know what we decide on.

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casbie · 24/10/2007 09:00

my son wants to do a martial art but he's four and no-where round here can accomodate.

he has to wait until he's 5 - bless him.

aikigypsy · 24/10/2007 13:46

I practice aikido (well, I did before I got really pregnant) and have helped with kids classes some. I think 6 is a fine age to start, and would echo what others have said about checking out the sensei and the atmosphere of the school.

I'm really unexperienced in other marital arts, though I have friends who do karate and I've tried cross-training in Brazilian jujitsu. I think that aikido is less showy than some of the other arts, and more defensive, but similar to judo in a lot of ways.

Find a school that's reasonably convenient, with a good teacher, and go for it!

OrmIrian · 24/10/2007 13:49

Yes. If it's a good school. He will be told again and again that he must not use his skils out of the dojo. Which may seem laughable when he first starts but when he gets bigger and more skilled it will become clear why.

mummyhill · 24/10/2007 15:08

We do Karate, Dh is a second dan instructor. DD has recently started at age 5. We will not take them before that for insurance purposes but also becuase they will be used to listening and taking instruction by then so are less disruptive to older children in the class. We have many fmilies that train together which is great. I cannot wait for DS to be old enough tojoin in to so I can start training properly again.

Find a school with a convenient location. Look into the instructors ways of teaching if you can. A good teacher will be kind but firm and will repeatedly tell the children that if he/she hears that they have used this outside the dojo except for practicing at home under parental supervision they will not be welcome back to the dojo.

A good place to look at or ask questions martial arts planet

casbie · 24/10/2007 16:23

is family karate lessons common place then?

ingles2 · 24/10/2007 17:04

I have to ask Mummyhill..is it normal for 6 year old to not get his red belt? (horrible) instructor said he didn't show enough strength or force I think it was....??!!!

hollyhobbie · 24/10/2007 17:42

YES! great for boys AND girls - great for discipline and humility (assuming you have the right teacher, as said by previous posters)

I've done Kung Fu and Tae Kwon Do. And I helped my Sifu (teacher) teach the kids' Kung Fu class- for some of the kids, it was their only chance to have a positive male role model from the Sifu. There was a ADHD boy in the class who's mum said he really really benefited from it, it helped him a lot at school.

ScaryScienceT · 24/10/2007 17:55

My DS started TKD when he was about 7. They have to be old enough to remember the moves.

His TKD school was very firm in reinforcing that the moves should not be used in anger, or to bully other kids. They would be expelled if any news reached them of inappropriate use of their skills. Self-control is as big a part of the martial art as the actual kicks and punches.

I'd say that since my DS stopped doing TKD, he has had a lot more problems with lashing out. TKD was a good tool for helping him to control his temper.

mygirlsmum · 24/10/2007 21:48

hi 3 of my dds do jujitsu aged 11, 10 and 5 my youngest started soon as she was 5 and they all absolutley love it and the sensei is really great with the kids
its got to be good for a child or adult to be able to defend themselves if they have too

woodstock3 · 24/10/2007 21:56

dh does jujitsu and is very keen for ds to go when he's old enough....he says martial arts for kids is about discipline, camaraderie etc more than about fighting and therefore v good for teaching boys how to use strength responsibly. but says find a good sensei as there are some v stupidly macho ones around, and one who is specifically trained in teaching kids (which will help avoid problems like the poor sixyo who didnt get his red belt! sounds like his instructors are far too strict and horrible, dh says at this age its meant to be about encouraging them)

tori32 · 24/10/2007 22:05

Absolutely yes! It teaches them to be respectful, to not be aggressive and to use self defence. Fantastic excercise. Improves balance and co-ordination. Lots of other good reasons. It channels aggression which otherwise could errupt elsewhere.

mummyhill · 24/10/2007 22:26

To be honest it is not usual for anyone to fail their first grading. The only way it would normally happen is if the student stood there making no attempt at any of the movements requested by the instructor.

Most responsible instructors will also tell you the week before grading wether or not they feel that you have prepared enough to grade or wether you should wait till next time iyswim. If an instructor is failing kids at that level or not advising them if they are ready to grade or not my assumption would be that they were in it for the money.

mummyhill · 24/10/2007 22:30

Casbie - Our association and quite a few of the local schools will offer a beginers class which is usually children and families and then a more advanced class for those who have bee training longer. In my experience by this stage more kids have dropped out than parents iyswim.

pigleto · 24/10/2007 22:30

ds does judo and loves it. he is 5. He has not become more aggressive.

sKerryMum · 24/10/2007 22:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LyraSilvertongue · 24/10/2007 23:07

DS1 started karate when he'd just turned 4 and he loves it. He's just got his green belt and is very proud of it.

LyraSilvertongue · 24/10/2007 23:08

DS1 is told by his sensei that he must NOT use karate outside the dojo.

LyraSilvertongue · 24/10/2007 23:18

Ingles2, that's terrible. DS1s instructor doesn't put him forward for a grading unless she's pretty certain he will pass. He's not the most forceful puncher/kicker but he's still passed his red, yellow and green belts. You've been unlucky with your instructor/s I think. Ours are great, firm but fair.

ingles2 · 25/10/2007 09:24

54 kids went for grading that day and only 27 got belts! According to our 2nd dan instructor, the guy grading was in a foul mood that day, so I guess he decided to make examples of them all! Actually... that my dc's confidence rests on the mood of a 6ft bully makes me seeth with anger [anger] . I have actually written and complained to the Head of the association in Denmark...not heard anything though! I think what a lot of these men forget is that we're not trying to turn our kids into lean mean fighting machines...but have some fun, and a little discipline. So if you want to avoid this guy, don't do Karate Jutsu Kai in Kent

casbie · 25/10/2007 10:47

mummyhill - sounds like great fun, will ask at local school.

they do a class for 5-7 years, but by the time ds is 5, dd will be 8 - hope they will be in the same class to start off with!

Monkeytrousers · 25/10/2007 20:01

..I was wondering if DS was too young at 3.

6 is fine!!!

rosmonster · 25/10/2007 20:12

Monkeytrousers, my nephew started TKD at about 3.5 and loved it, if there's a class that accomodates your ds then go for it!

Original poster
Sixer · 25/10/2007 22:06

Yesterday we took DS 6 along to Karate. I suppose a class that starts at 19.30 is a bit late for a 6 yo. He wasn't at all interested and didn't want to join in. Selfish I know, but I couldn't help feeling down. Still not one to give up, I took him along to Taekwondo this evening. The class started at 18.30 which suited him better. DS joined in from the moment we walked in. It was great to see him playing with the other children before things got going. The instructor more or less got him involved straight away. He loved it. The first 4 lessons are free which I think is great, as £85 is a lot to pay out if after a couple of time he doesn't like it. So,.. it begins. I really do hope this helps DS control his temper, appreciate how damn big and strong he is for his age, and most importantly, to respect others. I know there are a lot of MNers who are going through similar with their DS's. It's not the answer but it may well help and we will try all avenues, to ehlp our DS. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again to everyone for your advice, it really has been taken on board and helped us. Might I add we haven't settled on taekwondo yet, we are still actively seeking our other local clubs to take DS along to and it will be his decision ultimately.

OP posts:
Muppett · 26/10/2007 14:30

My son (aged 5) attends mini PUMAs which is specifically for the 4-7 age group. They do complete belts but they have some 'learning' attached to them. When they are training they do it by school year - again well organised. He is now an orange belt with the focus on discipline. His previous belt was purple with the focus on stranger danger. It has been good for him because he was shy and very quiet and now he has really blossomed.