Teaching discipline in martial arts

[sweetmuffins]

I'm thinking of enrolling 5yo DD into a martial arts school to help her gain confidence, keep fit, improve her self-esteem and learn some self-defence moves.

As we are really new to this, can anyone please tell me how the instructors their kids have instil discipline? Do they use threats? How do they speak to young children? Are they strict in your experience?

My DD can get quite shy, so if threatened, she'd certainly be frightened and just cry. But she needs to build her confidence which she currently lacks, hence the consideration of trying her in some form of martial arts.

Thanks

My dd started karate at 4 but it was on her instigation. I'd either find a class where you can both start or forget about martial arts.

When choosing a class it would make sense to watch one first and let her try it.
I wouldn't accept any teacher that makes the children feel threatened.

I've been to two martial arts academies and both of them do keep emphasising discipline from what I've seen. They keep telling the kids to respect their parents and that they need to be good. These are young children aged between 5 and 7.

What do people mean by martial arts being very "disciplined"? Are the rules imposed by the school strict, and what happens if a child does not abide by them?

First of all we don't shout at anyone. Is your DD interested in martial arts ? I only ask as if it's about building self confidence, any activity which she can master will improve her confidence. It would do more harm than good to push her towards martial arts only to discover she hates it with the resulting negative effect on her confidence. Having said all that and if your DD would like to try, I agree with the idea of trying classes to find the right one for your DD. Ask around in your area (try your town's gossipgirls on FB - yeah I know but can be a useful source of local info).

remember there are many different types of martial art - korean, hunagarian, japanese, chinese, brazilian. I personally have always wanted to try capoeira but my wrists and back aren't up to the task these days !

Thanks for your replies.

Dpotter, are you a martial arts instructor? What discipline? Yes, DD suggested she try martial arts and she seems keen to get involved. The idea was introduced to her by her cousins, a bro and sis, who are only 5 and 6 (same age/not much older than herself).

I'm big on martial arts.

We all Thai box. My gym also does boxing, ju jitsu, mag crava, MMA etc.

No threats! It's great, it's based around kids taking responsibility and wanting to be proud of what they do. If you go somewhere they use threats, leave immediately.

It's done both my DDs a world of good. And me. And DH.

Part of the training in martial arts is about instilling self control & self discipline. so instructors and more senior students will lead by example - being quiet when the instructor is talking, doing what is asked of them,etc. The 'rules' are more a code of honour - mutual respect for fellow students, obedience to instructors. In my albeit limited experience transgression of Rules is by 'time out' - sitting out of session, usually watching the other kids doing their thing. It's easy to behave well when everyone else is behaving well and in the same way. Most instructors have a way of carrying themselves that brooks no challenge.
this may be overwhelming for some children, in which case martial arts are not for them. The instructors will continue to remind students of the type of behaviour required,as that is how martial arts are taught - repetition, repetition, repetition.

sorry keyboard playing up so taking ages to type anything. I teach Tai Chi and have studied Judo in the past as a kid. I agree with RJ - it's about building pride in one's abilities and being aware of one's limitations.
There are some Tai Chi Instructors in the UK who teach kids - I don't although I know of schools who have brought in Tai Chi Instructors. As with anything it's about finding the thing that interests you - I love my Tai Chi, but couldn't get on with Karate. So there's no shame in trying different disciplines. If your DD is interested then go for it!

Hi RJ and D Potter, very informative responses here. Thanks for spending some time in the early hours responding to this! Much appreciated.

I feel much better informed of what to expect. No threats but constant reminders of the expected standard of behaviour.

Further comments and words of advice, whether from martial arts experts or students, still welcomed. I'd still like to see what people's experiences are. Thanks all

I'm a little tiddly so sorru but no instructor should be using threats. My instructor is a double world champ so I am confident! They work on the things kids are good at - learn self control - be proud of you and help others achieve.

My gym actually offers an anti bullying programme based around this. Message me if youwant to know more.

RJ thanks for your kindness. What area of the country do you live? Sounds like a good gym that you are at. I need to see whether the schools I'm researching teach what your gym does.

Both my sons attend a martial arts class. The lowest group is from 4-7 and it teaches self confidence, discipline, respect and pride in your achievements. It focuses very much on anti-bullying and learning to stand up for yourself. There is definitely a lot of shouting, but from the children learning to say NO in a loud and proud way The instructors are fantastic.

I know that some of them have started the belts system (not yet on the first belt but they can stripe to show they have started to learn towards the red belt) but both my sons started in the older group of 7+ to teens.

I have watched my children flourish. I know your daughter is much younger but ds1 who is 11 and started secondary in September was attacked in a school corridor. It came out of the blue but because of his training he was able to break the choke hold, and push the boy away from him.

He was glad of his marital arts because he (in a safe and trusted environment) had experienced someone trying to put him on the floor, or someone holding your collar to represent the choke hold and learning to break that hold. At the time of the attack he said he went into auto pilot.

Most classes will let you have a free trial to see how she feels.

A good club is very very fun.
But there's no messing about. When instructor says jump they all say 'How high?' That's the first part of discipline, they can't manage the group if everyone isn't on board with doing as told.

They also extol the value of hard work (other part of discipline).

I will say 5yo is too young for my kids but they are bolshy little bastards.

Sorry sweet I've just realised you replied.

I'm in scotland?

mag crava

It's krav maga.

DS did an anti bully version of it for about 3 years. They had kids as young as 4.

It might be a good idea for you to join something similar to your DD. It's great fun to practice together.

DD did kick boxing. Discipline was time on the bench or star jumps or something. All shouting as someone else said was by the children shouting NO and STOP.

Hi, I teach Capoeira to kids 5-11 years old (Hampshire and Dorset area).
My personal approach really depends upon the child and what area they are weak on. For example, does the child need more social interaction? tame their aggressiveness? improve their equilibrium? exploit their natural musical or athletic skills?
Capoeira is great because it allows me to feed the children all of this, in the proportion that each of them needs it! No two classes are the same, so there's no way kids would get bored either. I cannot recommend Capoeira highly enough, as biased as I might be :)