msb12 | February 12th, 2009
Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Judo, Jiu Jitsu - it really doesn’t matter.
The basic philosophies behind each are very similar, however, the big difference lies in the physical aspects which is just a part of each Art.
Karate, for example, uses lots of powerful striking techniques such as punches and kicks while judo, a grappling Art more closely resembles wrestling. Tae kwon Do schools seem to be the most popular at the moment as they have had much media coverage over the years and has become a word that parents are familiar with. Tae kwon Do concentrate mostly on kicking techniques.
Look for something that suits your requirements best, watch a couple of sessions with your child and see if they really look interested in what is going on. At the same time, get a feel for the class and Instructors for yourself.
The Instructor has a big impact on your child and should be helping in both physical and mental development. It’s not all about physical skills, you should see the instructor emphasizing aspects such as Respect, Discipline, Focus and encouraging kids to participate in class discussions to help promote confidence in them.
Children under 5 years old can have a problem with the required amount of focus and concentration but classes for younger kids should be short, packed with enthusiasm and very simple techniques to keep the kids really busy.
Despite what many people say, it makes little difference whether you have girls or boys. Either can respond and develop a real appetite for Martial Arts. It is important that they have loads of fun to keep them wanting to come back week after week, month after month, year after year, as so much can be accomplished over time.
Regular attendance in a Martial Arts Class can have a massive impact and offer great benefits to your children through their lives.
So, what’s the best martial art for kids? – The one that they really enjoy and makes them feel like they don’t want to miss a class, would certainly be a good place to start.
At Jiu Jitsu Calgary, we have developed a great program for kids, it’s one that I look forward to teaching myself, together with a number of other enthusiastic adult Instructors, each and every week.
Have Fun – Train Hard – Train Smart - Fightwize
Topics: Kids Martial Arts | 1 Comment »
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