Kids and martial arts
Discussion
Tyke wants to join her old man at the dojo now she's turned six - which is the minimum age at which they're accepted for training.
I'll take her along, and hope she enjoys it as much as I do, but the juniors and seniors are in separate rooms, so I'm a little worried that she's not gonna be with me, and the whole "going to karate with dad" might not be what she anticipated because she'll not be alongside me. Hopefully I'm worrying about nought.
So, PH experience, anyone else take their little ones along to martial arts, and what sort of ages? Is six too young (probably being over-protective, but she's not exactly big for her age...)?
I'll take her along, and hope she enjoys it as much as I do, but the juniors and seniors are in separate rooms, so I'm a little worried that she's not gonna be with me, and the whole "going to karate with dad" might not be what she anticipated because she'll not be alongside me. Hopefully I'm worrying about nought.
So, PH experience, anyone else take their little ones along to martial arts, and what sort of ages? Is six too young (probably being over-protective, but she's not exactly big for her age...)?
/\ Sounds like a plan, cheers. At least that way her first lesson wouldn't be with a group of kids whose folks are sat watching while I bugger off into another room, leaving her as the odd one out.
The other option was a juniors' taekwando class that one of her schoolmates attends- I could be just another dad stood by the wall there, but I'm kinda glad she wants to give her old man's dojo a shot first.
The other option was a juniors' taekwando class that one of her schoolmates attends- I could be just another dad stood by the wall there, but I'm kinda glad she wants to give her old man's dojo a shot first.
Hardest part from her point of view will probably be concentrating for long enough(?) a good seasoned sensai keeps them interested (some just cannot engage with minors and are useless in that respect) Wouldn't worry about size being a problem as they're hardly throwing their hip into it so young. Good age to start as she'll hopefully not be petrified of the kumite like ones that start older can sometimes be.
We take kids from 4 but some kids at that age are under developed and some over. I always like to give them a class to see if they can actually do anything other than sit in a corner dribbling before getting them joined up.
There is no way on earth a 6 year old and an adult should be training in the same space at the same time...an accident and the lawyers would be selling the instructor's house
TBH most martial arts for kids of 6-7/8 are mostly about developing balance, co-ordination and discipline/self confidence. My best kids' instructor says it's like herding cats teaching little ones
There is no way on earth a 6 year old and an adult should be training in the same space at the same time...an accident and the lawyers would be selling the instructor's house
TBH most martial arts for kids of 6-7/8 are mostly about developing balance, co-ordination and discipline/self confidence. My best kids' instructor says it's like herding cats teaching little ones
Well, I took her along, and happy to say I was fussing over nothing!
Introduced her to Sensei, and left her with the other kids while I trained in the senior dojo. Heard them going through the etiquette, and then they were right into it - there's a grading coming up, so the session was quite technique heavy, and she's a little bit in at the deep end. Had the occasional sneaky glance through the door window, happy to see her joining in - the look of concentration was quite comical at times!
Kids session is shorter than the senior, so she was brought through to sit on the sidelines to watch the last half-hour of the seniors.
Really chuffed she enjoyed it, and the Sensei said she'd coped admirably for being chucked right in (cue cheesy proud-dad grin from her old man!).
Ofcourse, the drive home was an almost constant babble of "I did this... That... Why do we bow to the front of the room?... When do I get a uniforrm?...
She seems... Erm - Keen!
Introduced her to Sensei, and left her with the other kids while I trained in the senior dojo. Heard them going through the etiquette, and then they were right into it - there's a grading coming up, so the session was quite technique heavy, and she's a little bit in at the deep end. Had the occasional sneaky glance through the door window, happy to see her joining in - the look of concentration was quite comical at times!
Kids session is shorter than the senior, so she was brought through to sit on the sidelines to watch the last half-hour of the seniors.
Really chuffed she enjoyed it, and the Sensei said she'd coped admirably for being chucked right in (cue cheesy proud-dad grin from her old man!).
Ofcourse, the drive home was an almost constant babble of "I did this... That... Why do we bow to the front of the room?... When do I get a uniforrm?...
She seems... Erm - Keen!
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