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 Choosing
the Right Martial Arts Class for Your Child
BY LINDA FOUST
© COPYRIGHT 2003 BY PARENTS'
PRESS
A longer and
more detailed version of this article and the accompanying sidebar
appeared in the January 2003 print edition of Parents' Press.
What do you say when your child announces
out of the blue that she wants to be a ninja? You saw a Bruce
Lee movie years ago flying feet, crashes, smashes, and
screams of ki-ai. Exciting, perhaps, but are martial arts suitable
for children? For your child?
Even if you don't know the difference
between a karate chop and chop suey, kung fu and chow fun, this
guide through the bewildering smorgasbord of martial arts provides
criteria to consider before enrolling your child in a program.
My research included reading, visits
to classes, and conversations with instructors, parents, and
kids of various ages and martial expertise.
Which Martial Art is "Best"?
In the interest of full disclosure,
let me say up front that both my 12-year-old son, Christopher,
and I train at Oakland's East Bay Aikido and are grateful to
have found both a nonaggressive self-defense style and a talented
teacher, or sensei, who attends to individual learning styles
with gentleness and humor.
That said, my recommendations are unbiased:
my bottom line is that any martial art can be appropriate for
your child, provided that you are comfortable with the type of
physical activity and philosophy involved, the teacher's style
and demeanor, and the facility itself. Where your child ends
up depends on finding a match for your values and your child's
needs.
 I
sometimes found differences between what I was told and what
I saw, so visit at least a couple of classes before signing on
the dotted line. I recommend observing not only the beginning
class, but ones your child will advance to if he stays with the
practice.
Now, to respond to the ninja request.
First, breathing a sigh of relief, explain to your little one
that "ninjitsu" itself no longer exists. Skilled in
guerilla tactics, disguise, spying, and assassination, real ninjas
sold their services as mercenaries to the Japanese warlord who
was the highest bidder.
Unlike traditional samurai, ninjas observed
no code of ethics. "Anything to win" might have been
their motto. Not what we're looking for.
What Are the Physical Aspects of the
Training?
When you visit a studio, find out exactly
what the training involves. Will your child be kicking at bags?
Mastering falls and rolling? Learning to use weapons (wooden
versions of staffs, swords, or knives)? Working alone learning
patterns of movements, or katas? Practicing with a partner? Doing
strength exercises such as push-ups and crunches? Helping lead
class, demonstrating techniques, guiding new students?
Ask if anyone is ever injured in class,
and, if so, how and how seriously. How is safety ensured?
I was surprised to discover that some places teach kids "destructive
techniques" like breaking boards with their hands and feet.
Although the instructors assured me this is safe, I would check
with my pediatrician before subjecting growing bones to the repeated
jarring involved in conditioning for such impact.
Sparring,
which involves head-to-toe foam armor to protect against full-on
body blows, is a regular part of some practices. One mother told
me she couldn't watch on sparring days. Even though her son wasn't
injured, she couldn't bear to see him under attack by more aggressive
children, and she didn't really want him going after other kids
with kicks and punches, no matter how "harmless." Her
child didn't last long in the martial arts, though he might have
thrived in a different style.
On the other hand, sparring may be an
acceptable outlet for excess boisterous energy. Many kids said
sparring was "fun," and their moms cheered them on
from the sidelines.
If your child is going to spar, learn
the safety rules of combat (no hits to the head, for example)
and observe how they are enforced. Is the enforcement effective,
or does the overly rough child resume the behavior when the instructor
turns his back?
Is there sufficient warm-up for the
class? Does it consist of stretching? Running? Calisthenics like
crunches and push-ups? Does it seem appropriate in light of the
training to follow? How physically fit does your child need to
be before he starts training?
Are water breaks allowed? Encouraged?
If someone is injured or not feeling
well, is she permitted to watch, or must she "work through
it"?
Self-Defense As Attack
Though called self-defense, many martial
arts teach attacks primarily kicks, chops, and punches
as well as defenses. These disciplines all insist that
attacks are used strictly for self-defense rather than for aggression,
but I wasn't convinced the message got through to the kids I
watched. In any case, think about whether attack is a desirable
tool in your child's repertoire on and off the mat, even if it
is technically used for self-defense.
Also consider whether the structure
of the class allows regular domination of your kid by more aggressive
students. Or, if your child has a belligerent streak, will the
class help him direct it positively or simply provide a sanctioned
opportunity to exercise it?
Is
Competition Provided? Required?
A related question is whether students
participate in single or multiple-dojo competitions. Competitions
may provide incentive for your child, or he may welcome a respite
from the physical rivalries of soccer and other team sports.
Will competition promote or hinder your particular kid's self-esteem?
Add or delete stress from her life?
Ask if competitions consist of solo
kata demonstrations, one-on-one sparring, or both. How is judging
handled? Find out whether participation is required of class
members.
How Are Colored Belts Earned?
Almost all martial arts award colored
belts to denote rank. A row of tied belts on the studio wall
often displays the hierarchy. Between the universal white (beginners)
and coveted black (experts), each style has its own progression
of colors, some with intermediate stripes within a rank.
Ask what the criteria are for promotion.
Even if entering competitions isn't compulsory for class membership,
ask specifically if it's necessary in order to progress up the
ranks.
How
do the children prepare for a test? Are the exams taken individually
or as a group? Capoeira holds an annual festive batizado, or
"baptism," in which many students test for new ranks.
Others hold tests during regular classes whenever a student is
ready.
Does anyone ever fail the tests? Some
dojos, including my son's, informally ascertain that the child
meets the requirements before allowing her to test, thereby ensuring
success and protecting self-esteem.
Some dojos have demanding tests to prove
strength, technique, and "character." One of my friends,
an adult, was actually required to jump out of an airplane to
prove her mettle in a certain martial art! While I encountered
nothing so drastic for kids, I did hear of ten-hour black-belt
exams, endurance tests, and pressure-packed trials.
Who Are the Teachers?
Competent performance doesn't necessarily
mean competent teaching.
Every teacher I met wore a black belt, and some boasted championships
in multiple competitions. They all knew their martial art inside
out. Physical competence, however, doesn't necessarily translate
into teaching ability, especially with children.
The instructor who meets you at the
door and delivers the sales pitch isn't necessarily the one who
teaches the kids. This is why observing classes is so important.
If you're refused a chance to watch, either in advance or after
enrolling your child, steer clear.
What is a "good" children's
martial arts teacher? My dojo sampling turned up enormous differences
among teachers of every age group, from barking drill sergeants
("Young lady, you must keep your hand out of your mouth!"
and "Do not speak when you're at attention!") to kindergarten
teachers ("Make a chicken wrist"), and everything in
between. Here are some questions to consider in light of your
child's temperament and learning style:
How is instruction given? By demonstration?
By explanation? By breaking moves down into easily manageable
steps? By allowing children to grasp the overall technique, however
imperfectly, or by requiring precision as every part is learned?
How are mistakes corrected? I saw curt
snaps and gentle suggestions. Some teachers seemed to comment
on every mistake, while others let the kid carry on with his
own creative version of a technique with a mild suggestion for
improvement of some aspect.
Is there pressure to "keep up"
and "do it right," or are children allowed to learn
at their own pace? Is the teacher's language age-appropriate?
("Think of yourself as a big balloon.")
Do the kids seem to want to be there,
or is this just one more stop in the after-school shuffle? Does
the teacher have the kids' attention, or are a few of them always
goofing off or chatting? Is an inordinate amount of time spent
getting students to line up just so?
What
is the turnover rate for instructors? In smaller facilities,
the instructors are usually the owners or family members, and
they'll be there are long as the dojo is. Larger studios may
depend on hired expertise to some extent. You don't want to sign
up because you love the teacher, only to find someone else replacing
him a few weeks later.
Are the Kids Having Fun?
While there's nothing wrong with hard
work, ensure that the experience is pleasant for your child.
Is the class "all business" drills and repetition?
Or are some skills, like coordination and balance, taught through
games or "play"? I saw a pee-wee cuong nhu class learning
evasion skills by ducking and jumping over a swinging stick.
Remember that your kid is an individual
who may not share your temperament. A few classes seemed like
boot-camp to me, but many of the kids genuinely enjoyed them.
That approach may be just what they need.
With the music and rhythmic moves, capoiera
classes consistently struck me as fun. All the kids seemed to
be having a ball, but an introverted child might feel overwhelmed.
Then again, all that joyful jumping around might be the perfect
way to draw him out. As always, you, as parent, are the best
judge.
Is the Facility Safe and Inviting?
Look for a well-ventilated space of
adequate size for numerous kids in action. If mirrors line a
wall, do flying elbows or sparring kicks threaten to break them
them? Is class disrupted by the instructor's constant warnings
to stay back?
Ask specifically where your child's
class will be held. Some snazzy-looking studios shunt the kids
off to smaller, stuffier rooms, at least when adult classes coincide.
Other
Practical Matters
How often does class meet? For how long?
What is the cost? Is there a family
rate in case you become interested, too, or a sibling does? Are
there any parent-child classes?
Is a uniform required? If so, what does
it cost? Who supplies the foam-rubber suits, mouth guards, and
other protective gear for sparring?
At what age may children start? Age
5 or 6 is the norm, but some places have "pee-wee"
classes for kids of 4 or even 3. If your child is beginning at
an older age, find out when he will be expected to move from
children's to adult classes.
Can you get someone on the phone? I
was astonished at how many studios never returned my initial
calls. If they don't follow up on inquiries that could represent
new paying customers, will they get back to you once your kid
is already in the fold?
Further Reading
The following books are good overall
surveys of both popular and more esoteric martial arts: The Complete Martial Arts,
by Paul Crompton and The Complete
Book of Martial Arts, by David Mitchell.
Dozens of books on individual martial arts fill shelves at libraries
and bookstores.
Linda Foust lives
in Oakland and is a former attorney turned artist and writer.
She is the author of three books, including The Single Parent's Almanac (Prima Publishing) and
has written fiction and nonfiction on a variety of subjects for
Parents' Press and other publications. She holds a green belt
at East Bay Aikido, where she began training last year when 12-year-old
son Christopher urged her to share his martial art.
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Where in the World is
Carmen Capoeira?
The following
is an extremely oversimplified description of popular martial
arts that offer children's classes in the Bay Area.
CHINESE MARTIAL
ARTS
Kung fu: A generic term for
all martial arts originating in China. Some styles emphasize
speed, agility, and timing, while others focus on power and strength.
In one style or another, you will encounter attacks, defenses,
kicks, jumps, leg sweeps, strikes, chops, throws, falls, grappling,
punches, katas (preset patterns of movements). Sparring, competitions.
JAPANESE MARTIAL
ARTS
Aikido: Defenses only, no attacks.
Graceful, circular movements that blend with and redirect the
aggressor's energy to neutralize and control him. Throws, pins,
rolls, falls, blocks. No sparring or competitions in most practices.
Judo: Attacks, defenses.
Like aikido, focuses on temporarily yielding in order to gain
advantage. Throws, blocks, joint locks, grappling, pins, falls,
katas. Competitions.
Jiujitsu: Very similar to judo,
but includes some more dangerous attacks on vulnerable body points
(which are not taught in kids' classes).
Karate: Attacks, defenses.
Focuses on strength and building stamina. Karate's emphasis on
maximum power and exact technique derives from its original intention
to kill with a single blow. Kicks, chops, punches, strikes, katas,
"destructive" or breaking techniques, almost no throws,
no grappling. Sparring, competitions. Originated in Okinawa,
but Japanese style is usually taught in the West.
KOREAN MARTIAL
ARTS
Taekwondo: Attacks, defenses.
Known for unique, high kicks in which both feet leave the ground,
a technique originally developed from the need for unarmed men
to unseat horsemen in the open Korean terrain. Strength- and
power-oriented. Punches, kicks, katas, "destructive"
or breaking techniques. Sparring, competitions.
Hapkido: Attacks, defenses.
Synthesis of many disciplines, including judo, aikido, and karate.
Kicks, punches, throws, "destructive" or breaking techniques.
Competitions.
AFRICAN/BRAZILIAN
MARTIAL ARTS
Capoeira: Attacks, defenses.
Rhythmic dance-like jumps and acrobatic moves in combination
with music and singing. Feints, kicks, handstands, leg-sweeps,
evasions. Originated with African slaves in Brazil. Sparring
is called "playing" and does not involve bodily impact
or protective gear.
VIETNAMESE
MARTIAL ARTS
Cuong nhu:
Attacks,
defenses. A blend of various styles, including aikido, wing chun
kung fu, judo, tai chi, western boxing, Vietnam's native martial
art (vovinam), and shotokan karate. Evading the line of attack,
kicks, chops, and punches directed to high, medium, and low targets
on opponent's body, katas.
AMERICAN MARTIAL
ARTS
Kajukenbo: Attacks, defenses,
katas. A blend of Asian martial arts: karate, judo, jujitsu,
kung fu, and others. Sparring, competition.
Linda
Foust
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