Martial Arts for Kids

"Mom, I want to learn karate!"

Yeah, right, I thought. My son discovers something new every day and wants it right now, tomorrow latest.

Why should my child learn how to kick and scream like one of the Ninja Turtles? What good would martial arts do him? Is it a good alternative to football, soccer or baseball?

WHAT ARE MARTIAL ARTS?

Martial arts consist of a wide range of styles and systems from China, Japan and Korea.

To make it easy, let's narrow these styles down to five categories:

Aikido, Jujitsu, Judo, Karate and Tae kwon do.

These are generally considered as best for children.

AIKIDO from Japan. "Aiki" means "blending body with mind to the movements of energy." "Do" means "a way or path chosen towards self-realization." The founder of Aikido said, "Aiki is not a technique to fight with, or to defeat the enemy. It is a way to reconcile the world and make human beings one family." Through Aikido, children learn the power of movement - this style uses the kinetic energy of attacker's blows and directs that energy back at him. Children learn safe, effective self-defense techniques along with skills in tumbling. For children aged six and older.

JUJITSU means "gentle art". Jujitsu is one of the oldest forms of hand-to-hand combat in Japan. Records of Jujitsu date back over 2,500 years.
Jujitsu is an all-round form of self-defense utilizing kicks, hand strikes, throws and locks. Breakfall training teaches the student how to land in a manner, which minimizes the potential for injury when thrown to the ground. Best for children aged seven and older.

JUDO means "gentle way". Judo originated from Japan and is a softer form of Jujitsu. Judo places great emphasis on moral and mental development. A judoka first learns "ukemi", the art of falling properly to avoid injury. Children can start to learn judo as early as five years old; it is one of the safest styles for children.