Martial Arts Q & A |
What exactly are the martial arts?
Broadly speaking, it's a collective term for a family of fighting disciplines, primarily from Japan, Korea and China.
All that fighting sounds scary.
Well, you can't avoid the word martial--they are fighting systems. But keep in mind that most of the systems taught today are methods of self-defense and, ultimately, emphasize avoiding conflict through self-control, self-discipline and improving self-confidence.
"Many kids think they'll learn to kick butt and that their instructor will help them," says Dakin Burdick, a Bloomington, Indiana, instructor who holds black belts in tae kwon do and hapkido. "But I teach kids that the most important thing they'll learn is respect."
Why shouldn't my child just play soccer?
Because not every kid enjoys team sports, for starters, and because martial arts teach much more than self-defense. Whereas sports such as soccer and baseball concentrate on physical skills, martial arts emphasize mental skills such as concentration, self-awareness and memory. The mind-body discipline of studying martial arts seems to address the short attention spans of today's children, even those diagnosed with attention deficit disorder.
"Karate school is so structured that it's a stabilizing influence on ADD kids--sometimes dramatically so," says Elisa Hendrey, a third-degree black belt who teaches in New York. "Kids come in looking out the window, wiggling, staring into space, and in a couple months you forget they ever had a problem. Other kids come to us with self-confidence problems, because they are small or fragile or being bullied, and they quickly begin to look and feel more confident."
Martial arts training can even be an introduction to good manners. "You wouldn't think of this offhand," says Hendrey, "but we're almost like an Emily Post school. We teach that karate begins and ends with etiquette."
Won't the martial arts just encourage more roughhousing?
Paradoxically, no, say martial arts instructors. They claim kids who bully their peers often have a confidence deficit and learning a martial art helps them to overcome that. Some schools, however, are less effective than others at emphasizing the importance of self-discipline and respect, so parents should always talk to potential instructors and observe classes to see how aggression is handled.
Can martial arts training lead to trouble?
Most martial arts teach the theory that the first line of defense is nonviolence. "The spirit of genuine martial arts is the opposite of aggression," says Terrence Webster-Doyle, author and founder of Martial Arts for Peace, an antiviolence group based in Vermont. "It seems contradictory, but by learning to defend yourself, you also learn how to resolve conflict without violence." And it's not like kids become lethal weapons overnight. "By the time a child is competent enough to do actual damage," says Robert Wolfe, Jr., of the Itten Dojo in Pennsylvania, "there's a high likelihood he'll have already learned not to turn to violence."
Don't kids get hurt with all the kicking and punching?
Studies have shown that the martial arts are safer than nearly any other physical activity your child is likely to be involved in, including team sports such as soccer. "Kids are always showing up for class with injuries they've gotten in another sport," says Chris Goedecke, author of SMART MOVES: A KIDS' GUIDE TO SELF-DEFENSE and a karate black belt who runs the Wind School in New Jersey. "I tell them, 'You oughta stick to something safe--like karate.'"
This isn't so far-fetched; as one instructor pointed out, martial arts are designed to disable, so instructors have spent a thousand years figuring out safe ways to teach them. Indeed, the most dangerous students in any martial arts school are not the black belts but the white belts--novices who haven't yet learned to control their bodies. Still, you should make sure that kids wear padding and are closely supervised while sparring.
How old should my kid be?
While many martial arts schools have programs for children as young as four, for most kids it's probably best to wait until they are at least seven before buying them that first uniform. "If a younger child wants to try a martial art, fine," says author and black belt John Donohue, "but what you'll probably end up with is an expensive pair of pajamas. Their attention span simply isn't long enough. Can your child even stand on one foot? If not, he or she isn't ready."
Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Judo--what's the best martial art for kids?
In a nutshell, it really doesn't matter. The basic philosophies behind each are fairly similar--the big differences lie in the physical aspects. Karate, for example, uses lots of powerful punches while judo more closely resembles wrestling. Right now, tae kwon do schools are the most popular and probably the best choice for the Power Rangers set--the style is dynamic and easy to learn, but it's not overly demanding on young bodies.
A laid-back child, however, may be more comfortable with a "softer" fighting style, such as aikido. But don't think that the softer styles are necessarily more suited to girls. Since martial arts emphasize technique over power, the playing field is more level when compared to other sports. "Girls make much better students than boys," says Donohue. "Boys try to muscle their way through the lessons. For many girls, they've given up on that, so they'll listen and do the techniques correctly."
How do I choose the right school and instructor?
It boils down to one question: Do you feel comfortable entrusting your child with the instructors? A good kids' instructor needs to have plenty of patience and should be both entertaining and in control of the group. Try talking to other parents of students about their experiences and--most important--visit the potential schools and watch classes at each one before enrolling your child. If the instructors won't let you watch, it's definitely the wrong school for children.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. If you're worried about an overly aggressive environment, ask how the school addresses self-control, conflict resolution and issues of respect. Then watch, especially during sparring sessions, to see if the teachers walk their talk. Make sure you're entirely comfortable with your decision before handing over your money--and watch out for the hard sell.
Although there's no required accreditation program for martial arts instruction, many schools voluntarily adhere to guidelines laid out by the National Association of Professional Martial Artists (NAPMA), an organization that emphasizes family-friendly instruction. For a list of member schools near you, write NAPMA at 3950 Third Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33703.
Finally, if possible, don't sign any long-term contract with the school until your child has been enrolled for at least three months. That way, you'll be sure that he or she will be sticking with it.
What should I expect to pay?
The average tuition in the United States is $65 a month, says Rob Colasanti, vice president of NAPMA.
What if I want to take classes alongside my kid?
Opinions are mixed on that. Some instructors are wary of schools that allow adults and kids to train in the same class. But if classes are specially designed for families or divided by ability, taking lessons together might be a rewarding experience for everyone. "Sometimes kids are better at it than their parents and it's good for them to see their parents struggling," says Donohue. "They think, 'I'm going through the same thing as my parents.'"
Will my child leave the school a practicing Buddhist?
There is a spiritual element to some aspects of martial arts training, but the goal of the exercises is discipline and focus, not a strengthening of faith. Bowing to the teacher and fellow students, for example, is intended to show respect. A moment of silence before class serves to clear kids' minds for their lessons. Or, as Wolfe says, "The introspective nature of martial arts training can teach a person how to think--but not what to think."
Will my kid really learn to chop a brick in half?
All the martial arts instructors we spoke with agreed that kids' bones are far too soft for such a punishing stunt. "Not only is it a bad idea," says Donohue, "but it also doesn't prove anything. Have you been attacked by a brick lately? It's a show-off move and not in the spirit of the sport."
Broadly speaking, it's a collective term for a family of fighting disciplines, primarily from Japan, Korea and China.
All that fighting sounds scary.
Well, you can't avoid the word martial--they are fighting systems. But keep in mind that most of the systems taught today are methods of self-defense and, ultimately, emphasize avoiding conflict through self-control, self-discipline and improving self-confidence.
"Many kids think they'll learn to kick butt and that their instructor will help them," says Dakin Burdick, a Bloomington, Indiana, instructor who holds black belts in tae kwon do and hapkido. "But I teach kids that the most important thing they'll learn is respect."
Why shouldn't my child just play soccer?
Because not every kid enjoys team sports, for starters, and because martial arts teach much more than self-defense. Whereas sports such as soccer and baseball concentrate on physical skills, martial arts emphasize mental skills such as concentration, self-awareness and memory. The mind-body discipline of studying martial arts seems to address the short attention spans of today's children, even those diagnosed with attention deficit disorder.
"Karate school is so structured that it's a stabilizing influence on ADD kids--sometimes dramatically so," says Elisa Hendrey, a third-degree black belt who teaches in New York. "Kids come in looking out the window, wiggling, staring into space, and in a couple months you forget they ever had a problem. Other kids come to us with self-confidence problems, because they are small or fragile or being bullied, and they quickly begin to look and feel more confident."
Martial arts training can even be an introduction to good manners. "You wouldn't think of this offhand," says Hendrey, "but we're almost like an Emily Post school. We teach that karate begins and ends with etiquette."
Won't the martial arts just encourage more roughhousing?
Paradoxically, no, say martial arts instructors. They claim kids who bully their peers often have a confidence deficit and learning a martial art helps them to overcome that. Some schools, however, are less effective than others at emphasizing the importance of self-discipline and respect, so parents should always talk to potential instructors and observe classes to see how aggression is handled.
Can martial arts training lead to trouble?
Most martial arts teach the theory that the first line of defense is nonviolence. "The spirit of genuine martial arts is the opposite of aggression," says Terrence Webster-Doyle, author and founder of Martial Arts for Peace, an antiviolence group based in Vermont. "It seems contradictory, but by learning to defend yourself, you also learn how to resolve conflict without violence." And it's not like kids become lethal weapons overnight. "By the time a child is competent enough to do actual damage," says Robert Wolfe, Jr., of the Itten Dojo in Pennsylvania, "there's a high likelihood he'll have already learned not to turn to violence."
Don't kids get hurt with all the kicking and punching?
Studies have shown that the martial arts are safer than nearly any other physical activity your child is likely to be involved in, including team sports such as soccer. "Kids are always showing up for class with injuries they've gotten in another sport," says Chris Goedecke, author of SMART MOVES: A KIDS' GUIDE TO SELF-DEFENSE and a karate black belt who runs the Wind School in New Jersey. "I tell them, 'You oughta stick to something safe--like karate.'"
This isn't so far-fetched; as one instructor pointed out, martial arts are designed to disable, so instructors have spent a thousand years figuring out safe ways to teach them. Indeed, the most dangerous students in any martial arts school are not the black belts but the white belts--novices who haven't yet learned to control their bodies. Still, you should make sure that kids wear padding and are closely supervised while sparring.
How old should my kid be?
While many martial arts schools have programs for children as young as four, for most kids it's probably best to wait until they are at least seven before buying them that first uniform. "If a younger child wants to try a martial art, fine," says author and black belt John Donohue, "but what you'll probably end up with is an expensive pair of pajamas. Their attention span simply isn't long enough. Can your child even stand on one foot? If not, he or she isn't ready."
Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Judo--what's the best martial art for kids?
In a nutshell, it really doesn't matter. The basic philosophies behind each are fairly similar--the big differences lie in the physical aspects. Karate, for example, uses lots of powerful punches while judo more closely resembles wrestling. Right now, tae kwon do schools are the most popular and probably the best choice for the Power Rangers set--the style is dynamic and easy to learn, but it's not overly demanding on young bodies.
A laid-back child, however, may be more comfortable with a "softer" fighting style, such as aikido. But don't think that the softer styles are necessarily more suited to girls. Since martial arts emphasize technique over power, the playing field is more level when compared to other sports. "Girls make much better students than boys," says Donohue. "Boys try to muscle their way through the lessons. For many girls, they've given up on that, so they'll listen and do the techniques correctly."
How do I choose the right school and instructor?
It boils down to one question: Do you feel comfortable entrusting your child with the instructors? A good kids' instructor needs to have plenty of patience and should be both entertaining and in control of the group. Try talking to other parents of students about their experiences and--most important--visit the potential schools and watch classes at each one before enrolling your child. If the instructors won't let you watch, it's definitely the wrong school for children.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. If you're worried about an overly aggressive environment, ask how the school addresses self-control, conflict resolution and issues of respect. Then watch, especially during sparring sessions, to see if the teachers walk their talk. Make sure you're entirely comfortable with your decision before handing over your money--and watch out for the hard sell.
Although there's no required accreditation program for martial arts instruction, many schools voluntarily adhere to guidelines laid out by the National Association of Professional Martial Artists (NAPMA), an organization that emphasizes family-friendly instruction. For a list of member schools near you, write NAPMA at 3950 Third Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33703.
Finally, if possible, don't sign any long-term contract with the school until your child has been enrolled for at least three months. That way, you'll be sure that he or she will be sticking with it.
What should I expect to pay?
The average tuition in the United States is $65 a month, says Rob Colasanti, vice president of NAPMA.
What if I want to take classes alongside my kid?
Opinions are mixed on that. Some instructors are wary of schools that allow adults and kids to train in the same class. But if classes are specially designed for families or divided by ability, taking lessons together might be a rewarding experience for everyone. "Sometimes kids are better at it than their parents and it's good for them to see their parents struggling," says Donohue. "They think, 'I'm going through the same thing as my parents.'"
Will my child leave the school a practicing Buddhist?There is a spiritual element to some aspects of martial arts training, but the goal of the exercises is discipline and focus, not a strengthening of faith. Bowing to the teacher and fellow students, for example, is intended to show respect. A moment of silence before class serves to clear kids' minds for their lessons. Or, as Wolfe says, "The introspective nature of martial arts training can teach a person how to think--but not what to think."
Will my kid really learn to chop a brick in half?
All the martial arts instructors we spoke with agreed that kids' bones are far too soft for such a punishing stunt. "Not only is it a bad idea," says Donohue, "but it also doesn't prove anything. Have you been attacked by a brick lately? It's a show-off move and not in the spirit of the sport."
 |
 |
 |
|
