My son is 8 years old...4th month into karate! I originaly signed him up because of the bullies down the street...but quickly realized theres alot more to karate than self defense. Since he started karate he has developed respect for elders, more manners & more self estem. We have notice a big difference with his school work!! I stronly would consider for any youngster...KARATE.
P.S: The last time the bullies down the street picked on my son...was the last time...my son is a quick learner. Any good son/daughter karate stories?

 

MudHunter,

This is exactly what I wanted to hear. I have a 12 year old daughter and 9 year old son and I was thinking about getting them into Karate. My only hangup was the price, but if these results are typical, then it will definitly be worth the money.

Thanks!

Tim

 

You will not regret it. The cost for my son was $80 per month. There was discounts for multible family members! I would sit in on a session to see how well the instructor works with kids!

 

My 2 kids (son & daughter) did Karate for Kids from the age of 6 & 5 till ages 12 & 11. My daughter got to Red Belt and son to Recommended Black (Black over red on the belt). It worked wonders on their self confidence. We got a discount for the second kid. They even won first and second place in a state wide competition back when they were both Orange belts.

 

My 7 year old has been in karate for about a year. Put him in there because of bullies. This time he stood up to them an popped them back. The big advantage of karate is the philosphy that goes with it. People that really know karate don't seem to get into many fights, because they have the confidence/self-control to walk away.

 

We sent both of our kids to Tae Kwon Do, and our dtr made it to black belt. Then she got involved in sports, and something had to give.

I think both kids got a lot of benefit from martial arts. I recommend it, esp. for the discipline they develop from it.

 

Our daughter is 3 months old. We're enrolling her next month in Thai Boxing and Ju-Jitsu courses. Gotta get her started early. She's already told us she wants to fight Ken Shamrock in UFC 1001.

OK, not really, but my wife and I do intend to enroll her when she becomes of age.

 

My two daughters have been home schooled since they were 5. My Ex husband is a third degree black belt in Kenpo karate, and teaches them as often as his schedule allows. He also teaches twice a week at a local Kenpo school. It's a character builder, and self confidence booster for the kids.
I highly recommend it. And it can get expensive, but the expense is better than buying a video game for them. Fortunately, our expense has been minimal. I even learned to make the gi uniforms myself!

 

My 9 year old son has advanced to his yellow belt. We opted for Karate in hopes to develop his coordination and self-confidence.

Team sports like baseball, football, basketball etc, all of which I did well, are great for the kids with natural atheticism. My son and others who were "born without the Baseball gene" struggled to keep up and often were ridiculed by the better athletes and their coaches.

My goal for his study in Karate is that he'll develop coordination to the point where he'll be confident to try any sport. If in the process, he builds the self-assuredness to face a confrontation, that's a good thing too.

 

I've been training for over 10 years and it's made a world of difference for me. It's kept me flexable, confident, and mentally alert. I also watch the young ones and I've seen some kids grow to become fine, respectfull teens and young adults.. Some kids get it and some don't. My best advice is check out as many different schools and martial arts systems as possible until you find one you're comfortable with. Stay away from the "A-- Kicker" types.

 

Got our two in Tae Kwon Do, (sp?). I was watching, as I am terrified my son will turn out like me. Any, I see the old master pull him out of line and turn him around. Hhhmm, methinks, he did something wrong. Oh well, I like the way the guy does it. Just rough enough to catch their attention, but not to hurt them. So, they old guy stands back and points at my son. Now I can't remember exactly what he said except for the few words that count. Anyway, he was using my son as an example of what to do--it was a good thing. So he points and says, kind of yelling you know--"Straight lip. Sharp eye." And then goes on to say everyone should be this way. If you can imagine the old guy's Korean accent on top of it, you can see why I think this is such a hoot.


So now my kid gets mad at me when I tell this story or re-enact the moment.

I'm so proud.....

 

My sons, 11 and 13 have been in for 2 years. They have become more disciplined and say "yes sir no ma'am" to people they meet. They also seem more self confident and don't have as much problem with bullies.

I sometimes play with my kids and poke them in the tummy or ribs and I have noticed that they unconsciously make attempts to block the pokes, so it looks like the moves are becoming automatic. I won't be surprised if in a couple years, I won't be able to poke them at all.

I think the training and discipline have been good for the boys and hope that they have learned that there is no need to fight or flee when the school bully is around since the word eventually gets around that "this kid isn't worth bothering with".

Just my opinion,

Jim Henderson

 

My nephew started Karate when he was 13, this was a kid who could not do a chinup to save his life, a little overweight had his share of being picked on too. He made blackbelt at 18 went onto college and Med. school (chiropractor), now stands 6'3" 240lbs and all muscle. With one side kick he has sent three avg. ( 180lbs ) men flying that I had seen for myself.

 

Aloha Mud_Hunter,
Good job. You know as parents we only want the best for our children. It hurts us more when they get hurt. Martial arts is a good thing to know in our and our childrens life, for mind and body. A good Martial Arts teacher will teach them not to fight, but to defend. It will be very beneficial for our children in their future.They will have... confidence and self esteem. Keep up the good work. Aloha and take care.

 

I paid for my own lessons when younger (16) and I would recommend it for younger children as long as you take it easy on the knee exercises and stuff until they turn 16+. Generally speaking I think it teaches respect for others and as you lie there looking at the ceiling and wondering how you got there and if you might be able to breath again, it teaches you are not invincible to injury or death.

imo, One big benefit is I think it makes you more aware of your surroundings and that by itself avoids trouble and a potential assault.

Even if you carry a weapon such as a gun, if you do not have good reaction time it is useless and it could be taken away and used against you. Being able to jump back six feet away from an attacker to draw your own weapon can really turn the tables on a bad guy, especially for a smaller person such as a women or teenager.

We were taught better a live chicken then a dead hero if someone with a knife or gun wants your wallet. But, if they are intent on assaulting you or causing someone else bodily harm, you certainly have a right and obligation to to dent their head or windpipe and break parts of their body that they probably can not spell.

That 12 year old girl killed by that car mechanic in FL probably would be alive today if she had taken a martial art.