Five Questions Parents Must Ask Before Enrolling Their Kids inMartial Arts

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According to one study, somewhere between six and eight million American children

practice some form of martial arts every year. That’s a lot of kids! Would you know a

good school if you saw one? Here are a few tips to help you find the best school for

your child:

1. Is your child physically and emotionally ready for a contact sport?

Karate, boxing, Kickboxing and

Taekwondo are primarily stand-up

striking arts, concentrating on punching

and kicking. Judo, wrestling, Aikido, and

jiu-jitsu are mostly grappling arts that

focus on throwing and joint locks. “Mixed

martial arts” is a relatively new term

referring to those schools that blend both

striking and grappling in their teaching.

So, is your child ready for this?

2. What do you want your child to learn?

Most schools promote Discipline and

Respect for their students. However, there

are two types of martial arts schools:

Tournament focused or Self-Defense

focused. It is important to ask the

instructor which is emphasized in class.

Both offer great character-building

development, but there is a huge

difference between practicing to win a

trophy and practicing self-defense.

3. Does the instructor have a “safety first” attitude?

Watch a few classes before signing

anything. When the students spar each

other in a striking art (like karate), do they

wear proper safety equipment (gloves,

mouthguard, helmet)? Many schools

require the students to wear chest

protection as well. It is crucial that the

instructor takes the right precautions to

prevent injuries. I also recommend that

students do not engage in full contact

striking sparring until they are effectively trained. Also, look around to see if the facility is

clean. Do they take steps to regularly clean the mats with disinfectant and keep the

bathrooms and changing areas clean?  If it is a “dungeon dojo,” then stay away.

4. Is the head instructor qualified?

People can make up degrees and mount them

on walls. But there are a few clues you can look

for to determine their qualifications: Does the

instructor ever do public demonstrations of his

skills? Does the school have a good reputation

in the community? Ask around. Is the instructor

certified by an organization? Some great ones

are independent, but if they belong to a large,

reputable organization like the United States

Judo Association or the World Taekwondo

Federation, where you can check out their

credentials. Is the school known as a “black belt

factory,” where the students are guaranteed a

black belt in a certain amount of time two years? Or do they have to pass rigorous tests,

and nothing is guaranteed or given? They earn it. Does the instructor speak well of

other martial artists and their schools, or does he/she have a cultish attitude, where they

believe they are the only “true” martial artist? Good instructors are not threatened by

your questions. They welcome them.

5. Does the school promote an attitude of encouraging everyone?

If you see older or more advanced students

belittling others and pushing their way around,

talk to the instructor about it. If it seems to be a

habit, find another dojo. You want your child to

love going to class and learning new skills. A

good school always discourages bullying,

everywhere and in all its forms. And it makes

sure that the martial arts skills learned in the

classroom are only used for self-defense or

tournaments.

The Martial Arts is a vast world of excitement and exploration. I hope your children train

hard and enjoy the journey!