Factors to Consider When Teaching Kids Martial Arts

Parents who are thinking about enrolling their children into martial arts classes will naturally have a number of concerns. They’ll want to know the age groups that students are divided into. They’ll want to know that their child won’t be sparring against much older kids. Also, what steps will be taken to make sure their child remains safe? What happens in the event of an injury? How are behavioral issues dealt with? Below, we’ll discuss some of these factors (and others) that come into play when teaching children martial arts.

How Young Is Too Young?

One of the main concerns that parents have is placing their child in classes at too young an age. In truth, children adapt extremely quickly to many forms of martial arts. It’s not uncommon to visit a school and observe 3 and 4-year-olds sparring under the watchful supervision of capable trainers. The question is often one of psychology. Some styles focus on grappling and throwing. Others emphasize striking. While teenagers can adapt to striking styles quickly, young kids have to cross a psychological chasm to do so.

Parents can confidently place their kids into classes starting at 3 or 4 years of age. But, they should not allow them exposure to disciplines that involve striking or other aggressive techniques. Striking styles are best left for later ages when children have matured emotionally.

What Style Is Best?

If striking martial arts are out, what styles are more suitable for kids? Any type of martial art that focuses on grappling techniques will be appropriate. Most of them, such as kung fu, emphasize throwing and sweeping. Not only is this less-confrontational than direct striking, but it helps children develop agility, speed, and balance in an environment that isn’t overtly aggressive.

Dealing With Injuries

Injuries are inevitable. Most of them will be minor and can be shaken off easily with the right motivation. That said, even though a child won’t normally suffer broken bones during sparring, it can happen. Sometimes, they’ll fall on the mat wrong. Other times, their ankle can twist badly. Or, their opponent can be too aggressive with a throw or takedown.

Schools should obviously take as many safety precautions as possible to prevent a child from being injured. However, if it happens and the injury is minor, kids should be encouraged to simply shake it off. Psychologically, being thrown can seem traumatic. The sooner a child gets up and returns to the mat, the less impact it will have on them mentally.

If there’s pain, sympathize. Acknowledge it. Children want to be reassured that authority figures (whether their parents or the instructor) are watching out for their overall safety. If the injury is more serious, seek medical attention, of course. But, this will rarely, if ever, happen.

Dealing With Drama

Young kids are prone to being dramatic when they’re thrown on the mat. They’ll feign pain by whining or crying. In most cases, if a child is in serious pain, he’ll scream rather than whine, cry, or whimper. Most instructors will intuitively know the difference between a true injury and mere drama. Parents, on the other hand, are often overly-protective of their kids, which caters to a child’s penchant for being dramatic. If a parent’s responses are controlled, it can represent a turning point in how a child reacts to adverse influences.

The important thing to remember is that martial arts is a channel through which young kids can be taught several admirable qualities. They’ll learn respect, discipline, and emotional control. They’ll develop physical balance, coordination, and speed. The key is in the approach to teaching. And that, in itself, is an art.