Last October my daughter & I got to watch a friend & his school demonstrate karate. In the middle of it my daughter says "Mommy will you go up there & do that with me" haha She wasn't even 4 yet. I asked if she'd like to take classes sometime & she had said yes. Now she's almost 4 1/2, and in October they will be demonstrating again. I plan to take her again & see what she thinks. Maybe show her some videos of kids doing karate online.
Has anyone else started their daughter in karate at this age? I'm pretty sure she's got ADHD (Daddy does lol), and last year she had trouble listening in a kindernastics class.
What has been your experience? I know NOTHING about karate. What should I expect?
I can also take her to the dojo to see the classes for free (my friend teaches some advanced classes there).
Notes to add: The school does teach a 4-5 yr old class. I also thought it might be a good distraction for when Daddy deploys for 1 to 2 years. He's leaving in a couple months :(
There are usually classes available for kids her age, but some studios only take kids who are a little older. It depends on the martial arts they practice. Many years ago, I was an assistant at a karate studio where they had karate classes for small children specifically with ADHD. It helps them focus and let out frustrations in a safe and practiced manner. I highly endorse it!
My son who is going to be 4 in August takes Tae Kwon Do currently and the class is 40 minutes, 2 times/week. I think this is his max attention span, but he really likes it and looks forward to it. It's really just a learning experience to follow directions, learn some basic moves, and attention span traning, IMO. I think it's great and there are a lot of skills my son can learn from it. Try it and see, who knows maybe you have a female Bruce Lee-LOL!
My son started tae kwon do at 3...and he is now 5 almost 6...we moved to a new studio and changed to Mu Sool Won (still Korean martial arts, but more fluid and less "choppy" and I think better on his joints, etc). They stress learning to fall and pressure point and joint holds. Along with the forms they learn.
We found an awesome instructor, who understands child development and doesn't expect un-age appropriate behavior...he gets the kids are young.
My son just received his green belt and the youngest in his class, I think it annoys the 9 and 11 year olds that he out ranks them...but he has been doing it longer. My daughter will start at 4...that is the youngest this studio will take her. She can't wait.
My husband's has always said our kids would be in a martial art until they reached black belt and/or leave for college. He left it up to me which one. he wants them to be able to protect themselves and feel confident.
Let her try it and see if she likes it...you get a least one free class...and usually can get a short like 6 week trial contract to see if she continues to like it. Be wary of long term contracts...some of them just want your money and don't really care about your child...and other places will advance your child whether they are ready or not, just to get the testing fees (which can be expensive), and so you have to buy new belts and patches.
If you have a friend who works at the dojo then I think that is a great place to start...and join her and take too...I hope to start taking classes one day...my son might be my instructor. ;-)
My now 13 yr old daughter started Karate at the age of 6 and has a first degree black belt in Karate and a Jr. black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
A couple of things:
1. I wouldn't start her until she is 6. It is really a commitment for both the child and the parent after the first few months (the first months are pretty fun/easy).
2. It is great for kids with attention problems since it teaches focus and dicipline. Look for a teacher who handles kids strictly but fairly - your child will do better.
3. Expect that at about 6 - 9 months, your child will want to quit. Try to push them through this time period (if you want to stick with it). Karate IS hard and it is natural to want to give in. We went through a month were my daughter insisted that she wasn't going to go. I made her go and sit and watch. She thanks me now weekly that I didn't let her quit.
4. Be prepared to spend some money. This is one of those sports that starts out cheap and gets more expensive as you go along. Find out what ALL the costs are going to be now and in the future so you can plan ahead.
Good luck!
It is great for any age! My son who turned 4 the day before registration, is a child that you hear his name every few minutes. He did receive his yellow belt! Alot depends on the teacher as well!
It depends on the individual. Does your daughter take direction well? Could she focus for a 60 minute class?
Our daughter started at 4 and is now a 2nd degree red belt after almost 3 years of training. She is very bright and takes direction very well. However, we also have a daughter who is almost 5 and she is nowhere near ready to start training. We will wait until she is at least 6.
it may calm her adhd down. and the senseis are used to hyper kids and how to sutly calm them down running jumping jacks, push ups for not listening and use like styrofoam to teach them to block and pay attention. worth a try and they would be to tired when they get home for the adhd child to be wound up :)
My son started at 4, and liked it, but his teacher expected a lot and he was held back, and lost interest. If you find a school with a good teacher that will make or break the experience. Also, once your husband had deployed, check with the base part day programs. There are a lot of classes, preschool, karate, gymnastics, dance, all kids of stuff, offered to the kids with a deployed parent for free or at deep discounts.
She will LOVE karate. Our son started taking at 4 and loved the group classes but the individuality of the learning levels. You will definitely see some that just have natural ability and they zip through the belt levels and others who will skip a testing and excel a little slower. Either way they are making it to their goals ... just at their own speed. Now our daughter is taking and really enjoys it too. She has been involved since about 1st grade. We like the ITA organization and it is hugely family and children friendly. I started taking when our son did and loved the exercise I got! Stopped when I got pregnant again and just haven't picked it up again. We have numerous friends .. men, women and children who take and it's a huge part of their lives! Maybe you have an ITA school in your area and visit them too if they aren't the ones doing demos in the school (they very well may be the ones there already).
