Martial Arts for a 3 Year Old? Good Idea, or Too Young?

My kids both do martial arts. My son started at 5 1/2. I would say that 3 is definitely a waste of time/money--martial arts is NOT a cheap discipline.

I would think for an energetic 3 yr old, you (and she) would be better served by finding a tumbling or gymnastics class.

At my kids dojo they will start kids at 3 but it's still a little young - usually when they have an older sibling already in and are used to the environment. My daughter started when she was 4 and 3mo, son was 6 and 4mo. At this age, student to teacher ratio is extremely important. Do they have a 6 wk trial peroid to see if your child is ready??? Some just want the money, but a good dojo wants a child that is ready.

My now 16 yrs old started martial arts around 6 and she worked her butt off until she was 13 to achieve her black belt. It was HER desire and HER decision to follow through with this. We never pushed... she happened to go to a "trial" class and it clicked.

I do think gymnastics is a great avenue as well with younger children.

Self Defense is a fantastic power to have and we are glad our daughter knows her martial arts.

Hindsight..... Our daughter is a champion cheerleader, especially at kicking. Many of her team members are experienced as well but her coaches always talk about her kicks. Finally, we said.... her kicks are from her martial arts. She is the only one on a team of 26 (this year) with a black belt and training in martial arts vs gymnastics and she nails it.

You never know where the talent lies!!

we watched the 3 year and 4 year old class while waiting. it was a waste of time and money. gymnastics would get her moving.

I am going to also vote for gymnastics over martial arts at this point. My daughter started gymnastics last year just after turning 3 and loves it. It's been a great way for her to burn some energy off and get the ya-yas out, while still teaching her some discipline, like following directions and waiting her turn. Dance might also be helpful. I might consider karate for her or similar when she is 5 or up. Swimming would be good too and every kid should learn how to swim and feel comfortable in the water.

My boys started Tae Kwon Do at 5 each...it was GREAT!!! Still is!!

Greg is now a Black Belt at the age of 11 and Nicky is a Red Belt...

They did it for 5 years each...they have taken a year break and are ready to go back...which they will in October.

GOOD LUCK!!!

At my daughter's Dojo, they start kids at 5 years old.
This is due to developmental age/ability to follow directions/attention span per age/toilet trained or not/the motor-skills and coordination ability of kids this age/the development of the bones & growth plates & the fact that young children can often take more 'pain' and hyper-extension of their joints... because their bones/tendons/ligaments are more loose and flexible at this age. Thus, more injuries can happen, for example.
Versus with an adult, they will experience 'pain' more readily and thus, will at-will 'stop' the movement, etc.

At 3 years old, the class/instructor will teach with the age parameter in mind. They should. And, it will probably be mostly, very elementary expectations, at first.
So keep that in mind.

My daughter, LOVES Karate.
She has been taking it for about 2+ years now. SHE loves it. So we continue with it, for her. She is now a Blue Belt.
Her Dojo does not just hand out belt color promotions... willy-nilly nor like candy. The child... HAS TO EARN IT. If not, they stay at their present belt level.
It is hard work.

At 3 years old, do not expect.... a highly skilled level of ability.
And, if you just want your child to be active in a 'class', there are other options.

As for 'discipline' & "respect'.... it does teach that... but each child has their own ability to adapt to that, or not. Some kids, CANNOT take it... nor the "strictness" of the Sensei or teachings. Bear that in mind.
For example: some kids in my daughter's class, stopped taking classes. Because... they could not handle, being 'corrected' or told to behave. Nor could they adapt to the high structure, of the classes.
It is age and maturity. And the realization... that with martial arts.... there are expectations.... as a philosophy and skill.

At my daugther's Dojo, they do NOT, 'baby' the kids. It is not Preschool.
It is traditional teaching. With traditional martial arts, expectations.
Some Dojos... are more.... loose in teaching young kids.

My god son started at age 4. It's a great idea. Just find a program designed especially for children that young.

we started our daughter at 3 years old. She is tough though and was the youngest in the class. She would go up against 5 and 6 year olds and win. She loved it and still does! Go for it!!

My son started at 3...but it was only a few weeks before his 4th birthday. He stayed with that studio until he was 5. The new studio we wanted didn't take kids until 6. But after meeting him and seeing what he knew they welcomed him with open arms.

He is now 6 almost 7 in three weeks...and has earned his red belt, broken his first board (to earn the red belt)...and just started teaching the 3 and 4 year old class. (they finally expanded and now include younger children...but not when we originally wanted him to join).

In his very first class...there were four 3 year olds...two of them participated in class and two wandered around, ran out of the room, and were totally not ready for the experience.

Go to a free class...most studios have them to see if the child is ready and if your child is ready...go for it!!

I wanted to do that but I KNOW my son wouldn't sit long enough to listen. I'm holding off for a couple more years and it's EXPENSIVE too. I rather spend the time and money on something else right now.

There are places that take them young but I wouldn't start till they are about 5 - if they are a mature 5.
At the taekwondo place my son goes there was a 4 yr old who could listen fine but would wet his pants when running laps.
It's annoying (and disgusting) when other kids have to run through another kids pee on the floor in bare feet.
I started my son in the 2nd grade (he was 7).
He could listen, follow instructions, carry them out, (was potty trained) and I felt sure his muscles, bones and joints were ready for the running, push ups, and other stresses that would be put on them.
Also - not every instructor is good with real little kids.
I've seen young kids who were put in class but ended up crying through the whole thing because they want Mama and they don't want to be there.
My son's 12 now, in 7th grade and a 2nd Don black belt and wants to stay with it till he's a 4th Don (which will be when he's in 11th grade).

I am a black belt and an avid martial artists (and Jr Olympic champion) and started when I was about 6 years old, had my black belt by 9. I went to class 4 times a week and stayed for the adult class afterwards, we took it that seriously. Most schools will not even allow kids under the age of 5. I am shocked you found one that does. Before you enroll her, go and observe a class, they should offer your daughter a free trial class. See what the 3 year olds are doing, how the instructor is with them. Are they just wondering around, is their consistency or things being taught? What is their belt policy.. are they testing and passing kids just to make money, (otherwise known as a Black Belt Mill) or are they actually encouraging the children to learn the forms and spar correctly. I've seen kids earning their belts coming out of these schools, they are absolutely horrible in their technique and would never win a tournament.

I would say it depends on the child and if she can follow directions and focus she should do well. My little guy is not quite 2.5, but he loves watching his cousin at class (he's 10) and does practice at home with him. We've talked about him starting when he's 3. And our neighbor takes her 3 year old granddaughter to watch when she takes her son to class, and the granddaughter has worked out with the group twice now and they're deciding if they should sign her up.

Personally I think it would be great for your daughter.

My local place will take "mature" 4 year olds as the minimum. And I'm counting the minutes, my son is psyched, and he's 3! My daughter wants to take it too at 5, but she's already in several other classes so it's his turn! :)