Recommendation Fro Tae-kwon-do or Karate for 3 1/2 Year Old

Hi J.,
I work in a school where there is an after school program at Tulen Center for martial arts. There is also a One With Heart Tulen Center on 4231 SE Hawthorne Blvd ###-###-####) where my family has gone for classes. These are awesome places to take your young child for lessons. I don't know what age beginning classes require, but if you call the number I listed I am sure they will help you find what you are looking for for you little buddy.
Good Luck,
J. S

My father-in-law is a 3rd level black belt in tae-kwon-do. My son began showing interest about about age 5, but my father-in-law made him wait until he was at least 6 before getting him involed because of the maturity level in kids. They're being taught to protect - and potentially hurt - people and need to know when NOT to use it just as much as how to. that takes a level of logic and maturity that kids younger than 5 simply haven't developed yet. My son is now 7 and working on earning his yellow belt (1 up from beginners). He still has trouble knowing when NOT to use the skills he's learning sometimes, but since his "Papa" is his mentor, it makes it easier for us to keep him focused. For physical activity for a child that young, I'd look at community centers before looking into martial arts - unless someone in the family can take him under their wing.

My 9 year-old son takes taekwon-do at a studio called Bettencourt's Taekwon-do America. We are very happy there. They do have a program for young kids, called Tiny Tigers, which my son started in and my daughter participated in for a short while. The instructors work really well with kids and it is a beautiful combination of physical activity, discipline and fun. The studio is at 417 SE Grand, between Stark and Oak, and the phone number is ###-###-####.

I highly recommend any classes taught by Ruth Haller, my and my eleven-year-old daughter's tae kwon do instructor for several years. Ms. Haller is a black belt, the mother of several children, and an experienced and gifted teacher of children through adults. She relates to children very well, including very young children like your son. She teaches classes in a variety of locations in the Portland metropolitan area:

*Village Home Education Resource Center (www.villagehome.org)
on T/W/Th 11-12:15 at 5150 SW Watson in Beaverton (for homeschooling families)
*Garden Home Recreation Center on Tuesdays, 5-6pm
*PCC-Sylvania campus (16yrs & up) on M/W 3-4:20
*Bushido dojo on Cornelius Pass Rd (across from Kohl's) on Thursdays, 1:15-2:30.

If one of her classes doesn't work for you, try to find a school that teaches traditional tae kwon do. Many of the schools are more money-making businesses than good schools. But a traditional school teaches not just tae kwon do as a sport, or as a business, but teaches the full mind-body-spirt of tae kwon do, including character building. Choi's Tae Kwon Do Academy in Beaverton is a traditional school, as is Choi's Martial Arts Academy on Halsey in Portland. Both of the Choi's academies have been in existence for many, many years, and have excellent reputations.

The meaning of tae kwon do is "foot-fist-way". Which means that the art of using one's legs as well as arms for self defense is taught, but also a way of life is taught (in a traditional school). Karate focuses on use of the arms, not the legs. Because the legs are longer than the arms, using the arms as well as legs for self-defense is more effective.

Hope this helps!

C.