Trout

iTrader: (1)

If you see any pitbulls outside tied up with string then give a wide berth!!!

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

David, martial arts are on par with top dancers bar the obvious hitting side as all the moves, style and being able to strech can only be matched by a dancer. Watching someone who is good at martial arts is amazing and not all arts involve violence as most are based on katas so skill can come with the moves. Obviously you need the aggression to be able to use the skills properly but you don't need it to look good in what you do

Dingdongler

That's exactly what I meant

Trout

iTrader: (1)

I think you missed my context for the comment - it was specifically about Krav Maga.

Core tenets of TKD = I shall be a champion of justice and freedom; I shall build a better and more peaceful world.

Core tenets of KM = Threat neutralization, simultaneous defensive and offensive maneuvers, and aggression

They come from very different places - reading about KM the words brutal and aggression come up regularly - words you do not normal see associated with the older Eastern traditions.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

I went to a few local classes before i chose the one i did, as i wanted to make sure it would be fun and had the correct ethos.

A lot of places are too aggressive or regimented and having experienced both myself wanted to weed those types of schools out, which i think i managed to do as he really looks forward to going, as once put off it would have been very difficult to get him back into it as he is a bit of a delicate soul and requires lots of support and encouragement, as he is still a baby and gets lots of love from us both being an only child he's somewhat unwise to the outside world if you get my meaning.

I put martial arts training down as the single most best thing my parents ever did for me, it gives you so much more than the ability to take care of your self a fight, the things you learn there carry you through every difficult situation you come up against in life.

Just make sure you choose wisely and pick what is best for the needs of your children.

Leslie

Whats a kata then?

Les

mattstant

I take my eldest to kick boxing as i help out with training (not officially )

Our club does both taekwondo and kick boxing.
As has been said already the quality of the teaching is very important, you also need to consider the needs of your own child my eldest likes football and the physicality of kickboxing over tae kwondoo which seems to suit him i dont think he would have the patience for all the katas in any case.

Parents seem to love tae kwondo as for the most part it is none contact and requires lots of very long winded katas and more disciplne.

Kick boxing also seems to suffer from the very notion of its descriptive title.

when ever we spar with tae kwondo students its is always immeadiatley apparent that the kickboxes have the edge certainly in fitness and strength as we spend far more time on physical trainning (basic katas and no langauge learning).

Trout

iTrader: (1)

...I am not sure which but of TKD is non-contact!

mattstant

they are a choreographed set of movements kicks parrys punches blocks done in a very deliberate regimented fashion used as teaching aids and included in gradings.

they can get very long and involved and i do see the point of them as they can make you more fuid and instinctive for attcks and counters but there not for me in kick boxing it tends to be about 3-4 moves but far les rigid in format an not necessarily part of grading

mattstant

fair point, badly put by me but the katas do see to take up alot of training time therefore less contact sparring (certainly in our club) and maybe parents see this as less contact ?

you did state yourself there is limited sparring to start with

Trout

iTrader: (1)

This was last year when they started - playing the sock game to get them used to movement and using their feet. Not TKD but, IMHO, a good example of how a good class gets the class members involved and makes if fun.

They all have mini-sparring gear now and do more formal stuff.

http://youtu.be/VpygqiUyu98

mattstant

that is brilliant keeping the kids engaged and involved is the hardest part.
Anything that makes it fun and keeps them learning is a big plus

Luan Pra bang

Interesting fact of taekwondo is that when I tried to use my very limited wing chun skills in sparring against a friend who was a taekwondo black belt I got beat down hard.

Ant

Just a thought why not take your kid(s) to try a couple and see what They prefer to do.

Scoober-Dubs

iTrader: (5)

For the last 30 years I've been engaged in combart sports... I started with Taekwondo, moved onto boxing, then found kickboxing and then back to boxing about 4 years ago and at the tender age of 38 [about to turn 39] I'm still boxing competitively. Personally I found Taekwondo was a good basis to learn to appreciate speed and balance but I was very aggressive as a child and I had the attention span of about 3 seconds and found I was able to relate to the boxing better.

I found both boxing & kickboxing to be very effective and can be used when up close, I now coach both and teach my kids privately.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vFtq7pgbj4

That said, you'll see from the knockout at the end of this clip (7mins 43secs) the experienced gained from Taekwondo benefited me later on.

Enjoy!

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Lovely reverse kick - so deceptive - so efficient

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

Likewise.

I'm trying to work out if they come with rice or chips. sure some are being made up!

5t.

Dingdongler

Thanks guys, some great advice. I think Trout is right that Krav is not appropriate for small children.

I'll try and find the best class locally, whatever discipline it is

Dingdongler

Hey dude, is that you?

You have pm btw

mattstant

Very impressive scoober duds perfect reverse turning kick.
I look like a 70 ft asthmatic barge doing those and telegraph them by pigeon post

Scoober-Dubs

iTrader: (5)

Cheers bud, yes that was me but a while ago... you can tell by the smokers in the crowd.

PM replied,

Wells.

Scoobyworld

iTrader: (4)

My advice would be to shop around a watch/attend a few classes. As already mentioned many clubs won't take kids that young due to insurance and average attention span.

Personally I too wouldn't be too bothered about what 'art' it is, as the majority are effective to a greater or lesser degree if taught well and trained hard for years, the problem is there seem to be plenty that arent taught well whatsoever and simply run as a means to make money, and some make plenty of that. I'd also try and find one that you and your kids really enjoy from the outset as if you don't enjoy it (i.e. just there to learn the art) you probably won't stick it out very long.

Also, with arts such as Karate it takes a long time to become profficient and even longer for it to become potentially useful. Generally up to 1st kyu / brown belt you're simply learning stances, muscle memory, and hip movement, after that it gets a lot more interesting in the Dan grades.

Katas are the heart of Karate and yet it seems many clubs just teach their students the steps without teaching the application (or bunkai), and so it becomes just a dance and as such almost pointless, aside from a good cardio and brain workout. I've had more busted ribs, broken fingers and windings during a kata bunkai class than any other side of Karate.

Anyway, hope that helps, in short find a good instructor and somewhere that fun to train

Neil

Dingdongler

Thanks Neil

Trying to find a good club will be the biggest hurdle. As you said there seems to be a massive commercial element to this, and everybody seems to have invented their own association/league/national institute to give them an air of authority.

Leslie

Thanks for the explanation. I was lost in all the jargon of course.

Les

Bats-Wrx

iTrader: (1)

I haven't read the whole thread. But i wouldn't right of judo it's good for kids,, and has some self defence reality to it,, What are most people wearing a jacket on a night out.. The last thing i would want is a good judo guy getting hold of the jacket and throwing me on my head..

I have done martial arts for many years,, Karate as a kid oh what a waste, Ju Jitsu (japanese), MMA and have lived in Thailand Thai boxing for a living with no job..

Thai boxing also have many kids classes available and will teach you many things without the bull of kata's/form etc... If you find a good teacher.