question for martial arts experts

[ike61]

My boy is 2 1/2 years old. I want to get him into Tae Kwon Do and was wondering whats a good age to get him started? thanks

[sugarngold]

The sooner the better. Maybe when he's about 5 or 6 he can start in pee wee karate classes.

[jyuza]

Generally around 3 or 4 years.

[ufoalf]

around 6-7. Before that it's pointless. This is the age where he goes to school and he'll have interest in defending against bullies(if he is raised/taught properly(no offense)).

[karatekid530]

no younger than 6 or you're wasting your money. also make sure its not a shitty school, if he starts at 6 he still shouldn't be testing for a black belt when he's 11-12.

[Grievesy]

no younger than 6 or you're wasting your money. also make sure its not a shitty school, if he starts at 6 he still shouldn't be testing for a black belt when he's 11-12.

Yep I agree with this one. The ages i started Taekwondo and got my blackbelt.

Although if the kid is very good at it he could get to a black belt quicker through double gradings etc. Well at least in the UK. Not sure about the US.

[Grievesy]

If the child starts TKD in the U.S. at six years of age, he could receive black belt by seven. :yep

:rofl :rofl

[québecwarrior]

I've start doing karate at the age of 5, and i've got my black belt in kyokushin karate at 12. So yeah, wait a couple of year.

[coog]

6 0r 7

[papke26]

If i was you i would start him in judo, it isnt as abrasive as mma so for a child its just right. He would learn, real offensive and defensive teqnique that works against a resisting opponent and it would set him up for when he is older physically and mentally for other reality combat training. Karate is useless, for striking i would recomend non contact kickboxing. Hope that helps you never know you may have a future ufc champion as a son!

[younghypnotiq]

honestly. wat i wud do is start him at wrestling in 2nd grade(thats the earliest around here) then start him at boxing at 7. that is much better then TKD.

[karatekid530]

what i was going for was the even if you start him young he shouldn't be testing for black belt at a good school until he's at least 16, realistically 18 would be better. A kid just doesn't get it enough to really earn the belt. Start him in something around 6 though because it'll help build his morals. The wrestling and judo instead of TKD were good ideas, avoid MMA for a kid.

[papke26]

what i was going for was the even if you start him young he shouldn't be testing for black belt at a good school until he's at least 16, realistically 18 would be better. A kid just doesn't get it enough to really earn the belt. Start him in something around 6 though because it'll help build his morals. The wrestling and judo instead of TKD were good ideas, avoid MMA for a kid.

You dont want the little fella learning a useless art at such a young age. The egregious mistakes, of the non fighting martial arts should be avoided for anyone because they develop dangerous habits like high kicks etc.

[karatekid530]

You dont want the little fella learning a useless art at such a young age. The egregious mistakes, of the non fighting martial arts should be avoided for anyone because they develop dangerous habits like high kicks etc.
at a young age most places won't even teach the art, it's more along the lines of character building and good social interaction. There's nothing wrong with having an ability to kick high and on top of that most places would tell their students to keep kicking to the ribs or lower if they actually got into a fighting situation. Having total body control like that makes learning something like boxing or kickboxing a lot easier and flexibility will prevent injuries in traditional sports.

[ike61]

If i was you i would start him in judo, it isnt as abrasive as mma so for a child its just right. He would learn, real offensive and defensive teqnique that works against a resisting opponent and it would set him up for when he is older physically and mentally for other reality combat training. Karate is useless, for striking i would recomend non contact kickboxing. Hope that helps you never know you may have a future ufc champion as a son!
thanks everbody for the input. The problem I have is there is nothing else offered where I live(Northern Minnesota 6 miles from Canada). They don't even have wrestling in the school he'll be going to. I know there are probably better options out there, but there just isn't any other options. So I figured Tae Kwon Do is better than nothing.

[karatekid530]

If i was you i would start him in judo, it isnt as abrasive as mma so for a child its just right. He would learn, real offensive and defensive teqnique that works against a resisting opponent and it would set him up for when he is older physically and mentally for other reality combat training. Karate is useless, for striking i would recomend non contact kickboxing. Hope that helps you never know you may have a future ufc champion as a son!

i take offense to this. karate might not be the most effective thing on the planet but it's hardly useless. any training is better than no training. i'm happy with the time i spent practicing it and learned a lot of good stuff, learned how to get my anger under control and got in shape. unless you've tried it and not liked something about it personally don't demean it please.

[Hermit]

If the child starts TKD in the U.S. at six years of age, he could receive black belt by seven. :yep

Only if that is as long as they feel that you will pay. Threaten to pull out enough and it may go quicker.:deal

[Wige247]

honestly. wat i wud do is start him at wrestling in 2nd grade(thats the earliest around here) then start him at boxing at 7. that is much better then TKD.

As much as I hate to admit it...YH has the right idea. Getting your kids involved in wrestling early is better than TKD.

[younghypnotiq]

thanks everbody for the input. The problem I have is there is nothing else offered where I live(Northern Minnesota 6 miles from Canada). They don't even have wrestling in the school he'll be going to. I know there are probably better options out there, but there just isn't any other options. So I figured Tae Kwon Do is better than nothing.

gime ur town i gauruntee i could find a wrestling club in ur area. also boxing is much better than TKD and naseem hamed started at 7 so shud ur son. besides teh fact that boxing and wrestling are much better for fighitng than TKD. he will get a mcuh better workout then with TKD getting him in much beter fighting shape. wrestling i no for a fact they start going live immediatly. i doubt boxing will start u going live immediatly at 7 but he prolly will reletively soon. also he will get used to cutting weight and shit. finally he will start competing a few months after starting at wrestling and when he gets older he wont get butterflies in stomach an shit since hell be used to that shit. boxing also has tourneys early to. but not at 7

[Goose]

no younger than 6 or you're wasting your money. also make sure its not a shitty school, if he starts at 6 he still shouldn't be testing for a black belt when he's 11-12.

one thing i agree on is that a black belt test should be taken as an adult, when your opponents will not holdback anything, that way you can be seriously tested....taking a black belt test should not be allowed to kids IMO