A list of the 4 best martial arts that kids can learn

It goes without saying that teaching your martial arts can genuinely change their life. Often we hear tales of bullied children turning to martial arts to improve their confidence. Or, severely overweight kids training who improve their fitness. In other words, martial arts really does help improve your mental and physical state. Lastly, martial arts can be great for kids as it acts as a fun pass time.

With this said, there are so many different disciplines to choose from. So, where do you begin as a parent? Hopefully, this guide will help you pick the best martial art for your kid to train. From striking to grappling, there’s a plethora of stuff to train and it really depends on your personal preference.

What martial art is best for my child?

Judo

Judo has been around for hundreds of years and is one of the most popular martial arts in the world. It’s stood the test of time and whilst it’s great fun, it has still retained its tough fundamentals. Here, your kids will learn the art of throwing people as well as a few submissions too. Although Judo can be quite tough for adults and is intense at times – it’s often watered down for kids.

This means certain throws and submissions won’t be trained in the name of safety for those of a certain age. The great thing about a grappling martial art is that it will also teach your kids natural movements that will improve their athleticism into older age. As a result, Judo can make for a fine choice for children’s martial arts. One quick reminder is that certain Judo gyms can sometimes be very formal though, which may be worth thinking about before your kid begins training.

Karate

Perhaps the most popular martial art with kids is Karate. Although it’s a legitimate martial art, it’s also fair to say that Karate has enjoyed a successful marketing campaign over the years. One of the best things about training Karate whilst a kid is that it has a belt system that rewards your child for consistent training.

This may be one of the reasons why it’s so popular, as it offers an incentive to train and will keep youngsters on track. In terms of actual training, expert lots of kicks and fitness drills as well as games. Remember, for striking arts such as Karate, kids won’t hit the head during training which is a pretty sensible rule.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

In recent years, BJJ has grown massively in popularity – especially amongst kids. Like Judo, BJJ is a grappling art but unlike Judo it takes place on the ground. Whilst there are throws in BJJ, it’s mostly focused on submissions and gaining dominant positions whilst on the floor. Again, this gives a real benefit for kids growing up as they learn certain bodily movements that will make them fluid and athletic.

BJJ also has an active competition circuit which is good if your kid wants to test themselves or if they’re naturally competitive. Just remember, don’t push your kid too hard and if they don’t want to compete then that’s fine. The one drawback of BJJ is that it can be more expensive than other martial arts, especially if you’re on a budget.

Taekwondo

Another very popular martial art with kids is Taekwondo. Although many people compare this with Karate, it’s actually quite different and is based on kicks and flexibility, whereas Karate is arguably more rounded. TKD acts as a great introduction to getting your kids flexible. Too often, people lose their flexibility as they get older and never re-gain it.

Thankfully, Taekwondo teaches high kicks and is arguably one of the most flexible martial arts out there. It is also known for being child-friendly and has some pretty flashy moves on offer. Unlike Karate, it also has one, unified system rather than lots of different variations which means it’s easier to make a broad decision of whether Taekwondo is for your child or not.

What to look out for when starting your kid in martial arts

Pick the right instructor

Whilst the above styles are best suited for kids – the main thing is that they can feel happy in a safe and friendly environment. Because of this, it’s best to check out the teacher before enrolling your kids into a gym full-time. This means you may want to attend a trial class to get a general feel of the place before committing to a long-term deal.

Basically, some martial arts dojos can be very tough and harsh – even with kids. This goes back to the traditional elements of certain martial arts, whilst some coaches believe a tough love approach is best. If this isn’t for you and you think the teacher is a bully or too strict, then it’s best to avoid that gym.

Thankfully, most kids’ teachers are very friendly and have the patience to teach young children. Nonetheless, take this as a friendly warning that even if a gym has a good reputation, you may want to check out the teacher before joining. Some people argue that the actual teacher and environment are more important than what martial art your kid trains – because ultimately this is what will encourage them to train into adulthood or not.

Make sure it’s safely taught

Always remember that martial arts are very physical and can cause injuries. Whilst kids getting injured is very slim, sadly there are some gyms that aren’t very safe. For instance, you may find kids doing MMA or something where they’re encouraged to spar hard and push the pace. This may be ok with consenting adults who want to train hard, but is unfair to kids.

Not only will your child probably resent training in this environment – it also puts them in danger. Although concussions or arm breaks are rarely heard of with kids’ training – there are some horror stories out there of bad coaches who push their kids too far. Again, this can be sussed out by watching a training session or even talking to the instructor and asking some pretty direct questions. As a general rule though, the vast majority of gyms will be very safe.

Avoid bullshido!

Although the term ‘bullshido’ is well-known in the martial arts community, it may not be well known to naive parents. This is a play-on-words for bushido and describes when a gym or dojo isn’t legitimate. There may be various reasons for this. For example, they may try and trick you into financially committing to 12 month contracts. Just be careful to read the small print and check out the prices of similar gyms in the area. Always remember to read reviews too before making a decision.

Secondly, bullshido can also describe the techniques that are taught. For instance, you could have a Karate gym with a dodgy teacher with an unknown past. This person may not be a legitimate black belt and could teach your child bogus moves that aren’t effective. Again, looking online will probably answer your questions. Sometimes, bullshido can come in the form of completely made up martial arts that are intentionally vague in what they offer. Like everything in life, do your research and educate yourself before joining.