Taekwondo for kids question

[czechaholic]

Wife and I have been thinking about signing our 4 year old up. He says he would like to try it...I never did anything like this when i was young. Any TBH'ers have kiddos involved in this? Any ideas or pointers appreciated!!!

[slayer]

My boys were in Karate for 2 years, loved it. It teaches them discipline, manners and respect. I would highly recommend it.

[kapman]

My son started when he was 4 with TaeKwonDo. He is now 9 and a 1st degree black belt. I thought he was too young to start, but he took to it and stuck with it longer than I expected.

Great exercise for the kids!!

[UncleCharlie]

I would highly recommend it. I have twins that are 7 and started this summer and I wish we had started them earlier.

My favorite parts are the discipline and toughness that comes along with it and the fact that they are now better prepared to protect themselves if necessary. We have also seen a huge jump in their balance and flexibility that has helped in the other sports they play.

Their favorite part is the sense of accomplishment that they receive when they get a stripe for their current belt and successfully test for their new belts.

[Kingfisher]

My daughter is 3 (almost 4) and started Tae Kwon Do at her day care this past September. She loves it. She is the youngest in the class and when I watch the videos that my wife makes, I wonder if she is really getting anything out of it. Normally the instructor wants the kids to be 4. But I know that in the long run she will be better off because of it.

[grizzman]

My son and daughter took it together when he was eight and she was ten. They did it for a year and got tired of it, but have indicated that they wanted to try again. I feel like the first time I kind of pushed them into it, because I took TKD in college and Tang Soo Do Mu Duk Kwan for a while after college.

[kurt68]

I encourage it! It has been very good for the respect and social skills of my 10 year old. He just got his black belt last month after 18 months in the leadership program. He helps out in beginners classes and has made me very proud!

[quackerback]

ennis has a very good class. jackie self is a really good teacher.

[stinkbelly]

My boys started at 6 and 8 years old. They are blue belts now. I started at 36 years old.

[C.Read]

I would recommend it. My son (11 yrs old) has been in it for six months now.

[czechaholic]

ennis has a very good class. jackie self is a really good teacher.

That is where we were going to take him

[ZenDaddy]

My son and daughter took it together when he was eight and she was ten. They did it for a year and got tired of it, but have indicated that they wanted to try again. I feel like the first time I kind of pushed them into it, because I took TKD in college and Tang Soo Do Mu Duk Kwan for a while after college.

Good assesment.

I've numerous black-belts. A lot of different styles. I'm not a big fan of teaching really young kids martial arts. At that age I think they are best served by a gymnastics or dance class. It has all the same advantages without some of the extra baggage that travels with martial arts. Coaches them in plyometric strength, flexibility and the importance of form and movement. I enrolled my kids in gymnastics, soccer and hockey. When they hit ages 12 and above I'll take them to karate.

That's my two cents.

[chief262]

As long as they don't try it on you.