HOW EARLY CAN YOU START TAEKWONDO?
Posted: December 20, 2015
Martial arts training can be both fun and beneficial for people of all ages. This is especially so for children, who can learn such things as confidence and dedication, as well as how to remain physically fit. We often receive questions regarding how young parents can enroll their children in Atlanta taekwondo classes for kids. While there is no set minimum age for children to begin in martial arts, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
Each child is different when it comes to how young they will be able to excel in taekwondo. For example, Bruce Lee, who is probably the most well-known and highly acclaimed martial artist ever, began his training in martial arts at the age of 13. On the other hand, Jackie Chan, who has starred in some of the greatest martial arts movies in history, got his start at 7 years old.
There is little evidence to support the idea that children that start training earlier will excel more quickly. In fact, starting a child in martial arts too early can deter them from finding true success because they may become discouraged if they are unable to perform all of the duties expected of them. It isn’t until a person is able to recognize that they enjoy something that they will be dedicated to it in the long term.
Here are some guidelines to follow when trying to decide whether your child is ready for taekwondo:
- They will need to be able to focus and follow directions, as well as memorize sequences of moves. This is one of the biggest reasons that professionals do not suggest starting children too young, because they may lack the attention span to focus for the length of the class.
- They need to be mature enough to control their actions, instead of showing anger when confronting an opponent. Taekwondo can be a great way for children to blow off steam while learning to remain confident during confrontation.
- They must have enough coordination in their hands and feet to carry out the punches, kicks, and sequences of moves involved in taekwondo. You can do some tests at home to see if your child seems coordinated enough to try.
You must also consider what your end goal is when enrolling them in a class. If you are simply looking for an activity for them to enjoy or a way to improve coordination and self-confidence, you could start them off younger. However, if you want them to continue to improve and obtain a black belt, you will want to make sure they are ready physically, mentally, and emotionally.
You can visit karate studios such as Karate Atlanta to see if your child feels comfortable and understand for yourself what the classes entail. An instructor can help you determine if your child is ready to begin or if you should wait just a little longer so that they can gain the most benefits possible.