How do I find the right martial arts program for my 6-year-old boy?
You should consider Aikido, which is an excellent martial art that focuses on manipulating the energy of the opponent, rather than using combative strength. It is an ideal self-defense for both women and children, since it requires less strength and more focus and agility. Some of the Aikido moves include flipping and grounding an opponent, rather than taking them out completely.
It does require some use of weaponry, but it is essentially an excellent art at its core.
Here is a sample kid’s class in Aikido:
I don’t disagree that the instructor is important, however choosing a good semi-practical martial art with a passable instructor would be better than choosing a useless martial art with a fantastic instructor. That said, almost any martial art can teach the essentials of proper punching and kicking. However, having personally invested a year or so my life into Tae Kwon Do when I was younger, I wouldn’t recommend it. Tae Kwon Do is more of a sport than a martial art. I’d recommend some form of jiujutsu or kung fu.
Go watch a few classes. See what kind of “vibe” both you and your son get from it. And the comments about paying attention to the instructor are on the money. The instructor makes or breaks the class. And don’t worry too much about the style being watered down. At his age most schools aren’t going to be pushing self-defense too much anyway. The empahsis should be more about moving, stretching, balance, listening, having fun, etc. If the children stick with it until they’re older, they then begin to realize that all the fun they’ve been having actually has a use. . . Of course, it also goes back to getting a “vibe” about the classes. Even if you don’t have a martial arts background, if you get the feeling the school is nothing but fluff, it probably is.
This is coming from someone who knows very little about martial arts, but I thought I’d mention wushu as a possibility for your son. Looks awesome, involves lots of gymnastic skills, plus Jet Li does it. It’s possible to get involved at a very young age.
