Tips on Choosing a Martial Art Studio for Your Kid

If you have a high energy kid like mine, you’re constantly looking for ways to burn off that energy. That might mean anything from enrolling them into soccer camps to gymnastics classes.

I’m not one of those parents who tries to get my kid signed up for everything so that every minute of his day is accounted for…oh wait, yes I am! 😆 But really, it’s not so that he’s just occupied. It’s because he has a ton of energy, mentally and physically. And he needs outlets for that in order for him to be able to decompress and have quiet time (and yes, that means quiet time for me too 😉 ).

So I had been long thinking about which martial art to get him into. And perhaps, due to all the school shootings and reports of bullying, it turns out many of my “mommy friends” have been contemplating it as well.

In addition to being great exercise, martial arts has always been known as a fantastic way to teach discipline and focus. It also, hopefully, instills a sense of values and honor. And the camaraderie with fellow students is also something not to be dismissed.

Even though I don’t have multiple black belts or anything like that, I have dabbled in several martial arts and can give a fair assessment on how to go about choosing a martial art for my kid and can help you in doing the same.

What is your comfort level regarding weapons?

Just as some parents are not comfortable with letting their kids play full contact sports like football, the same holds true for martial arts.

Some people are fundamentally opposed with allowing their kids to play with toys guns or knives. So it’s important to be aware that some martial arts involve sticks (e.g. kali), swords (e.g. aikido), or fake guns or knives (e.g. krav maga). Thus, if you don’t want them practicing with these things at home, then you probably don’t want them getting involved with these martial arts, as great as they are.

I even knew someone who quit Filipino Martial Arts (“FMA”) because learning how to use a knife was too visceral for them! And that’s okay! There are plenty of other forms of martial arts in the sea!

But note that almost all martial arts involve some weapons. Even if they are not wielding it, they will at least learn to defend against it.

What is your comfort level regarding touching?

I have also known people who were opposed to wrestling with those of the opposite sex due to religious beliefs. Whether it’s based on religion or you just don’t like the idea of your kid rolling around with another kid or maybe an adult, this could be problematic for some martial arts.

For example, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (“BJJ”) involves a lot of grappling/wrestling. If you enroll your little girl into this martial art, she may be sitting out a lot if there are no other girls in the class to grapple with.

What is your kid’s temperament?

Some martial arts have more quiet moments than others. That’s really the most simple way I can put it.

For example, Tai Chi involves fluid movements for defense. And no, it’s not just something graceful seniors do in the park!

My kid can’t sit still for more than 30 seconds. I can’t even get him to do yoga! So I know Tai Chi is not for him. Maybe one day, but not in his current toddler spastic state.

So temperament is something to definitely consider. The good news is that most martial arts are good for any temperament.

Do you care about belts or ranking?

In the martial arts world, there is something referred to as the “McDojo.” This term refers to martial arts studios/dojos that seem to promote their students quickly with frequent belt testings, which require a fee. The underlying idea being that you are essentially paying for the belt promotion. That gives the impression that the studio cares more about making money than teaching their students.

I honestly can’t speak to this just because none of the martial arts studios I’ve ever been a part of fit this description. However, as I shop around for a studio for my child, I get the strong impression that this may be true for some places.

Although I, personally, don’t care about belt ranking, I can see why people would, especially parents. As a parent, we want to see progress, especially if we’ve been paying in money and time for it!

Also, I think belt progression gives kids a sense of accomplishment. And that sense of accomplishment may give them that boost in self confidence they needed or at least gives them more motivation to attend classes.

So if you’re going to go this route, expect rapid belt promotions and associated fees. But don’t necessarily expect them to be the next “Karate Kid.”

How much can you or do you want to spend?

Some martial arts and martial art studios cost more than others. And it can be quite costly!

I used to take Filipino Martial Arts and we didn’t need more than workout clothes and boxing gloves! (They’ve since changed that policy by the way.)

Many martial arts studios will require a uniform (e.g. robe and pants) and equipment (e.g. sparring pads, mouth guard, sticks, boxing gloves). All of these things add up.

So don’t just focus on the cost of monthly lessons and keep in mind these additional costs!

Does your kid like the instructor?

This is probably the most important thing of all! Your child must like the instructor in order for them to care to listen and learn.

It doesn’t matter which martial art you choose. A good instructor should be able to win over your kid and strike that balance between discipline and fun.

How many times did a teacher ruin a subject for you during your school years? I remember really liking history until I had a teacher in fifth grade suck all the fun out of it!

That’s how critical teachers are to children at a young age.

Your kid’s martial arts instructor will become their disciplinarian, mentor, guidance counselor, and quasi-parent. So they and you had better like them…a lot!

You would think some of the above would be obvious, but some people with absolutely no martial arts experience really do not know about these things. And that’s okay. But the last thing you want to have to do is sign a contract for expensive lessons only to try to back out of it later!

Which martial arts have you tried with your child? How did it go? Share in the comments!