Definitely Read Before You Sign up for Kids Karate, Taekwondo or Traditional Martial Arts !

(Before you read on, I am in now way being negative to the above martial arts, this is my opinion, and believe that to train for real life situations or sport you have to train in that manor for it to be effective.)

In this blog I will use Karate as the scapegoat for the unrealistic and non real world martial arts, yes I understand that some striking martial arts focus on "ground work" but this is my perspective and am more than happy to debate.

We know some parents aren’t familiar with the difference between Karate and other martial

arts, but knowing the difference can be a HUGE impact on your child’s development, and feeling like you’re getting your money’s worth for months of training. Let me explain:

Kids Karate Gives Kids a False Sense of Security

Everybody knows that most real fights end up on the ground and stay there. Unfortunately,

most Karate schools teach absolutely NOTHING on the topic! School fights with slams like this are ALL over the internet,

Kids Karate classes will make your child feel special for breaking a thin wooden board. They’ll get a big high five from the Sensei and get a big smile on their face. But lets not confuse that false sense of confidence with real skills. Brazilian Jiujitsu, however, does exactly that – it focuses on ground grappling/wrestling and teaches kids EXACTLY what to do when the fight goes to the ground. After a few months, your child will have REAL confidence knowing they can handle those kinds of scenarios without even thinking about it.

Karate Doesn’t Teach Kids Reality Based Self Defence

In general, kids don’t want to fight. But if it comes down to it, will they remember their Karate training? Could they make it work on someone who is throwing haymakers at them?  Karate is a Japanese martial art that teaches both kicks and punches. But the only true way to ensure these techniques actually work is by having your kids train with RESISTANCE. Unfortunately, and again, most Karate schools don’t do this. In Kids Karate classes your child will work with targets, cooperative drilling partners, and perform beautifully choreographed kick and punch sequences in front of an audience of friendly coaches and parents. But this won’t prepare them for a flurry of angry body weight and hands being thrown at them.

Brazilian Jiujitsu is used in professional fighting (MMA, UFC), and it works on the streets. In our jiujitsu classes, your child will learn age-appropriate techniques to control a bully on the feet and on the ground. The best part is they will be training with resistance every day, and will learn to apply all of the techniques under pressure.

Do I know what I am talking about, well from a guy who was set against grappling and thought I could bang anyone out, to realising I was a very small fish in a big pond, to achieving a Black Belt in BJJ over 10.5 years, and training the British Elite Soldiers in unarmed combat and arrest and restraint, id like to think I have an idea what is real world now.

Your Child Doesn’t Want to use Karate on Another Child, and could Get In Trouble if He/She Does!

Generally, most well-adjusted kids don’t want to “strike” another child – even if they know how to fight! We see lots of videos like this one with kids being pushed around and even if they have done martial arts, they are reluctant to use it:

On top of this, most Karate schools are going to teach your child NEVER to use the techniques unless you’re in a “self defence” situation, whatever that means. How is your child to reconcile defending themselves and not getting suspended / going to the principal’s office? What would you do in their place?

Fortunately, our classes have the answer to this where Karate does not. Using wrestling/grappling techniques, your child can take a bully to the ground, pin them and wait for help to arrive. If the bully is especially violent, your child can continue to control them further using painful holds on the ground without ever need to throw a strike. Your kid is happy because they never have to hit someone. You’re happy because your child will stand up for him/herself and do so in a way that won’t likely get in trouble.

Karate Can Be Unsafe for Your Child’s Developing Brain

If your child advances in Karate, they may be asked to begin sparring or competing in Sport Karate. Even with protective gear and “light contact” rules, your child will begin to sustain kicks and punches to the head. As a former Royal Marine Commando who taught the military unarmed combat for many years, I can tell you there is no such thing as a “light contact” punch?

Ask yourself if you want your child to begin accumulating a long series of “light contact” strikes to the head over the course of years. If they do it, what will be the long term impact on their still developing brain? Is it worth the risk?

Again, we don’t have this problem in our academy. Our kids spar with full resistance, but there we don’t teach kids to punch or kick each other in the head. It’s all grappling. And it’s all practical, safe, and fun :).

Ask These Questions Before Signing Up Your Child for Karate, Taekwondo or Tradition Martial Arts !

There are lots of martial arts to chose from, and for the most part, Kids Karate, Taekwondo, and Jiujitsu memberships cost around the same. However, they are NOT the same in a lot of other areas. Before signing up for karate lessons, ask the owner:

• What kind of fees do you charge for Kids Karate program upgrades, renewals, black belt club, weapons, sparring equipment, belt tests can I expect in the future?

• How long does it take to get a Karate black belt and what does it mean to be a child black belt?

• What do you advise kids to do if they get into a self defence situation at school?

• Specifically how do children develop discipline and focus in your program?

• Do I pay for the program monthly or up front?

Like I say, at Mahara Jiujitsu we are not bias, and if anything think getting your child into any sport is a great thing, you get them moving and being active, however if you are looking for a real world martial art that has been proven to work by Soldiers, in MMA and in a street fighting situation. Then Brazilian Jiujitsu is the sport for your kid.

BJJ is hard, taking down and pinning a foe to the ground is hard work, but nothing in life is easy, you have to work for it and remain consistent.

Those are my thoughts anyway.

Adz