Martial Arts - young kids

[tmleadr03]

I have always been on of the mind that martial arts for young kids is mostly just daycare. After about 5 or 6 depending on the kid they might get something out of it.

So here I am the proud parent of a 5 year old starting kindergarten this year. And would you believe she has already run into "Mean Girls"? Son of a bitch.

My daughter is not like I was at that age. I was an aggressive mean little shit. I was never a bully, but I would NEVER let anyone try to bully me. Hell, I remember when I was in the second grade there were some twins in 5th grade who tried picking on me. I just launched myself at them ready to brawl. Didn't win, but I didn't care. She just kinda takes it. So I feel it is time for some hand to hand combat training.

I personally started in TKD when I was late teenager and have since then while in the Marines trained some with Judo, JuJitsu and a few other styles. I always considered TKD to be a decent starting point, though it teaches some bad habits for an actual fight. What it does in the right school is teach the basics, flexibility and strength training. But I am torn on starting my daughter in that, even though I think it would be somewhat appropriate due to her being a half breed Korean kid and TKD is part of her heritage.

So what say you guys? What is a good style? Any good schools, not belt factories, in Aurora area? I will probably try to go and take the class with my daughter as well. It might do me good to be a white belt again.

[TFOGGER]

TKD and Judo, maybe Gracie Bullyproof...

http://www.gracieacademy.com/bully_proof.asp

[tmleadr03]

TKD and Judo, maybe Gracie Bullyproof...

http://www.gracieacademy.com/bully_proof.asp

I like that bullyproof thing. The only stuff I can teach her would end us both with talks with the cops.

[PugnacAutMortem]

I can't recommend Tom Johnson enough. I've recommended him before as he was my Krav Instructor, but he teaches a Little Dragon's class as well. I am unsure as to the exact style of martial arts he teaches, but every time I've seen the class the kids are having a ball. He is the best instructor I've ever had, and he is super patient even with the little ones. He teaches at Colorado's Pro Gym on Havana and Jewell. I would go in and speak with him to see if what he does is what you're looking for with your kid, but he is a damn good teacher.

[sniper7]

my son just won a free month at the fairgrounds at Mile high karate. he isn't 2 yet though... we are supposed to go tonight to check it out. still not sure if I will take him. I was never involved in it, but thought it was pretty cool.
My little cousins just got their black belts in TKD. one is 7, the other is 5. the 5 year old is the youngest blackbelt in the US. out with Bill Cho in chicago. I know TKD has changed their attitudes 10 fold. pretty amazing difference

[tmleadr03]

my son just won a free month at the fairgrounds at Mile high karate. he isn't 2 yet though... we are supposed to go tonight to check it out. still not sure if I will take him. I was never involved in it, but thought it was pretty cool.
My little cousins just got their black belts in TKD. one is 7, the other is 5. the 5 year old is the youngest blackbelt in the US. out with Bill Cho in chicago. I know TKD has changed their attitudes 10 fold. pretty amazing difference

Here is where I sound like a crotchety old man. 5 year old black belt is BS. Worthless. As good as that kid probably is at what he/she is doing (and I am not trying to take anything away from that) they are no black belt.

[Dave]

I tried to find some TKD schools in Aurora when I got out of the Army, and each was either a belt factory or was more interested in Olympic style sparring than in useable self defense. I did study for a while at Progressive Martial Arts, which I think has now moved to Chambers and Hampden. They used to be up on Iliff. They teach a combination of BJJ and Kenpo with some boxing work thrown in. You have to know both your Kenpo techniques and forms as well as BJJ techniques to test for belts. I stopped going because I was working and going to school full time, I've thought about going back there since they have moved closer to me.

[Monky]

Honestly.. they're pretty much all belt factories. If they're any sort of 'national program' type place. I've been through several disciplines, a lot of them were fun, but they're not going to teach you how to fight in a non-controlled environment. I probably enjoyed Krav Maga the most.. mixed with BJJ it made for some fun sparring sessions.

There was an active kids program, it focused on bully prevention, and kidnapping. Certainly a kid can't prevent a kidnapping but they can make themselves a harder target. I got to be the kidnapper a few times, and left with more than a few claw marks and bruised shins.

No one discipline is going to make you untouchable. They all have strong points and weak points. Krav has no ground game.. supplementing with BJJ makes it work. TKD, Karate.. sure you can stand off at a distance, but someone gets their hands on you and you're SOL. Mix aikido into either of those and it's a lot of fun.

It's better to start as a kid than as an adult. A lot of the people I worked with in Krav who were coming in to 'try it out' were there because they had just gotten their ass kicked, mugged, assaulted of some sort. I don't really remember that in Hapkido, or Karate, but I was just a student.

[Logan]

High Altitude Martial Arts in Aurora has a great kids program specializing in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. BJJ is a great form of self defense for women to learn, as in the event of an attack they are likely to be put on their backs. I know several of the instructors at HAMA personally; they are good people. A lot of their kids medal in the tourneys, too. Good luck.

[Kraven251]

I have always been a fan of hapkido. All the locks and throws of aikido melded with the strikes from tkd. Though like you said, there is a lot from that style that ends with you talking to the cops and your kid getting a bad rep.

I really enjoyed my time with it though, but I don't know of any schools in CO (haven't really looked either)

[MrPrena]

Here is where I sound like a crotchety old man. 5 year old black belt is BS. Worthless. As good as that kid probably is at what he/she is doing (and I am not trying to take anything away from that) they are no black belt.


+1
Black belt TKD is mostly earned , because mainly due to experience in it.
In TKD, 4th and up is a decent level of blackbelt. If someone went to Kuk Ki Won (http://www.kukkiwon.or.kr/viewfront/eng/promotion/promotion_test.jsp) to get 6+ Dan, it is legit.

I would say, TKD 4th degree is equivalent to 2nd degree in Kendo.

[spqrzilla]

The Aikido studio opposite Auraria campus. Because they are not a ripoff joint, they have very reasonable fees and don't have long term contracts.

And I've always considered Aikido the most practical of the martial arts. Less macho BS too.

[joeyshoe]

My daughter just turned 7 and has been practicing Chinese kung fu with a little wing chun. She is receiving belts but her sifu careful to make sure that she is actually learning and progressing. The belts are a nice way for kids to visualize progress and have tangible goals. I guess I feel like the training at this point it good for confidence and strengthening of the body and mind. I hope you find a good school!

[tmleadr03]

Stopped by the PMA this afternoon. They had some younger kids (11-15) in a class. I hate to say it but I was not impressed. Instructor was letting them slide with very sloppy technique. Going through the motions more then anything from the look of it. I have no idea of their belt system but they were green belts. There were some brown belts standing around talking and two starting practicing some take downs. That was decent. I know adults are different then kids, but you should not let sloppiness go I don't think (it is one of the things that irks me with some of the TKD I see every once and a while, kicks that are not full extension during form? WTF?!). Even in kids. If you are going to do it, do it right.

Of course I didn't see the entire class so it is hard to make a total call.

[Gman]

Honestly.. they're pretty much all belt factories.
They're money machines for those selling the belts.

[tmleadr03]

It speaks volumes when all the junior class that I watched train had matching uniforms with their names embroidered on the back.

[Madeinhb]

Put her in BJJ. That would be the best.

[Lex_Luthor]

Hey Chris, bring her to my school. I'll give her a class for free. PM me for times. I teach Pai Lum (White Dragon) kung fu. We are as traditional as they come. Not a watered down Americanized version of an already watered down "martial art". Definitely NOT a belt factory. I agree with you that a 5 year old black belt is pure BS. All it's going to accomplish is filling your kid's head with ideas about his abilities that will get him hurt. We have 8 schools in the state. I teach in thornton. 303-451-8483

[Musashi]

Dead thread resurrection time...
I want my daughter(and myself) to try out some different martial arts and am curious as to what you all have experience with in the west metro area for Kung fu, Escrima, BJJ, other forms along those lines. Not looking for a sport gym but an actual training gym where we can both train.

[ray1970]

You should do Krav Maga.

[blacklabel]

Anyone have recommendations for training in the Greeley area? I'm thinking about putting my son in something a little more productive than soccer.

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

Anyone have recommendations for training in the Greeley area? I'm thinking about putting my son in something a little more productive than soccer.

The farm in Greeley and fudochi in milliken. I've trained with the professor from fudochi, he's a good dude that cares a lot about his kids and the program.

[blacklabel]

Thanks, I'll check them out.

[gnihcraes]

nevermind... saw this was for Greeley area.

[ANADRILL]

Shotokan is my preference

[stevenc23]

Have both of my girls in BJJ. No belt factory, no testing, lots of sparring. Highly recommend it. Nothing makes a father prouder than watching his girl choke out boys her same age.

[sneakerd]

Mile High Karate is and has always been a money trap. They have all kinds of different ways to get into your wallet- and that's what they are all about. Don't waste your time there. Imho. I think one of the best schools in the area is CTA up in Thornton. Master Andre DeOliveira and his wife Angela run it. They are good people with a long championship pedigree. Their chief "assistants" are Ramon and Carolyn Nunez. The Nunez family is pretty well known in the Denver TKD world and Ramon has been kicking ass for almost 30 years. Can't speak highly enough of them. The Nunez family together also run "El Chingon" a really neat restaurant near 44th and Tennyson.

[gnihcraes]

Mile High is mostly out of business. Mr. Oliver took everyone's money and most shops closed up. Anyone that could survive, re-branded into another dojo.