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.

[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/...otion_test.jsp) to get 6+ Dan, it is legit.

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

[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.

[Gman]

Honestly.. they're pretty much all belt factories.

They're money machines for those selling the belts.