I previously wrote an article in 2017 on the 5 reasons Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the Best Martial Art for Kids. While I still agree with my thoughts on that, let’s just say my thoughts have evolved and there is more to it.
In retrospect, there are more martial art styles out there that are just as good for kids, but other factors have to be in place to make them worthwhile.
So what makes a great style of martial arts for kids? Here are some criteria from my point of view:
Builds independence & confidence. Letting children teach one another in class helps them to become more independent and responsible. For tens of thousands of years of human tribal living, younger kids predominantly learned their life skills from older kids.
Kids crave responsibility, and they build confidence in themselves and others when they are entrusted to help one another learn and work together. Through discovering and solving complex tasks. As instructors, we are guides. We don’t make a clay sculpture with a mallet, we use a light hand to make adjustments here and there.
Giving kids time to work on something together in class, to think critically, sparks their imagination, gives them questions to ask, and builds confidence as they experience success in figuring things out, or helping their peers to figure it out.Entrusts children with powerful tools. Nothing screams trust and acceptance to a child than when we trust them with something powerful. Think about the first time our parents let us light the fire, or to help cook. The thrill of being allowed that responsibility, something we were previously forbidden to touch.
Locking children away from ‘real’ martial arts techniques, things classified as ‘too dangerous’, only reinforces feelings of inadequacy, or immaturity. Martial arts class should teach a child real techniques, and how to behave responsibly with them as they traverse life. This encourages responsibility, maturity, and feelings of trust.Encourages freedom of expression. Martial Arts is called an art, not a science. This is due to the inherent nature of personalizing the techniques to match our individual bodies. We are not creating an army of simulacrum that will all move the same way, have equal strength, size, or wits.
One boxer, grappler, karateka, judoka, wrestler, etc., can gravitate to an entirely different skill set from another. As teachers, our responsibility is to show the art, encourage the development of a strong foundation, and foster personal development in the direction of what works for the child, not for the instructor.Eliminates Boredom and provides mental engagement and stimulation. Kids are smart, and they have an incredible aptitude to learn new and exciting things. While techniques need to be broken down, and simplified for instruction (at any age level), they do not need to be watered down to the point of boredom.
How a class and instructor approaches complex subject matter is of extreme import. The audience (young or old) should be mentally challenged, but not overwhelmed. Monotony must be masked by challenge as repetition is the mother of all skill.
Does that mean a 9 year old needs to throw one type of punch 10,000x while standing in a horse stance just to get those reps in? No. We build over time, and we achieve higher knowledge by combining said knowledge and ideas.
The punch can be included as part of a series of moves, or combined with a takedown, kick, or other strikes. Changing it up stimulates the brain, and challenges the student to make the punch work with control, discipline, and technique rather than putting them to sleep, or calling them hyperactive if they do not comply.
No matter the style, the most important factor is that the school, or gym, the art, the program, hit’s the criteria necessary to ensure children are getting the most from their martial art.
