new member mum2jay ??????

[mum2jay]

Hi,
I have been googling al over the internet for some information on kickboxing and other martial arts. I have a two year old son and I have heard that at age three some schools will take him. So I was wondering where is the best place to start. I currently live in crystal lake, il and was hoping to find a good school around here.
My husband would like him to learn kickboxing and one other area, but we have not really decided, nor do we know where to start.

I was hoping to get some ideas and maybe some good schools from these threads.

Thank you so much for all your help.

[Garland]

For what purpose would you want to start a 3 or 4 year old in kickboxing? As a career option, self defense, fitness...or daycare?

[mum2jay]

three year old in martial arts

Career optin and discipline. I understand that these classes, teach alot of discipline with what they do.

[7r14ngL3Ch0k3]

Career optin and discipline. I understand that these classes, teach alot of discipline with what they do.

I think 3 is definetly too young.... You should wait till youre 7, atleast.

[Garland]

Career optin and discipline. I understand that these classes, teach alot of discipline with what they do.

If you see kickboxing as a career option for your 3 year old...I see some problems (unless you're impovershed and living in Thailand, or another 3rd world Asian country where it's considered culturally appropriate), the least of which is that kickboxers make close to nothing unless they are elite, like top 16 in the world, and signed to a particular organization, and even that is tentative because they never know when they can lose their contract with a loss.

I'm taking it that's what you meant...but for discipline...that's all fine and good, but kickboxing is serious stuff, and dangerous. Discipline should be learned at home, and is essentially brought on by good parenting. In short, be authoritative, not authoritarian (like a MA class may be) or neglectful (like using a dojo or school as a place to store your kids, like I see so often with the hundereds of TKD schoolsin every town). I'd say wait until the child is at least 6 or 7...and then make sure the instructors are cordial, and good role models (not mooks or maladaptive geeks).

Quick, look these things up, read, and take them to heart:
Erik Erikson's psycho-social developmental stages.
BF Skinner's Behavioralism, notably classical and operant conditioning.
and...any cognative behavioralists...
look up alot of developmental psychology, and make a more educated decision about this...you don't want to rush into this.
definitely food for thought.

I'm not a clinician, I am a student...but I can say one thing for certain;
The developing brain is extremely impressionable, and when making certain pivotal, or even seemingly trivial decisions or actions, you walk a razor thin line, and a small fact that coincides with this is -if you force your child into a career path when they are this young, they will resent you for it.

[mum2jay]

child discipline

That is what I keep telling my husband, but he feels if I like he must like it too. So I figured I would do some research into it, get the best information I can find, atleast until my husband "hopefully" gets past this "stage". My husband has already decided that he will like soccer and NOT football and that he will NOT play baseball and that he may play basketball. Believe me I have told my husband over and over that he should let him decide we should put him in all sports and see what HE likes. But sometimes my husband can be real hard headed, so I feel I should do my best to be well equipped with infomation. I know how dangerous this area can be and really any sport. I also do not think that this is an appropiate career path, it is great for your younger years, keep in shape, be safe, but definitely not a career path. I just need time to get that thru my husband's head, since he is just three I have aot of time. Anyway I as the mother am not encouraging it especially not right now. So as I said before I was just looking for great info, not criticism. Because if I know my husband he is going to put him in the classes regardless.

thanks anyway.

[Garland]

Because if I know my husband he is going to put him in the classes regardless.

thanks anyway.

If that is the case...look for a place that is down tempo. I would suggest a karate or tae kwon do school...these places are usually best suited for younger students...I would avoid muay thai gyms until he is older due to the nature of the sport...and, quite frankly, some of the people that train in the more hard-core combat sports. (you don't want people swearing and giving off a whole machismo thing infront of your kid. sadly, alot of people into the whole fighting thing are not the best role models.)

A muay thai gym is the same type of atmosphere as a boxing gym...you've seen Rocky, right? Not the best place for children. Some instructors offer kids classes...go for that, but observe them if you can a couple of times, so you know that the person is trustworthy. I know I should probably be more trusting of my peers in this community...but, no. Always err on the side of caution, skepticism, and perhaps even cynicism when it comes to the safety and care of your child in the hands of others.

[osopardo]

dayumn Garland!! I 'allus knew you had smarts, but I didn't realize ya had book larnin' too! I'd pos-rep ya twice, iffen I could!

Martial arts is essentially about fighting. All the other sugar-coating about discipline and focus and respect and honor ain't even at the center of the matter! That comes later when he's able to understand more fully. For now, do you really want your baby to spend any time in any environment where the primary focus is the study of violence?!? Career option?!?? do you really want your child to someday make money by beating people up, or getting himself beat up??!!?? Please have your husband log onto this forum and we will be happy to discuss this matter with him directly. Some of the members here are very accomplished martial artists, trainers, professional fighters, and people with long experience and can discuss this with him intelligently.

Lemme qualify my comments:
My father was my first martial arts instructor. He taught me self defense when I was 8 years old and continued doing so until I was about 11, as a response to an immediate, tangible need, not some cockamamie idea that some day I could benefit materially from the knowledge. His instructions always included long lectures on avoiding violence. BTW, without going into particulars, he was very qualified as a fighter and instructor. Since that time, I took a personal interest in martial arts and have formally studied a variety styles.

I, in turn, put my son in a tae kwon do school from the time he was 6 until he turned 10, because he requested it after seeing other children doing it, not because I wanted him to fulfill some sick fantasy of mine about being a pro fighter. He quit tae kwon do shortly after getting his black belt without anybody in the family putting any pressure on him one way or the other. Since that time, he's also played basketball, soccer, wrestling, boxing, baseball and football. He's now 16 and his current passion is paintball. Again, all of them his choices.

One more thing, you tell your husband that until you say so, that child isn't only his son, he's your baby!


.

[Tom Yum]

If that is the case...look for a place that is down tempo. I would suggest a karate or tae kwon do school...these places are usually best suited for younger students...I would avoid muay thai gyms until he is older due to the nature of the sport...and, quite frankly, some of the people that train in the more hard-core combat sports. (you don't want people swearing and giving off a whole machismo thing infront of your kid. sadly, alot of people into the whole fighting thing are not the best role models.)

A muay thai gym is the same type of atmosphere as a boxing gym...you've seen Rocky, right? Not the best place for children. Some instructors offer kids classes...go for that, but observe them if you can a couple of times, so you know that the person is trustworthy. I know I should probably be more trusting of my peers in this community...but, no. Always err on the side of caution, skepticism, and perhaps even cynicism when it comes to the safety and care of your child in the hands of others.

Sound advice, Garland.

Mum2jay, I think its great that your husband want's your child to have discipline, physical fitness and some self-defense. He obviously cares about your son and wants only the best for him.

[osopardo]

He obviously cares about your son and wants only the best for him.

That, or he's some sick a-hole who wants to vicariously live out his fantasies through the accomplishments of his child! I mean, c'mon! Two years old!?! Look, lest we forget, this is what a normal two year old boy (randomly Googled) looks like;

[Tom Yum]

That, or he's some sick a-hole who wants to vicariously live out his fantasies through the accomplishments of his child! I mean, c'mon! Two years old!?! Look, lest we forget, this is what a normal two year old boy (randomly Googled) looks like;

Hey man, I'm just trying to keep things cool.

[Garland]

yeah...I was trying not to make any judgement calls...I don't know these people, so it would be unseemly to jump to conclusions...but that scenario did kinda jump out at me.

[Thai Bri]

Whats wrong with judgement calls?

I am the Law!

[osopardo]

'zagly! What Bri said!

And I am sorry if my comments seemed a bit "overpassionate" - that's just how I feel about children. But, c'mon, didn't this whole thing about "my husband has already decided that he will like soccer and NOT football and that he will NOT play baseball and that he may play basketball..." rub you guys the wrong way too? I mean, sheesh! Two years old!?!

Oh, hmm, let me guess... is this his first child? Does daddy like to watch fighting programs on tv? Has he ever taken any martial arts classes for any prolonged period of time, like say, five years or longer? Is he using any "supplements" that may have psychotropic side effects?

.

[jorickdd]

first thing I thought seeing this thread: Richard Sandrak hahaha

he has also been trained in martial arts since the age of 2 look at this: