8yr. old boy -outgoing - 13 yr. old girl -shy- what self defense class should they take -they want same class.

Question

combat hapkido-mixed martial arts-shudokan karate-kick boxing //// and if you can break these down for me i would love that // and y did you choose that one ////thanks a bunch ///

Answer 1

First off this is just a generalized overview - there are lots of interpretations of any martial art.  An instructor can teach a given style any number of ways, and incorporate lots of his own philosophy into his teaching - I would focus more on the teacher than the style taught for children.  That said:

Combat Hapkido - this is a survival self defense / military combat style and can be taught as pretty aggressive and brutal - eye gouges, groin kicks, weapon techniques, and chokes are common - probably not kid friendly.

MMA - sport fighting style - this is a mixture of striking, clinching, and ground (grappling and wrestling) techniques.  The specific styles taught depend on the instructor, but typically include Muay Thai kickboxing for strikes and clinch (close fighting), and Brazilian jiu jitsu for grappling.  With a good instructor, this one can be kid friendly, depending on the instructor.  *Beware - a lot of MMA instructors teach dangerous techniques to youth that are not ready to handle them (I don't think kids should be taught chokes unless they are really mature enough to understand the consequence of the technique).

Shudokan Karate - Okinawan traditional style karate focusing on powerful striking (kicks and punches).  They do the traditional "kata" or forms to practice and there are weapon techniques for advanced students.  A lot of traditional Shudokan teachers focus on the discipline, respect, humility aspect of the art as well as the fighting aspects.  Good for kids as a foundation because of the physical as well as mental aspects.

Kickboxing - this is a pretty diverse term, but generally it's a sport type of martial art which is mainly focused on striking from punching or kicking range - some kickboxing schools teach throws and clinch / dirty boxing (Muay Thai for example) and some teach grappling techniques, but these are the minority.  Typically very kid friendly, as the pace is quick and there is a lot of action. The training is a lot like boxing with punching bags and sparring being more frequently used than in some other schools.

I recommend kickboxing if you want something for your kids will enjoy together - I imagine the 13 year old girl wouldn't  be comfortable wrestling or grappling with boys, and the 8 year old may get bored with the pace of Shudokan.  

The best idea would probably be to visit a couple of schools and let the kids watch - most schools will let prospective students take a class for free to try it out.  Let the kids make a decision on where they feel most comfortable.  Please talk to the instructors and check out more than one school - a good instructor makes all the difference, and you can tell a lot by how they run a class.  

Good Luck

Answer 2

Which ever one has the better teacher.

Answer 3

Kyokushin kaikan is a style of stand-up, full contact karate.  Kyokushin is rooted in a philosophy of self-improvement, discipline and hard training. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art and combat sport that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting with the goal of gaining a dominant position and using joint-locks and chokeholds to force an opponent to submit. Boxing today is conducted in a regulated way, typically in a series of one to three-minute intervals called rounds.

Answer 4

It really depends on what you want them to get out of it.  If it's strictly self defense, then I don't think anything you listed is ideal.

But if you want them to gain strength,  flexibility, confidence, as well as learn self defense, sparring, forms, etc., then I suggest Tae Kwon Do or Karate.

The family classes will be mixed enough that your kids can take the same class but won't necessarily have to be together.  

Be prepared for them to try stuff out on each other at home!  It's lots of fun.

James

Answer 5

Hi Jessica,

I am going to give you a combination of Hammy's and James answers. I am not saying MMA might not be right for your situation, however you stressed self defense, and there are many components to self defense beyond learning to punch, kick, and grapple that many schools that train MMA's do not take into account.

Don't get me wrong, as far as the physical stuff goes, any good MMA school should suffice to teach them that, however most of these schools train for fighting in a ring, or as a competition, and as a result do not teach some critical components of actual self defense, at least to the best of my knowledge, but all schools are different.

Many people who recomend MMA's on here do not know the difference between a street fight and self defense. A street fight is a clash of two ego's, that requires 2 willing participants, that can be avoided 99% of the time if somebody has the confidence in themselves and the strength to back down. Self defense is where you have exhausted every other option, and has one or more attackers and one un willing participant.

Some key components of self defense often overlooked are being aware of your surroundings, taking easy precautions and making them habit, and also realizing that self defense is not about knocking a person out or submitting them, but just pure survival. Doing what you have to to get away, rather then stay there and fight it out.

My best advice is not to worry so much about style, as finding a good instructor and a good school. If you do a search on here, there are many good answers and questions about what to look for in a good school and instructor, and what to avoid, and also what questions to ask. If you want e-mail me and I will give you a list.

Next find all of the available schools in your area and take the kids to check them out. Some may even let them take free trial classes. Use the list you have too put some in the maybe catagory, and the others in the definetly not catigory. Listen to the kids, but you make the final decision, because the kids could like the flashy fun McDojo, but in that you might as well buy them belts and save some money.

I am not saying your kids might not winde up at the MMA gym or school if it is the best in your area. If that is the case then great, go for it, because the training is tough and will help build dicipline.

Just make sure that whatever school you send them to stresses when it is to be used, teaches basic awareness skills, and teaches the kids precautions they and you can incorperate into your everyday lives and make habit, as at their age the last two will go further toward keeping them safe then any pucnch or kick.

If you need further info feel free to E-mail me.

Answer 6

mixed martial arts