Am I encouraging bad behaviour or is this a positive thing?

Question

I want to encourage my 3 year old nephew to be more tough by teaching him boxing techniques and martial arts because hes rather small and might get picked on because of this, there are people who disapprove of this and think this is encouraging bad behaviour. Is it a positive thing Im doing or should I just not bother?

Answer 1

I think its a positive thing as long as you are not teaching him to be a bully...teach it as a sport that he can also use as self defense...I am just waiting for my son to be 6 to enroll him in Brazilian Jui-Jitsu...and my daughter can as well if she chooses once she is 6.

Answer 2

Make it into a positive thing. Tell him he should not use his training jsut to fight and intimidate but for self disipline and self defense..Hope this helepd!

Answer 3

I think Karate is a positive thing.  It teaches responsibility and discipline.  My son is in Karate now.  He will be 4 in December, and he just got his yellow belt.  :-)

Answer 4

It's a positive thing as long as you teach him that one of the main rules for martial arts is discipline and that it's to defend himself not to attack.  Perhaps waiting until he is old enough to accept this concept would be better.

Answer 5

Him being 3, maybe too young.  My brother always wrestles around with my son, he's 2.  Now every time he sees my brother no matter what he hits my brother,  and tries to wrestle around, and is more aggressive towards my brother, and my brother wonders why..hmmm.  But, when he is a little older he will no the boundaries, and understand the concept a little better.

Answer 6

I don't think there are actual classes for 3 years old.  If you are going to teach this, I do not think it's a good idea.  I would wait until 5 or 6, when they have more of an understanding that they only do this sort of thing in self-defense.

Answer 7

Make sure you keep it more athletic then competative when he's small so he understands the positive healthy things, then as he gets older you can introduce more competition into so he understands the sport side. Otherwise you're going to have a bully who beats the c**p outa all your friends kids and possibly siblings too.  

Answer 8

teaching him to use it only at appropriate times and only ppl who want the same for the child.  but it is the parents are the bosses

Answer 9

My niece will be four in october and she has been in karate for 2 years now. I believe that it is a positive thing as long as they are taught properly. They have to learn the discipline and patience along with the actual karate moves. I would say to check around at martial arts schools in the area and see if they have any suggestions.