My 8yr old son is taking karate w/ an after school program. He isn't progressing as fast as some of the ...

Question

others. he was 1 of the original students,think he is ranked 3rd at the program.

Should i be worried about rank? progress?

and that some of the 6,7 yr olds are getting ready to pass him.

his teacher makes mefeellike me and my son should.

Answer 1

I agree with THE-Spar. At hios age it should be fun and interesting and rank should not matter. If the instructor is making you or your son feel bad I would look for another school, because it is not right. Maybe he is just trying to hide his shortcomings as a teacher.

Answer 2

I instruct at TKD and have taken Karate before as well. At 8 I would not worry so much. You son is still developing and so is his gross motor skills.

I here a lot of parents in my classes worry about the same things that you are. He will be fine. Kids need a variety of activities. They need to run, jump, climb, roll and anything else they can do to help develop their gross motor skills.

Most parents keep their kids from doing a lot of these things. Let your kid be a kid. Do more than just the martial arts. Soccer, flag football, baseball, dance, gymnastics...I could go on and on. Each thing will only help enhance the other.  The more you do the better you become at everything.

Keep the arts fun for now. Let him jump and play around at home as much as possible and you will see big improvements.

Answer 3

if he's enjoying himself then no . What is he a yellow belt? its still early times he only needs to know easy things to advance. I think and this is my memory from when i did karate 13 years ago, at yellow belt you needed to know a pattern demonstrate round house kick etc just learn it and go through it with him. He needs to demonstrate to the teacher he knows what he's doing. Then he can enter into the grading examination.

Answer 4

I guess it depends on your son.  For me, I hate the idea of competing against others for various reasons.  The only way I improve, w/o getting ridiculously discouraged is to just try to better myself.  Sometimes I get a little discouraged if I see someone who just started already get better than me, but then I realize that I didn't take it to be better than others. I take it to make myself stronger, and to improve myself.  If he's happy with himself, and you/him sees improvements then that's good.  Doesn't matter what the other kids can do.

Answer 5

I applaud you for getting your son involved in martial arts at an age where he has ample time to grow and progress. If handled properly, your son's experience with martial arts will be a lifeolong association, and will serve him well.

Now having said that, I will say THIS: Gaining rank in martial arts isn't about getting rank quickly, it's about getting rank PROPERLY, particulary as young as your son is. Moving your son up in rank before he is physically and EMOTIONALLY ready will serve no purpose but to give him an inflated sense of his abilities, and could end up putting him in a dangerous situation that he is ill-prepared to handle. It is, at least in a quality school, not uncommon for children to progress in activities at vastly different rates. This is especially true in martial arts; some seem to pick it up with ease, and progress at a faster pace. Others don't grow into their limbs until they are nearer their teenage years. Others never gain the level of proficiency of their peers, but are good to the limit of THEIR capabilities. And some mature mentally and emotionally much later than their peers, which is an important and INTEGRAL component to martial arts training. The amount of time it takes to become truly proficient and worthy of promotion in martial arts extends well outside the classroom; practice must happen AT LEAST one day out of class for every day IN class. Otherwise, it is akin to sending children to school and never having them do homework: there is no reinforcement of the lessons learned outside the classroom.  

So I urge you to be patient, and your son's rank will come when he is truly prepared and capable of taking on the lessons and responsibilities of the next rank. If you truly feel that his instructor seems to be pressing him to move along faster, then I suggest taking him aside and expressing your concerns - WITHOUT your son present. This will give you a better feel for the instructors role in the situation. If he truly is trying to move your son along too quickly, I urge you to investigate other schools and disciplines to find one where your son can grow and progress at his OWN rate, not on an expected or advertised schedule of promotion

Answer 6

He's only eight. If he's having fun, then the class is working. If the instructor is making it seem like your son is slow, maybe he isn't such a great teacher. And what's up with this "ranking" business? Ranked third...give me a break. Sounds like its just a way of keeping score to me. There's nothing wrong with competition, or teaching a child to be competitive...but there's a time and a place. An 8 year old should be having fun. Stressing class "rankings" pushing too hard, forcing a child to be too competitive, this can take the joy out of the class, and make your child grow to resent you, or make him grow to be an overbearing, over competitive adult...let him have fun; let him be what he is.. an 8 year old kid.

Answer 7

don't worry about it at all-you're already ahead of the curve by getting him started early.  Let him progress at a comfortable pace-otherwise he will lose interest if he's pressured

Answer 8

everyone is different, maybe karate isn't for your son. try introducing him to other things to see what he is good at? you'll find something, it's probably not your son though.

Answer 9

martial arts differs from so many activities.  it is not a team sport--- we should never compare one student to another.  the end result of a students journey should always be the same.   but i offer two types of martial art students....

1 the natural student.  this is the student that has no issue building the skills, learning the forms---hitting the splits---im sure you catch the drift.

2 the un-natural student.  this student will have to work much harder- wait longer for rank...

my natural students are amazing to teach... to watch- and good role models of what skill can be... however, my un-natural students are the heart of what martial arts is about. their true dedication and commitment is a dream for any teacher... a good sword is made over time!!

if your sons heart is in it---and he sticks it out not only can he turn into an amazing martial artist, but have the philosophy to back it up!!

- talk to the teacher-- if you get the feeling like he/she could care less--- pull your son from the afterschool program, and find a teacher who cares.  and dont forget to get involved... ask to see the form he is working on---or how his side kicks look... i have many "arm chair blackbelt parents"... you will learn what to look for...and see the improvement   :-)

Answer 10

All martial arts practice should be examined for what it is worth to the student. It has nothing to do with rank or keeping up with others. It is about learning about yourself, learning self-defense, confidence, and learning to work with others.

If your son is happy training then I would let him continue. If he is not interested then take him out. Don't let anyone influence you because of how he rates with the other kids. That is not the point.

All the Best!

Answer 11

See if your son is really passionate about karate.  If he is, and is still gung-ho despite the lack of progress, then you need to find another teacher.  

Some teachers only want to deal with natural athletes instead of with people who have passion for the art.  In the long run, it's the ones who stick with it who advance, not the ones who get rank quickly.  So many people who get brown and black belts when they are young quit and fall off for years, decades even.  In fact, I know one person who were she to come back to training would now have to take lessons from me when she used to outrank me.

The teacher should be worried about why your child is not advancing, not you.  If your child is really doing his part, and you are doing your part, and it's not just a case of a child who lacks the ability, that leaves only one other party to blame.

Answer 12

I have two kids in martial arts.  One took to it like a fish in water.  He is constantly winning tournaments and is the highest rank for his age.  The other just has been the complete opposite.  I figure either way they both are getting discipline, physical fitness and a worthwhile activity.  It isn't about the rank.  

Just let them be kids!  They will progress when they are ready.  You are going to take all the fun out of it if you start to criticize.  

Belt ranking are dumb for kids anyway.  At other dojos I've seen some kids that can't fight at all with high belt ranks.

Answer 13

Absolutely not! In karate, as with other things, children develop at their own rate. If your son is content then do not press it. Not every child will be capable to attain junior black belt status but that does not mean they are not progressing and gaining valuable life skills.

The sensei (teacher) may be thinking more about income than your child.

Answer 14

At 6 or 7 yrs old the progress will vary.  Some kids come into their athletic abilities later than others.  I had trouble catching and throwing when I was your sons age, but played Varsity Football and Wrestling.  I wouldn't worry too much about it, but if the instructor doesn't have time to spend to help with individual improvement that can be an issue.  I understand its an afterschool program and that attention has to be given to all students, but he/she should want all students to grow together, especially if the effort is there on the part of the student.

Answer 15

I take Tae Kwan Do. Everyone progresses at their on speed. It could be the pattern he has to do is difficult for him. Or his sparring is just off. I've had a period of time when my sparring went from lazy to not aggressive enough to way to aggressive and it took me FOREVER to get it right. It just depends. Hope this helps.

Answer 16

Everyone is different in everything. Don't worry if your son isn't the best in the class, thats why he's there - to LEARN how to become good.

It might also be that your son doesn't prefer Karate, or really doesn't care about his rank and doesn't practice as hard as he could.