Child Safety:How to Choose the Best Martial Art Or Self-Defense Program For Your Child

One of the most common questions that I get from parents about the subject of child-safety is centered around how to choose the right martial art or self-defense program for their child. Sometimes it even comes as a direct request as to who I would recommend in the area where they live.

Unfortunately, I do not maintain a list of preferred schools around the country that focus on real-world self-defense for children. There are a handful of schools around the world that I am personally affiliated with, but the job of keeping track of what everybody is doing and then setting up a referral system (of people that I would actually send MY own kids to!) would be too daunting at this point.

However, there are some very important key points I'd like to offer that every parent should consider when shopping around for classes for a young child - boy or girl.

5 Key Points For Finding The Perfect Child-Safety and Self-Defense Program For Your Child

1) Be Clear on What You Want. Ask yourself, "what exactly are you looking for?" Are you looking for "Susie" to get a black belt and win some trophies, or are you looking for her to learn real-world self-defense tactics that (and this is important) she can use against a bigger kid or adult attacker on the streets today - not in 16th century Japan, China, or Korea?

Believe me. The answer to this question will be critically important, because it will determine the answers, or even the necessity, of any other questions or considerations that will follow it.

Why? Because we must be crystal clear on the results we want BEFORE we start out on the journey of finding the answers. This is just as true about martial arts and self-defense as it is about the career we choose, the person we marry, or any other life-shattering decision. And, if the decision about child-safety as it relates to your son or daughter is not seen as life-shatteringly important...

...I don't know what is!

That being said, you should understand that my focus is on real-world self-defense, not sport karate or the latest fad in "parent-pleasing-cute-kid" activities. This is true whether we're talking about martial arts in general, the Japanese martial art of Ninjutsu and how it relates to child-safety, or self-defense-street-fighting. So, if you're still reading, I'll assume that you're looking for a good, solid self-defense and child-safety program for your child.

So...

2) Look for Value - not price. That being said, we all understand that having a cardiologist - a specialist - treat us for a heart problem is going to cost more than to have our family doctor do it, right? We know and accept this because we want a specialist, not a general practitioner. And we know that we're not paying for the diagnosis and treatment, right. We're paying for the extra years of training this person went through...

...to be able to make that diagnosis and save our life!

The same is true in the world of martial arts and self-defense training. You can find anyone with a black belt and trained in whatever XYZ martial art to teach your child to do whatever kicks, punches, or martial arts moves of their particular style. You may not find it so easy to locate someone who has the actual practical knowledge and street experience to back up those lessons.

The price issue is for you, and you alone. Is it true that you can find schools and instructors teaching good stuff for less, and commercial schools teaching "feel-good" karate for a ton of money? Of course, but...

When it comes to your child's self-defense, don't skimp here. Even if money is tight, most parents can easily save an extra $20 dollars or so a month (PER child) by just using the McDonald's money they spend and apply that toward class tuition - not to mention the extra gas, fees, and cost associated with Johnny being in all of those extra activities that won't save his life if he needs to! But more on this later.

3) Look for professionals. It's one thing to have real-world experience and quite another to not act like a thug in a classroom full of children. Your child - any student for that matter - needs a teacher who's focused on the student's progress and skill development, not on his or her own ego-gratification.

I know your child is learning to defend his or her self, but that should never be done at the expense of their own safety. Make it a point to arrange to watch a class or two - and not just the beginners. Take note of how the instructors and senior students relate to, and treat one another - both on the mat and off.

4) Don't put this off. It can be difficult doing the leg work, checking out a bunch of schools or instructors, but... remember this. You're not buying a couch or a car.

You're buying self-defense lessons for your child. You're buying him the gifts of future safety, happiness, security, and the ability to protect others of their choosing.

What I mean is... if this is important to you - really important - if your child is important - then don't look through your calendar book trying to figure out when it will fit into your busy schedule.

I hear and see this all the time.

"Well," the parent says, "I just don't know how we're going to fit this in between your two soccer teams, swimming, Scouts, and underwater basket-weaving classes."

Okay, the last one I made up. But you get the idea.

If you wait until you have time, you are also silently hoping that what you fear MIGHT happen, WON'T happen. In essence, you're gambling with your child's safety.

So, don't wait.

And finally...

5) Don't let your child dictate whether or not she will learn to protect herself. Remember, our kids know little-to-nothing about the world. They don't know what dangers are out there. They barely know about the bullies in school and how far those people are willing to go to get what they want.

I talk about this and 9 other mistakes that parents make every day in my book titled, "10 Really Stupid Mistakes Parents Make..." I know that, as parents, we never want our children to be upset at us or to force them to do something they don't want to do. And yet we do it all the time.

We make them clean themselves, eat good food, flush the toilet, learn proper manners, brush their teeth, and even go to school for twelve long years... whether they want to or not.

Why?

Not because "they" want to or will like it. Because we know it's good for them and will make them grow up to be positive, powerful, and productive people in the world.

We didn't give them the option to get those shots when they were babies. Why then, would we give them the option as to whether or not they would learn to be able to stop a mugger, rapist, or bully from harming them?

You know what... I don't know either.

Here's the link to read more about my self-defense book about child-safety called, "10 Really stupid Mistakes Parents Make To Place Their Child In Danger Without Even Knowing It!"

For more information about martial arts for kids, self defense for women, or...

My other books and videos like...

"The Karate-Myth", and...

"Danger Prevention Tactics" DVD

Visit www.warrior-concepts-online.com


Until next time...

Dedicated to Building Strong Kids!

Shidoshi Miller