4 Considerations for kids jiujitsu or any martial arts programs.

Great! It is no secret that martial arts has so many amazing benefits to kids. Combat sports like Jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, muay thai, or hapkido are also gaining mainstream popularity.

So how do you decide what is the best one for your little ninja to be? Is one system of martial art better than the other. Or do you base it on the rank or title of the instructor?

Truth is, there are more important factors to consider. While questions like these are valid, they may not necesarrily help in finding a program that would be the best fit for your child.

Here are 4 important things we recommend looking for in any kids jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, or children’s martial arts program in Toronto.

Where we are usually plays a big role to our focus and energy level. With training space, a couple of things that you want to watch for are its cleanliness and neatness.

Are things well organized? does the place looks inviting enough that you would want to stay and exercise?

When we say environment, we do not just mean the physical location, but also by the people in it. Having friendly classmates to interact with completes the experience. This way, your child will feel welcomed and comfortable.

Every child is different, but generally, kids hit certain developmental milestones at specific ages.

It is important to find an age-appropriate program that is tailored to your child’s stage of development. Evoke Martial Arts, for example, curated a Lil’ Dragon classes that caters specifically to children ages 4 to 5 and 6 to 7 years old.

This ensures activities, skills, and vocabulary of instruction is appropriate for their age, and so they can have fun with peers their age in the process.

The instructors are CRUCIAL! They are the people that your child will be looking to when it comes to their martial arts training.

That means, you want the instructors to not only be skilled, but also to be able to build connection with your child. Instructors will provide guidance and at the same time be your child’s friends.

Your child should be able to learn without feeling like their learning, this way they will enjoy themselves and be able to retain what they learn longer.

Repeat it again: Structure! Is! Important!

You want your child to learn martial arts, but whichever studio you choose to go with should have a proven structure.

How are the classes run? Are they using a structured lesson plan(s)? Is there a here-to-there process in what they are learning? What type of visible or quantifiable results can you expect from enrolling in the program.

The type of martial arts style or discipline being taught will only have relevance when all these considerations have been met.

Most kids jiujitus programs or martial arts schools will have some type of trial offer.

Starting with a trial allows you to decern if the program will be a good fit for your child. During this period you can also interact with other parents there to see what their experience has been in said program.

Social media is also a great way to observe what type of digital footprint exists for the program. Check out their posts, comments, and take a pulse on how their community  feels about them.