I believe the most important aspect to consider when selecting your kid’s martial arts school is the instructor, known as a Sensei or Sifu. There are many different martial arts schools throughout the Central Coast, however, unfortunately, many of them are focused more on membership numbers and acquiring as many students as possible, rather than focusing on the quality of instruction. I encourage you to visit a few schools yourself before making a decision and witness the training methods and environment for yourself. You will find that a lot of the young children’s classes are being taught by a ‘junior instructor’, who is often no older than 13 or 14 years old themselves, and who has been promoted to the grade of Black Belt and given the responsibility of mentoring and teaching. I am a traditional martial artist and believe that to be reaching the level where you can be considered an instructor or master of martial arts requires a lifetime of practice and dedication.

This really depends on the maturity level of the child. I see many schools promoting kids classes for ages three and up, however being a father myself, and witnessing the developmental stages of my children first hand, I feel that at the age of three a child has not developed enough mentally, let alone physically, to begin their journey in martial arts. Martial arts practice involves many mature concepts, and the attention span of a three-year-old is normally not good enough to keep them engaged for an entire lesson. This also means the possible disruption of class activities for students who are a little bit older, and who are able to focus their attention and follow instructions in class.

Although I have taught children from as young as four years of age, it really depends on the maturity level of the individual. To see if they are ready to participate it is easier to bring them in for a trial session, so we can gauge how well they listen and focus in class.

Whether you want to learn a striking art, submission techniques, wrestling or ground control, it is always best to learn your foundation from a qualified instructor. Wu Xing Dao Kung Fu has a unique curriculum that covers all aspects of martial arts and supports our students’ development both in class and with an online training portal, that provides detailed instruction so that a student can practise at home in-between lessons.

Every martial art focuses on the concepts of self-defence, however in my opinion the best schools focus on simple techniques that are easy to apply in real-life situations. The problem I see with a lot of modern schools of martial arts is that many do not actively practice sparring or partner drills at full speed, for fear of possible injury to a student.  In my opinion, if the correct protective gear is worn, and the students are educated in the correct way to ensure they understand the dangers of applying self-defence techniques, there is minimal risk. In this way, even if faced with the threat of real violence, a student will have the confidence to rely on their training and will be able to respond naturally and automatically when required.