by Kyle Keniston

Created on: June 30, 2010   Last Updated: July 02, 2010

With the release of the new Karate Kid film last week, lots of parents are wondering if they should sign up their son or daughter in a martial arts school. If you or your kid has never joined a karate class prior, it may be a frightening decision that comes with a variety of questions.

The most significant concern amongst many parents is if their child is going to be safe when practicing with other kids. That's a very real concern, because many of the martial arts have some contact with other kids when practicing self-defense techniques, throws, or sparring. Nevertheless, most instructors call for aid from assistant instructors during children's classes to try and reduce injuries from taking place. Aside from that, many dojos impose a minimum age requirement for sparring and other techniques that demand contact amongst students. The greatest recommendation I can provide you with would be to observe your kid take an introductory class prior to enrolling in any karate class. It will be possible to tell in a short time if your child is comfortable in the class by his or her body language when interacting with other kids and the teachers. In many towns, you'll find many martial arts schools to pick from, which means you will probably want to check out a few prior to enrolling in any dojo.

The second greatest issue amongst many parents is the level of obligation martial arts classes will demand of their kid. As with any sport or activity, your kid has a higher rate of success when they show up to every lesson and spend time practicing outside of class. Depending on your kid's athletic abilities, he or she may be able to be successful without training at your house, but the typical martial artist spends a lot of time daily sharpening their skills. That said, a lot of parents are afraid their kid's schooling will come secondary to the martial art, and their kid’s grades will begin to slip. Yet, quite a few dojos now have a contract in place enforcing that students have a specified grade point average if they would like to partake in lessons.

By and large, the bonuses to placing your kids in a martial arts school outweigh the negatives. Most Senseis place a significant emphasis on discipline and respect for authority, which can be tremendously beneficial qualities for your children to learn during their impressionable childhood. In almost all schools, children are told that unwanted actions like vandalism and fighting are not allowed and will ultimately result in

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