When you enroll your child in a kids’ self defense class, the benefits are innumerable. Not only will your child learn self-discipline, feel more confident in themselves, and build a healthier body, but they will be able to defend themselves in potentially dangerous situations—something every parent worries about. However, with so many different options to choose from, how do you know which class is the best for your child?
Depending on what you want your child to get out of self defense classes, certain options may be better than others. The only way to find out which class is right for your child is to a bit of research, sit in on a few classes, and make sure it’s what you child really wants to do. To help you get started on your research, here are a few disciplines that are great for kids’ self defense.
Judo
When looking for kids’ self defense classes, Judo is one option to keep in mind. Oftentimes, bullies are much larger than their chosen victims, whether they are an older child or an adult. The reason Judo is useful for kids is because it isn’t about bulking up and being a stronger version of yourself; Judo is about using your attacker’s strength and weight against them.
Judo focuses less on strikes and more on throws and grappling techniques—such as pins, chokes, and various locking methods. Similar to many other martial arts, Judo is a type of self defense that shies away from counterattacks, and instead centers on throwing your attacker off balance and getting away. If you want to teach your child more of an offensive technique, then Judo is not your best option.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is also an option when looking to enroll your child in a kids’ self defense class. It’s important for kids to avoid confrontation at all costs, but when violence cannot be avoided, you want your child to be able to defend themselves. Oftentimes when kids get into fights, it gets taken to the ground. Many martial art disciplines fail to teach their students how to protect themselves on the ground, focusing more intently on a standing fighting stance, kicks and strikes—but not Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Similar to Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is ideal for a smaller person who needs to defend themselves against a larger adversary. Focusing primarily on gaining a better position than their opponent, students will be taught stand-up maneuvers as well as ground techniques.
Krav Maga
If you really want the whole package, choose Krav Maga for your kids’ self defense class. At Krav Maga Worldwide, students will learn practical techniques that focus on function rather than form—and to make sure that children get the attention and mentoring that they need to succeed, KMW has a youth program specifically for those between the ages 5-13. Krav maga encourages students to avoid confrontation, but if the fight gets brutal, they will know how to defend themselves and fight back.
While the km-X kids program is focused primarily on the defensive side, Krav Maga is a revolutionary martial art that incorporates a large variety of techniques, including kicks and knee attacks, boxing punches, throws and grappling, and ground fighting. For more information, call 800-KRAV-MAGA today!
