Children in Karate and Martial Arts

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I was inspired to write this particular article even tho I have not devoted all that much time teaching children under the age of sixteen years simply because of this quote, “Fundamentals of the situation: We have children who, because they’re children, don’t always behave in mature, reasonable ways. As children, they sense their relative powerlessness in society, and when they’re given power, they sometimes abuse it … “

This quote reminded me of why I tend to lean far away from teaching karate and martial arts to children. Children - will be children - and we may find teaching them a discipline, stress the term discipline, that involves an original foundation of brutal physical ability may not be the best thing to do. They are children who are still developing especially as to the brain as well as the emotions inherent in all humans (well, almost all). Maturity is a big thing from where I sit and even those with a modicum of maturity will succumb to emotionally driven actions and reactions and that is with being an age that is socially accepted as an age of maturity. 

When you evaluate a person to enter your dojo to teach what is essentially a brutal methodology that results in injury, damage, grave bodily harm and even death you need to make sure they have the moral and emotional ability to assume such a huge responsibility. Parents need to accept this as a base when deciding if they want their children to participate in karate and martial arts even when it is predominately a sport oriented endeavor (take note that even a sport fight oriented discipline can be misused as well to cause damage, etc.). 

Then there is even a huge responsibility that must be assumed by anyone teaching karate and martial arts for all the same reasons. You don’t just teach a technique based model to children and you shouldn’t be teaching such a model to even adults because this type of practice, training and application is dangerous even when done for fun. 

Back to children; because of that lack of maturity, because of their child driven behaviors, because of the power being placed in their hands and because of the huge potential toward abuse it is my feelings that children (younger than 16 years minimum) should not be exposed to karate and martial arts. 

Now, is that going to happen? Nope, nadda, and no way because as I see it from my view karate and martial arts cater to children because it seems that children are now the mainstay of most more commercial studio’s. Yes, that is a narrow view since I don’t visit a lot of these training facilities but when I view the various sources available due to our technological state of modern times I tend to see a dominance of young adults and children represented. I often wonder if the instructors, teachers and sensei have a syllabus and training plan that incorporates such considerations.

Then add in the responsibility and influences that come when children train to young adulthood, say around 16, and then are presented with black belt status, does the training address this ego boosting state? Did they train and practice for this over the whole of the training program? There are a huge amount of complexities involved in assuming responsibility to train children in a combative oriented discipline. 

The author who I quoted does address this responsibility by stating that lectures might work but in truth it will be how the sensei, senpai and kohai act as to being role models that will have the greatest influence - I agree with this in a limited way. An example is to not go around kicking and punching just because you can but by acting in a manner with honor and responsibility, etc., you demonstrate the proper moral and social aspects of karate and martial arts with just one caveat, often they don’t see, witness or hear of how they all act “OUTSIDE” that same training hall, facility and dojo. 

I would add in that lecture still plays a role or role playing would also make some difference but again I would stress that training is one thing, reality another. How do you emphasize and condition students to believe wholeheartedly that what is done in the dojo is serious, dangerous and must be controlled while allowing for fun and play as learning tools and that what they do is special in the uniforms they wear, etc. It also comes down to what kind of attitude is demonstrated and how that effects the attitude of the child student. 

Diligence, clarity and consistency must be made and maintained regardless or all of it is just going through the motions. Live, breath and act with attentiveness toward the show of aggression, etc.Teach the proper etiquette and values that should be a cornerstone of karate and martial arts. 

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