Help me convince my son to take Judo.

***Omega Supreme*** · Posted On: 8/20/2012 11:26am

I started my daughter in Kung Fu right after she turned four. Of course she asked me when I would start teaching her. I started teaching her Judo at the age of 8. Every child is different. Like I said, I've started them as young as 2 years 10 months, then I've had 7 year old kids that weren't ready.

If that's the class structure I think that there's simply a separation anxiety. In some cases, I just have the parents leave and the kid just comes into class on their own.

**NeilG** · Posted On: 8/20/2012 11:36am

Don't push him, he is still very young. Find something he does want to do, at that age all that matters is that it be active and that he's having fun.

**patfromlogan** · Posted On: 8/20/2012 12:25pm

Everyone digs Judo, but you might also check out other schools that for one reason or another might work better - the dojo I joined in Pahoa has little ones that go for it sparring. So cute - midgets with head gear can be so intense! Most any kid would fit in the Pahoa school a, frankly, loving environment - Prof is straightforward and clear mostly, and the kids and families trust him. Not that **** doesn't happen, however, the base line feels good - and they put on 6 week greco-roman grappling series this summer, not bad for ke?po).

I was lucky to be in a summer camp, around age 7, that part of the day included tumbling. We were taught forward rolls. It was a fun (gal teaching must have been good - we were relaxed and not scared at all; great activity) and I had an advantage in mas of having wired them young.

**ashkelon** · Posted On: 8/20/2012 12:36pm

I started judo when I was 5. It was great, when we did randori it was WAR. Nobody dared mess with me in school even though I wasn't strongly built. No real technique before you're +- 10, but it's good physical exercise.

There's no guarantee he'll keep it up though, I stopped when I was 13 'cause smoking joints and being generally nihilistic seemed more interesting - and everyone knows judo doesn't work in the street.. Still punching myself for that.

**judoka_uk** · Posted On: 8/20/2012 1:08pm

Is 'tumble class' American for gymnastics, because if it is then that is absolutely what you must do.

Then you can take him to Judo when he's 10-12.

**Azatdawn** · Posted On: 8/20/2012 1:31pm

Tell him he won't get anything for Christmas if he doesn't do it.

***Omega Supreme*** · Posted On: 8/20/2012 1:45pm

Originally Posted by judoka_uk

Is 'tumble class' American for gymnastics, because if it is then that is absolutely what you must do.

Then you can take him to Judo when he's 10-12.

Introduction into gymnastics. Mostly rolling like somersaults.

**Hollykate** · Posted On: 8/20/2012 4:11pm

8? 10? 12?

Thats a load of crap! kids can start from 5 in my club. but yeah gymnatics is good.

What you need to do is let him make some friends there.

take him down explain to the instructor that he is nervous and a newbie and watch and support from the sidelines.

we have many parents shouting things like "thats right! get on top!" from the chairs and they sit and drink coffee with the other parents.

the problem is that wrestling feels a lot like bullying when your not very good at it so just reinforce the positives of the lesson and explain that while it might have felt like he wasnt winning he was still learning.

**Devil** · Posted On: 8/20/2012 4:22pm

I wouldn't push. I would really like my kids to train BJJ, Judo or wrestling but they've shown little to no interest despite the fact that they've been exposed to it and gently encouraged. So I've just backed off. They're still both under 10. I don't want to make it something they view as a chore. If they decide they want to train I'll be happy. If not, oh well. They wouldn't learn much anyway if they hated it.

***Omega Supreme*** · Posted On: 8/20/2012 4:28pm

Originally Posted by Hollykate

8? 10? 12?

Thats a load of crap! kids can start from 5 in my club. but yeah gymnatics is good.

What you need to do is let him make some friends there.

take him down explain to the instructor that he is nervous and a newbie and watch and support from the sidelines.

we have many parents shouting things like "thats right! get on top!" from the chairs and they sit and drink coffee with the other parents.

the problem is that wrestling feels a lot like bullying when your not very good at it so just reinforce the positives of the lesson and explain that while it might have felt like he wasnt winning he was still learning.

Try reading comprehension.