By Paul M. Jerard Jr.

In a nutshell, age is extremely important. A child who cannot handle being in kindergarten, or pre-school, will not be able to concentrate in a martial arts class. Before five years of age, any child who can focus in a martial arts class is exceptional.

We have successfully trained a few children who were, or are, four years of age. I dont want to turn away the next Bruce Lee or Mozart, when he or she comes along, but there are a few factors to consider when a child is very young.

1. Can he or she let go of a parents hand and work independently, in a classroom setting? This is very important, unless you can find a martial arts teacher that will teach parent and child, together, in the same classroom.

2. What are your true goals? When a parent has a lot of patience, it is much easier to accomplish realistic goals of focusing in a classroom, improved motor skills, and enhanced athletic abilities. However, instant success and precision performance are not likely. In many cases, young karate students tend to 'shine' around seven years of age or older, so why put your child under pressure?

3. How much of a distraction is a young child going to be in a karate class? If your child is used to being the center of attention, this wont work in a martial arts class. Time is shared with other students, and the objective is to learn everything in the daily lesson plan. This cannot be accomplished if a child is screaming for attention.

Within our Karate studio, in North Providence, we have a no pressure screening process for young children, as a measure, to see if joining our kids Karate classes will be a good relationship for the parents, child, and the Karate studio. This is why we have a free 30-day trial membership, with no obligations on either side.

As a parent, you want your child to get the optimum martial arts experience every time they train. This can only happen if the martial arts school establishes clear guidelines for conduct and if all the children participating are 'team players.'

Otherwise, parents do not get their moneys worth and children waste time in a Karate class, while the child who gets the most attention is a discipline problem.

Within a childs mind, being responsible for his or her actions is a matter of developing awareness, and everything is a new experience. As adults, we know that this knowledge comes with age, but each individual child grows at a different rate. Children are not 'little adults,' and we cannot place adult expectations upon them.

If you put children into extremely high-pressure situations, they will not continue to enjoy the activity. Whether it is martial arts, academic school, or little league baseball, it is healthy for parents and children to have goals, but we all have to learn to accept lifes little setbacks without worry.

© Copyright 2005 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard is the director of Yoga teacher training at Aura in RI. Hes a master instructor of martial arts and Yoga. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness. He wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students wanting to be a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org

By Paul M. Jerard Jr.

A Martial Arts Summer Camp is a complete success enhancement program for your child, which will challenge his or her mind and body. Here are just ten of the many benefits you can expect your child to receive in just one summer.

Concentration: Your child will learn to increase his or her attention span. Focusing is major problem for children; especially for boys, but martial arts are completely filled with concentration drills.

Stress Management: Kids are taught how to constructively deal with stress. Just by getting some physical activity, behavior will improve when children come home. Without recess and physical education, children have a lot of 'bottled up' energy.

Self-Discipline: Your child is taught how to set priorities and get ahead. Children have to multi-task, but martial arts training will give them perseverance and the ability to prioritize their daily lives for success.

Respect: Your child will demonstrate courtesy and respect at home. How? Once he or she practices courtesy and respect all day - this habit will be carried home.

Anger Management: We provide a safe outlet for dealing with anger. Kicking and punching bags is very safe, if supervised by a qualified martial arts instructor. This allows kids to 'blow off some steam,' without hurting themselves.

Motivation: Your child will be inspired to achieve. Positive energy is rampant, within a martial arts setting, and this inspires children to excel in every aspect of their lives. As you already know, motivation is what turns dreamers into achievers.

Self-Defense: Every child will learn physical and non-physical self defense. As a by-product of attending a martial arts intensive, such as a kids summer camp, every child can adequately protect him or herself.

Total Fitness: Children receive a complete workout every day they attend a martial arts summer camp. It is not natural for children to sit in front of a television set all day. It is much healthier for them to run, kick, jump, and yell. This also helps them sleep better, too.

Time Management: Your child will learn many time saving drills that make your life easier. Children need to have structure and order gently reinforced, so that it can be ingrained within their consciousness.

Goal Setting: This is contagious in a Martial Arts atmosphere. When your child earns his or her first colored belt, he or she realizes goals by continually putting forth effort. This skill is also applied to an academic setting for maximum success.

These are ten of the many life skills your child, will gain from a Martial Arts Summer Camp.

© Copyright 2006 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard is director of Yoga teacher training at Aura in RI. Hes a master instructor of martial arts and Yoga. He teaches that along with fitness. He wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students who want to be a teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

By Paul M. Jerard Jr.

A Martial Arts Summer Camp is a complete success enhancement program for your child, which will challenge his or her mind and body. Here are just ten of the many benefits you can expect your child to receive in just one summer.

Concentration: Your child will learn to increase his or her attention span. Focusing is major problem for children; especially for boys, but martial arts are completely filled with concentration drills.

Stress Management: Kids are taught how to constructively deal with stress. Just by getting some physical activity, behavior will improve when children come home. Without recess and physical education, children have a lot of 'bottled up' energy.

Self-Discipline: Your child is taught how to set priorities and get ahead. Children have to multi-task, but martial arts training will give them perseverance and the ability to prioritize their daily lives for success.

Respect: Your child will demonstrate courtesy and respect at home. How? Once he or she practices courtesy and respect all day - this habit will be carried home.

Anger Management: We provide a safe outlet for dealing with anger. Kicking and punching bags is very safe, if supervised by a qualified martial arts instructor. This allows kids to 'blow off some steam,' without hurting themselves.

Motivation: Your child will be inspired to achieve. Positive energy is rampant, within a martial arts setting, and this inspires children to excel in every aspect of their lives. As you already know, motivation is what turns dreamers into achievers.

Self-Defense: Every child will learn physical and non-physical self defense. As a by-product of attending a martial arts intensive, such as a kids summer camp, every child can adequately protect him or herself.

Total Fitness: Children receive a complete workout every day they attend a martial arts summer camp. It is not natural for children to sit in front of a television set all day. It is much healthier for them to run, kick, jump, and yell. This also helps them sleep better, too.

Time Management: Your child will learn many time saving drills that make your life easier. Children need to have structure and order gently reinforced, so that it can be ingrained within their consciousness.

Goal Setting: This is contagious in a Martial Arts atmosphere. When your child earns his or her first colored belt, he or she realizes goals by continually putting forth effort. This skill is also applied to an academic setting for maximum success.

These are ten of the many life skills your child, will gain from a Martial Arts Summer Camp.

© Copyright 2006 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard is director of Yoga teacher training at Aura in RI. Hes a master instructor of martial arts and Yoga. He teaches that along with fitness. He wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students who want to be a teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html