Self Defence for Kids?

Flatliner
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Flatliner 1/1/2012 7:00pm
1/1/2012 7:00pm
IWreckALot wrote:
Why not Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? It was my understanding that this was the leading version of martial arts and was geared more toward self defense without...
Why not Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? It was my understanding that this was the leading version of martial arts and was geared more toward self defense without harming your opponent. From what I understand, it's putting the opponent in submission holds and getting out of precarious situations.
It becomes a problem if you have a strong wrestler on top of you, unless your very skilled at it.
MX45
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MX45 1/1/2012 7:04pm
1/1/2012 7:04pm
I'm assuming your son rides moto.
It won't seem like it now, but that's all he needs to build his future self.

In 15 years all the bully kids will be working drywall jobs spending their nights at the local bar while your son will have a good job, a hottie girlfriend, a nice home, and a garage full of dirtbikes.
Mxfreak24
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Mxfreak24 1/1/2012 8:06pm
1/1/2012 8:06pm
IWreckALot wrote:
Why not Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? It was my understanding that this was the leading version of martial arts and was geared more toward self defense without...
Why not Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? It was my understanding that this was the leading version of martial arts and was geared more toward self defense without harming your opponent. From what I understand, it's putting the opponent in submission holds and getting out of precarious situations.
Flatliner wrote:
It becomes a problem if you have a strong wrestler on top of you, unless your very skilled at it.
You know this from experience?
UpTiTe 1/1/2012 9:04pm
1/1/2012 9:04pm
IWreckALot wrote:
Why not Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? It was my understanding that this was the leading version of martial arts and was geared more toward self defense without...
Why not Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? It was my understanding that this was the leading version of martial arts and was geared more toward self defense without harming your opponent. From what I understand, it's putting the opponent in submission holds and getting out of precarious situations.
Flatliner wrote:
It becomes a problem if you have a strong wrestler on top of you, unless your very skilled at it.
Mxfreak24 wrote:
You know this from experience?
Yes, in a street fight on the ground unless you're a very skilled in Jits a stronger guy will win.

Plus another thing for you wrestling and Jits promoters, in a street fight, its hard to move around and submit someone that is throwing punches at you.

Don't get me wrong on this, I love Jitz, been doing it for a long time, but if thats your only means of protection in a street fight you better be fully commited to taking it to the ground and eating a few hands until you have a submission. Just because you're taking it to the ground doesn't mean they stop throwing punches.

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UpTiTe 1/1/2012 9:10pm
1/1/2012 9:10pm
yzthumpa wrote:
I think the instructor is more important than the style. My son is in ATA Taekwondo. The ATA program is very kid oriented and puts major...
I think the instructor is more important than the style. My son is in ATA Taekwondo. The ATA program is very kid oriented and puts major emphasis on bully self defense - not just learning how to defend yourself but how to address situations properly. They also put a lot of emphasis on building life skills and discipline. My son is 12 and has been in the program since April 2010. He's more the bookworm type, not athletic, on the chubby side, and has a stuttering problem. He wasn't getting bullied but I figured he might face it some day and wanted to boost his confidence. Now he is a defending state champ in Louisiana, placed first in two divisions and second in another at the Fall Nationals in Orlando (beating 3 other state champs), and has wrapped up state titles in all 3 weapons divisions this season and is second with a shot at the title in sparring also. Needless to say, this has given him a HUGE boost in self confidence.
The ATA has a cool weapons program, including nunchuks, bo staff, kamas, swords, etc. Obviously you don't want him using weapons in a fight, but the point is that this makes things a hell of a lot more fun and keeps them interested in learning. The one thing to watch out for though is that a lot of martial arts places that are kid oriented are just belt mills. However, if you do a little research and find the right instructor, you'll find one who will really teach the kids who really want to learn. If you do go the ATA Taekwondo route, be sure to find a school that has the XMA program (extreme martial arts), because some of the smaller schools don't have the full program. The XMA stuff is really fun. Taylor Lautner of Twilight fame and the little dude in "The Last Airbender" movie both came from the ATA.
Also, the ATA has a really good tournament system. For us with my son, over the past year and a half it has gone from a class to a sport to a way of life. We're starting to do lots of traveling to bigger out of state tournaments and really having fun with it. Headed to Georgia in a couple weeks for another one.
ATA is the way to go it seems these days. I have two friends that train at one and their sons too, and they love it. One of them even does an MMA class their too. If it wasn't a 30 minute drive VS a 5 minute drive, this is where I'd take my boys.


I know how hard those Tourneys can be, congrats to you and your boy.
yzthumpa
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yzthumpa 1/2/2012 12:11am
1/2/2012 12:11am
yzthumpa wrote:
I think the instructor is more important than the style. My son is in ATA Taekwondo. The ATA program is very kid oriented and puts major...
I think the instructor is more important than the style. My son is in ATA Taekwondo. The ATA program is very kid oriented and puts major emphasis on bully self defense - not just learning how to defend yourself but how to address situations properly. They also put a lot of emphasis on building life skills and discipline. My son is 12 and has been in the program since April 2010. He's more the bookworm type, not athletic, on the chubby side, and has a stuttering problem. He wasn't getting bullied but I figured he might face it some day and wanted to boost his confidence. Now he is a defending state champ in Louisiana, placed first in two divisions and second in another at the Fall Nationals in Orlando (beating 3 other state champs), and has wrapped up state titles in all 3 weapons divisions this season and is second with a shot at the title in sparring also. Needless to say, this has given him a HUGE boost in self confidence.
The ATA has a cool weapons program, including nunchuks, bo staff, kamas, swords, etc. Obviously you don't want him using weapons in a fight, but the point is that this makes things a hell of a lot more fun and keeps them interested in learning. The one thing to watch out for though is that a lot of martial arts places that are kid oriented are just belt mills. However, if you do a little research and find the right instructor, you'll find one who will really teach the kids who really want to learn. If you do go the ATA Taekwondo route, be sure to find a school that has the XMA program (extreme martial arts), because some of the smaller schools don't have the full program. The XMA stuff is really fun. Taylor Lautner of Twilight fame and the little dude in "The Last Airbender" movie both came from the ATA.
Also, the ATA has a really good tournament system. For us with my son, over the past year and a half it has gone from a class to a sport to a way of life. We're starting to do lots of traveling to bigger out of state tournaments and really having fun with it. Headed to Georgia in a couple weeks for another one.
UpTiTe wrote:
ATA is the way to go it seems these days. I have two friends that train at one and their sons too, and they love it...
ATA is the way to go it seems these days. I have two friends that train at one and their sons too, and they love it. One of them even does an MMA class their too. If it wasn't a 30 minute drive VS a 5 minute drive, this is where I'd take my boys.


I know how hard those Tourneys can be, congrats to you and your boy.
Thanks. We just kind of lucked out, didn't know much about the school or the ATA. I had read an article about the owner, who is in his early 20s and a 7 time National champ, and they just happened to be the closest school to our house. After we got involved, I learned how large the organization is and how extensive their tournament structure is. For kids, it becomes something much more than just going to a couple classes a week. My son is in the instructor training program and assisting in teaching classes already, and beleive me when I say I was really surprised that he got interested in competing and took it to the level that he did. 3 of his instructors took home 4 World Championships last season too. His school is up to around 200 students now.
In addition to the Taekwondo and weapons training, they also learn some Krav Maga and more traditional self defense stuff too.
twister
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twister 1/2/2012 6:03am
1/2/2012 6:03am
This has been a great help.We have found kempo karate and tae kwon do studios close to us.We will try them out and then decide.The taekwondo sounds pretty good though.Both places also have other programs like mma and kickboxing.We are going to start this week and go see them in person.
UpTiTe 1/2/2012 4:37pm
1/2/2012 4:37pm
yzthumpa wrote:
Thanks. We just kind of lucked out, didn't know much about the school or the ATA. I had read an article about the owner, who is...
Thanks. We just kind of lucked out, didn't know much about the school or the ATA. I had read an article about the owner, who is in his early 20s and a 7 time National champ, and they just happened to be the closest school to our house. After we got involved, I learned how large the organization is and how extensive their tournament structure is. For kids, it becomes something much more than just going to a couple classes a week. My son is in the instructor training program and assisting in teaching classes already, and beleive me when I say I was really surprised that he got interested in competing and took it to the level that he did. 3 of his instructors took home 4 World Championships last season too. His school is up to around 200 students now.
In addition to the Taekwondo and weapons training, they also learn some Krav Maga and more traditional self defense stuff too.
Krav Maga is some cool stuff, I trained a bit of that stuff when I was body guarding, mainly weapons defense. If your son stick to it and is that good, he could write his own ticket some day.
UpTiTe 1/2/2012 4:41pm
1/2/2012 4:41pm
twister wrote:
This has been a great help.We have found kempo karate and tae kwon do studios close to us.We will try them out and then decide.The taekwondo...
This has been a great help.We have found kempo karate and tae kwon do studios close to us.We will try them out and then decide.The taekwondo sounds pretty good though.Both places also have other programs like mma and kickboxing.We are going to start this week and go see them in person.
A word of advice, keep him away from MMA classes until he has trained and learned discipline. MMA doesn't teach selfdefense, it trains you to be the attacker and if a kid feels threatened he could really hurt another kid his size.
Sully
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Sully 1/2/2012 5:18pm
1/2/2012 5:18pm
I'd say boxing, Muay Thai or anything hands on. All of the Karate training in the world won't do a bit of good if you don't know if you can take a shot directly to the snot locker.
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P 1/2/2012 6:38pm
1/2/2012 6:38pm Edited Date/Time 1/2/2012 6:39pm
You should tell him to find new friends and if the fuck with him he should hit the toughest kid in the nose as hard as he can. No hesitation. Problem solved. He'll probably get a few chicks from it too.

Like James Brown said, "I don't know Karate, but I know craaaaaazy!"


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FGR01
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FGR01 1/3/2012 2:58pm
1/3/2012 2:58pm
Flatliner wrote:
Karate is........ pretty looking but not functional, same as taekwondo.

Wrestling and boxing are the most practical for real world situations.
Agree on the karate. It is very focused on the fine elements and correct form. That makes it difficult to learn, difficult to remember, and difficult to apply in a real life situation, especially for kids who are shy and unagressive to begin with. It is generally functional when applied by a highly skilled practitioner against a relatively unskilled opponent.

Have to somewhat disagree on the TKD. It is more instinctive than karate, more simple and straight forward. Therefore it is easier to learn and apply. As for TKD not being functional tell that to Brock Lesnar. That kick that Overeem used to take him out was a text book TKD round house kick, one of the most basic and first techniques learned. Same with the knockout Silva did on Vitor Belfort, textbook front snap kick.

Yes, a strong wrestler could possibly take a TKD fighter to the ground and pound the snot out of them. It all depends on the 2 fighters. That's why I suggest being well rounded. TKD teaches good leg striking. Maybe add some boxing in for punching and then wrestling for the ground. So yeah, basically you are right with the boxing and wrestling but I wouldn't be so quick to discount TKD. Don't like debating about fighting techniques because people get so narrow focused and defensive about their chosen technique. The best one is the one that wins the fight and being well rounded is best.
yzthumpa
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yzthumpa 1/3/2012 5:08pm
1/3/2012 5:08pm Edited Date/Time 1/3/2012 5:12pm
Flatliner wrote:
Karate is........ pretty looking but not functional, same as taekwondo.

Wrestling and boxing are the most practical for real world situations.
FGR01 wrote:
Agree on the karate. It is very focused on the fine elements and correct form. That makes it difficult to learn, difficult to remember, and difficult...
Agree on the karate. It is very focused on the fine elements and correct form. That makes it difficult to learn, difficult to remember, and difficult to apply in a real life situation, especially for kids who are shy and unagressive to begin with. It is generally functional when applied by a highly skilled practitioner against a relatively unskilled opponent.

Have to somewhat disagree on the TKD. It is more instinctive than karate, more simple and straight forward. Therefore it is easier to learn and apply. As for TKD not being functional tell that to Brock Lesnar. That kick that Overeem used to take him out was a text book TKD round house kick, one of the most basic and first techniques learned. Same with the knockout Silva did on Vitor Belfort, textbook front snap kick.

Yes, a strong wrestler could possibly take a TKD fighter to the ground and pound the snot out of them. It all depends on the 2 fighters. That's why I suggest being well rounded. TKD teaches good leg striking. Maybe add some boxing in for punching and then wrestling for the ground. So yeah, basically you are right with the boxing and wrestling but I wouldn't be so quick to discount TKD. Don't like debating about fighting techniques because people get so narrow focused and defensive about their chosen technique. The best one is the one that wins the fight and being well rounded is best.
Totally agree. I took Karate when I was a kid, and with my son in Taekwondo I find that it is a lot more straightforward and offensive when it comes to sparring, and in my kid's school they put a lot of emphasis on sparring. Of course, in tournaments they have a ton of gear on and break once a point is scored, but that also teaches them a lot of discipline in making their strikes count.
My 19 yr. son and his friends are all MMA fans, and used to all work out together and do their own watered down "fight club" shit in the garage. They all thought they were badass. Then I saw my kid in a street fight, and while he won, all he and the other kid did was blindly wail away at each other. There is a girl at my younger son's Taekwondo school who is around 15 that I would bet the house on against my 19 yr. old son or any of his friends. The first time I saw her at a tournament, she fought a guy (both were black belts) a little taller and probably 30 lbs. heavier than her, and she kept nailing him in the face with kicks at will. I kinda felt bad for the dude.

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