Martial arts needs some contact with other people during self defense techniques or sparring practices. Fortunately, most instructors would obtain assistance from their assistant instructor to prevent any accidents during practices!
Most of the dojos would enforce a minimum age requirement and appropriate techniques for different genders. This is because older children get to learn more serious combative arts without the fear of misusing it while girls would face different pressures than boys in practicing martial arts or learning specific techniques relating to sexual assaults. What else could you be worry about sending your kids for martial arts classes?
Maybe the question you should ask is why am I enrolling my child for martial arts? It could be of friends or TV shows/movies influenced or are they asking for it because they are being bullied in school? Either way, could it be you who wanted them to get all the mental, physical or self-defense benefits from martial arts? This question needs to be clarified as it is to prepare your child for the amount of commitment the martial arts classes will demand from them. It is only with sufficient lessons and training outside of class that would lead them to greater rate of success. It also depends on your kid’s athletic abilities whether they can do well even without training at home but usually martial artist spends most of their time each day pumping their skills.
Choosing the right instructor and school is very important. This is to avoid having your children getting spooked about martial arts due to bad experiences or instructors before too. It’s easier to be said than done but it’s a fact as going around to survey for the right schools to get a few information is the easiest solution while having the chance to observe not just the teachings and instructor but also the environment. Don’t simply jump into conclusion with just one or two surveys despite having strong impressions but do more surveys instead as the more the better and wider your options are. You should let your kids attend trial classes prior to signing up where you get the chance to observe if your kids and you are comfortable with the lessons. Make sure that the instructors are of black belt and obtain certified qualifications of martial arts.
Martial arts can be seen as a sport for your kids while enjoying the value added benefit of learning to protect themselves against assaults or dangers. Fighting on the ground would limit mobility and vision which could leave them vulnerable to being kicked by a second assailant where you would need to be prepared for injuries as its possible during training. In most parents’ opinion, a start is to let your kids into judo as it’s a good basis for further and more serious self-defense instruction when they get older. Besides, Judo doesn’t leave any marks or even any punches needed but just a throw or choke and arm lock could have your child won the fight unless they dislocate something.
The important task before anything now is to head out to your local neighborhood and choose your local choices of instructor and school which is the best for you and your kids first!