Martial arts is a very effective addition to a healthy lifestyle.  The physical and mental training required to be successful in any martial art will give students valuable skills they can apply to many other aspects of their lives.  With dozens of martial arts schools in even the smallest cities it can be a challenging task for parents to evaluate them and determine what is the best martial art for their kids.  While there is no single martial art that is suited specifically to all children there are some that are more suitable than others.  Some styles may focus more on the physical competitions and preparing for them, while others might have a greater emphasis on character and confidence building.  Similarly two schools that teach the same martial art style will teach that style differently, placing greater emphasis on different aspects of the style, for example learning the formal movement patterns vs a focus on the sparring components.  In this article we hope to help you with some information about the best martial art for kids.

 Firstly you as a parent need to be sure you know why you are looking for a martial art for your kids.  There are a number of skills to be learned through martial arts such as self-defence, fitness improvements, teaching self-confidence, or training to compete in tournaments.

 While most if not all martial arts are in some ways suitable for children, the same cannot be said for all martial arts schools or teachers.  That is why the first step in choosing a martial art for your kids is to evaluate the schools in your area, the instructors in those schools and then the type of training they provide to both students and to instructors.

 Start by researching some of the martial arts schools available in your area to see what their basic styles are.   The Internet is a wonderful resource for this as you can get a quick overview of the tenets, history and styles involved in each individual martial art.  Consider not only your goals for your child, more self-confidence or building physical strength for example, but also the strengths of your child when determining which martial arts may be best suited for them.  Judo and mixed martial arts both have some emphasis on grappling, which is locking or pinning opponents to the ground.  So these may not be the best martial arts for kids that are claustrophobic.  On the other hand these styles will be effective in helping your child build their physical strength and endurance.

 Once you have a list of martial arts styles that would be appropriate for your kids, start contacting the schools in your area that teach those styles.  Find out what particular style of martial arts will be taught and make sure the response matches with your research.  For example, Taekwondo has only two official branches, the Kukkiwon/World Taekwondo Federation branch and the International Taekwon-Do Federation branch.  If a Taekwondo school cannot verify that they are affiliated with one of these organizations then their training, and the belts they award to students, may not be valid or authentic.  Ask if they have programs specifically designed for children, or if the children are grouped into a general class.  Sometimes children can be very intimidated if they are surrounded by teens and adults, and in those cases they will not be gaining a lot by taking the class.  Ask if the instructors have certifications in first aid or child education.  Find out if the schools have formal training classes for their instructors, to teach them how to teach.  Keep in mind that being a champion at a sport does not necessarily mean that someone can teach well; consider how many great hockey and football players have had spectacularly bad coaching careers. Find out how many instructors and students are in each class, so you can get a feel for how much individual attention your children can expect during the class.  Find out how much experience the master or senior instructor has with children.   Get an idea of what the ongoing costs will be to attend the school, including items such as promotion testing fees, uniforms, and additional equipment requirements like arm and shin guards for sparring practices.  Find out how long the school has been in operation, how long it's been at its present location and whether or not the school gives back to its local community through fundraisers or group volunteer activities.  These things are important indicators of the level of commitment that the instructors and masters have to the school.  

 Once you've found a school that appears to teach in a style you're looking for and has an instructor that you're happy with its time to inspect the school facility itself.  It might be best to do this initial investigation without your child present, so that if the school does not meet your needs you don't need to be the "bad guy" if your children are excited about starting classes there.  Inquire as to if you can come by to watch a class or even take a class yourself to evaluate the teaching in the school first hand.  Most schools will offer a free first class to prospective students.  Finally, if the school allows you to take a free introductory class they will likely allow your children to do the same.  After the class speak with the instructors to find out if your child is a good fit for them as well as talking with your child to see how they felt about the class.  The instructors may feel that your children are too young or too old for that particular class, and may have some suggestions as to what the kids need to focus on to be successful with their training.

 Final tips:

 Children can be more committed to the martial arts training if it becomes a family activity.  Consider signing up yourself to train alongside your kids and help them appreciate the dedication to physical activity throughout their lives and outside of school.
 Many martial arts schools emphasize discipline and respect for parents, instructors and elders.  Make sure you are reinforcing this at home if it's important to you that your kids practice this respect.
 The history of the martial art and/or the club itself, the grand-master or the organizations the club is part of may be required learning at the school that your kids go to.  Be sure to help your kids with some research into these aspects.