What is the best age to start karate?
Again, there is no real hard or fast answers to this. Some students who start as children, lose interest before they fully mature or simply burn out in their teens, while others go on successfully into adulthood. Those who start later in life may not be able to compete, but do derive terrific enjoyment, learn new skills and go on to achieve black belt.
Almost any! Our LITTLE NINJA program teaches martial arts techniques at a pace appropriate to younger students through activities which are designed to maximize the potential of 4-5 year olds. At the same time, these activities promote the development of leadership and life skills such as balance, fitness, teamwork, safety awareness, listening, focus, perseverance, self-confidence, and self-discipline. We start students in our BASIC PROGRAM at 6 years old, and have several students over 40 in our Teen and Adult program. Classes are divided by age and experience level. New students will train with beginners close to their own age.
I have seen some children that age take to it like a duck to water but that is usually because of the influence of an older sibling or parent taking it. Occasionally a child will also just be attracted to it at that age but that is unique. If they have not expressed an interest in doing this then I would hold off until they get into school. Then there attention span will be a little longer and better, they are more likely to get more out of it as well as you for your money and time, and energy in taking them to class, and they will be better able to understand how this may benefit them. Even at that age they sometimes try it and decide they don’t like it and that they would rather be outside playing with their friends in the neighborhood or doing some of the team sports that their friends do than at the karate studio.
