Karate/Martial arts for kids Post Reply

[busyMouse]

Hello,
I'm trying to find some karate or other kind of martial arts classes for my five year old. So far I've found Kenshukai Karate at Oak Lodge School but they only seem to do Tuesday evenings 6.30-7.30pm which is a bit late for us and Peewee Karate at St Barnabas Church, Clapham Common North Side which might work out better. I was just wondering if anyone had any experience of Peewee's or could recommend any other Karate/Martial arts classes in the area?
Thanks!

[2010emilie1]

Hi,

Have you tried karate at St Barnabas Church for your child?

I am wondering if I should send my children there.

Kind regards,

Emilie

[MamaH]

My 5yo son does judo on weds at 4-5pm at Stars gym, which is down by the river near Chelsea bridge. It's *very* good, not expensive and the instructor was/is on the gb team, if I understand correctly. They also have kickboxing on, I think, Tuesdays, but I don't know anything about that.

[laetitia.c]

I can highly recommend Yawara Martial Arts in Wandsworth.

http://yawaramartialarts.com/clubs/club_wandsworth.html

[nanny_kitty]

laeticia.c - do you highly recommend Yawara Martial Arts because you run the club?! Your post was a bit misleading.

[MrsOctober]

I have experience of PeeWee Karate at St Barnabas Church. I sent my son there last year. They let you sit and observe the free taster session and I was so impressed I signed up. The instructor was a very charismatic man who was very strict (as you would expect) There were some rather unruly children in the lesson and I was very impressed with the no-nonsense way that he dealt with them. He was strict as I expected a Martial Arts instructor would be and they seemed to respond, therefore he maintained control of the lesson, giving all the kids a chance to hear and learn. For my son and his friend it became the highlight of their week. Several weeks in, he was replaced with a woman instructor. My son said that there were lots of naughty kids messing about and that the teacher didn't even tell them off. The following week we stayed and observed. All hell broke loose. Kids were being swung around by their lapels, their heads narrowly missing the stone columns in the middle of the room. The teacher had zero control and noone was learning anything. A few of us questioned her lack of control but she told us that the other guy had attracted complaints for being too strict from the naughty kids' parents because he had put them in the corner. Apparently they 'didn't want to pay to have their child stand in the corner', but having witnessed it, it was high time someone put these children in the corner!!!! Quite a few of us took our kids out rather quickly after that. Our kids were learning nothing in the mayhem and we were all in fear of a fractured skull as our child was thrown into a stone column by a feral Russian boy whose Mother was outside on the phone smoking! Incidentally we asked several times for the stone pillars and plinths to be padded in the same way as rugby posts but PeeWee Karate never did it. Maybe things have changed, there may be a new instructor, but unless they're allowed to be strict and instill discipline and unless the room is made safe (stone is padded) I would steer well clear.

[laetitia.c]

Nanny_kitty,

Perhaps unclear, but hardly misleading. My kids are going to the club and they really like it, but I don't run the club. I recommend it because Sensei Dave is great with the kids and the classes are good. Perhaps you should find out the facts before posting next time.

laeticia.c - do you highly recommend Yawara Martial Arts because you run the club?! Your post was a bit misleading.

[chelseadad]

I highly recommend Tae Kwon Do at Latchmere Leisure Centre. The instructor specialises in teaching young children and there's a nice vibe with the parents.

http://www.tkdimpact.co.uk/find-a-club/ ... /battersea

[leapyearbaby]

I was quite shocked to read the review of Pee Wee above. My son is in his third year with them now and I only have good things to say. I think the classes are fantastic. Extremely good fun whilst learning.
It sounds like a very bad experience at the church and I can only assume that it must vary by instructor. We are at the Vitality Centre and have Sempai, now Sensai Jonathan, and I couldn't rate him higher. He's warm whilst strict and really has a good rapport with the kids. Not at all the experience described above.

[nanny_kitty]

Laeticia.c - didn't mean to cause offence but you posted under another topic which sounded distinctly like self promotion. Apologies if this was not the case, and thanks for the clarity

[aliyeo]

There is a class for little Ninjas on Wandsworth Common on for two age groups 4-6 and 6-onwards. The instructor is 15th Dan (15 belts) in Nijitsu and is also a black belt in Brazilian jujitsu. The classes run on tuesdays from 4.15-5 and 5-6pm in the scout hut behind the cafe.

Please call Simon Yeo on 07860343075 to discuss a free trial.

[laetitia.c]

No worries! As my kids really benefit from Martial Arts classes and they love going to the Wandsworth club in particular I wrote a brief "promo" to inform other parents. Could have skipped the link, but what parents haven't handed out leaflets to support their club so thought it wouldn't hurt to include a link as well

Laeticia.c - didn't mean to cause offence but you posted under another topic which sounded distinctly like self promotion. Apologies if this was not the case, and thanks for the clarity

[Siyeo]

Anyone interested should come and do a free tryout for martial arts and bully proofing. www.ninja-kids.co.uk