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Wrestling for girls 5 years old. Judo from an early age. Education or torture? At what age can a child start practicing judo? Judo for children

Many parents often have the following question: At what age can a child start practicing judo? Martial arts are multifaceted, and judo is an interesting and completely safe sport, because it completely lacks any blows: to the head, torso, and so on.

The wrestling hall, as a rule, is equipped with protective mats along the perimeter of the walls, and special mats on the tatami floor. Thus, a child who practices judo is always protected from injury by special equipment.

One of the positive qualities of judo for children is the lack of aggression. Aggression in this type of martial arts is completely replaced by the spirit of competition and the desire to win in a fair fight.

You can start practicing judo at the age of 5-6 years. Although this is absolutely individual, since it all depends on the conditions of the sports school or club to which you brought your child. Most modern Russian judo schools accept children into primary training groups from 7-10 years old.

Regarding the question: training or tormenting judo classes for children 5-6 years old, then it is not possible to answer this question unambiguously. In any case, if the school provides such an opportunity, nothing stops you from trying. If the child likes it, good; if not, under no circumstances force the child to train against his wishes; postpone the classes for a couple of years.

It is worth noting that in order to maintain constant interest in judo in young children, the coach must offer children a sufficient number of varied exercises that are easy to perform. If a coach is a master of his craft, then in his arsenal there will probably be a lot of various tasks aimed at both general physical development children, and to master the basics of technical actions of judo wrestling. BUT! If your 5-year-old child is being taught judo throws, we advise you to look for another school! The throwing technique of judo wrestling for children 5-6 years old is difficult to perform and is dangerous.

Advice. If you are taking your child to special groups for children 5-6 or even 7-8 years old, ask the coach if he has an appropriate child training program designed specifically for this age. You should know that most judo schools in training their students are guided by the standard program “Judo: a sports training program for children’s and youth sports schools and specialized children’s and youth schools of the Olympic reserve” (Auth.-compiled by S.V. Eregina and others . / National Judo Union. - M.: Soviet Sport, 2006. - 212 p.). But it is designed for children aged 10 years and older! Naturally, this program is completely unsuitable for children. younger age, because it does not satisfy their physiological and psychological needs.

Be that as it may, regardless of whether you send your child to a judo school at 5 or 10 years old, be sure to also pay attention to the following particularly important points related to the learning process itself.

The first thing you should pay attention to is the equipment of the hall. If you notice that the mats are torn and in poor condition, then small child It would be dangerous in such a hall.
Second necessary condition, which is also worth paying attention to - this is a separate group of children that will correspond to the age of your child. The age difference between children in a group is allowed no more than two years. Older and more experienced guys become an example for the younger ones.
Please note that the number of children in the group corresponds to the size of the room. Indeed, as the number of children in a group increases, the risk of accidental injury immediately increases.
Of course, it is worth paying attention to the trainer, as well as his style of conducting training sessions. If a coach gets irritated and angry, then perhaps this coach simply cannot cope with children of this age, although in fact he is a good specialist in his field. In this case, you need to either wait until your child is a little older, or find another coach. Well, if the training process is organized by the trainer easily and naturally, and he keeps discipline under control, then you can be calm - such a specialist will not have problems.
It is important that if the school management or coach asks for a medical certificate, this is a positive thing, otherwise you need to change school.
At such an early age, classes should be held no more than 2-3 times a week; if you are offered or required more, then you should think about changing your sports school.
If your child is offered to take part in competitions, then you should refuse, since it is worth starting to compete after 2-5 years of preparation (depending on the age at which classes begin, the speed of delivery and mastery of educational material, and the individual characteristics of the child). However, serious competitions should not be confused with game tasks for which incentive prizes are awarded. Remember that these are children who tend to play. Practice judo and be healthy!

I think it’s easy for everyone to imagine the coordination of a drunk person. How many parodies exist in the world about drunk people. Few actors have not played a “drunk” scene at least once in their life! But few of us, ordinary people, realize that imitating drunks is the lot of not only comedians. It turns out that among the imitation styles of Wushu there is a style called “drunken fist”. It is based on imitation of a drunk person with sudden changes in direction of movement and falls. Drunk style is one of the hardest to learn!
So what are we talking about? Oh, yes, about the fact that when choosing a martial arts school for their child, parents need to immerse themselves in the topic as much as possible. Why, you ask? - the main thing is that it is attached and does not “hang out” on the street idle. In fact, in order to instill in a child a love of sports and strengthen his physical and mental health, you need to carefully choose a school.

DEFINITION OF THE GOAL
Decide on a global goal: do you want to see your child on a sports podium or is it enough to teach your child the basics of self-defense? Or maybe you want to introduce your son to Eastern philosophical systems?
If the main goal is competition, Olympic achievements, or even just sports competitions, then pay attention to boxing, Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling, taekwondo, kickboxing or judo. In these types you can earn medals and get punches from your opponent.
If your precious child shakes his frail body in front of the mirror, and comes home from school with bruises and abrasions, we advise you to opt for applied martial arts that will teach your son or daughter to stand up for themselves. It is also important that these types of martial arts teach not only how to engage in battle with an equal opponent, but also with someone who is superior to the child in strength and height. For example, these are combat sambo and hand-to-hand combat, as well as jujutsu, kenjutsu, ninjutsu, etc.
The traditional direction is considered the most complete embodiment of martial art as an integral system. This is a great way to educate and develop whole line psychological qualities.

SETTING GOALS
So, you have decided on your ultimate goal. Define your tasks. Different types martial arts are aimed at developing various physical qualities. For example, by practicing taekwondo, a child acquires jumping ability and the ability to work with his feet. When choosing Aikido, it strengthens your arms and your body becomes flexible. Perhaps your offspring is more interested in hitting? Look towards karate, kung fu, boxing.
Do you dream that your child will capture the enemy with “one left hand”? If your child likes throwing and grabbing, try enrolling him in an aikido, judo or sumo section.
You can learn how to fight with weapons (and not only) in kungfu and karate schools.
It is important for many parents to develop their children not only physically, but also spiritually. Let us immediately stipulate that not all martial arts pursue such goals (for example, sambo, Russian hand-to-hand combat, boxing). In this case, it makes sense to introduce the child to any type of oriental martial arts. Have you noticed while watching feature films that a “sensei” teacher in martial arts is a teacher, not a coach? What does this mean specifically for your child? That initially he will be taught not to “wave his fists”, but to concentrate, not to practice a blow, but to train self-control and dignity, respect for the opponent. Therefore, if your child is hyperactive, he is unlikely to like Eastern martial arts.

PHYSICAL CAPABILITIES
One of important points, which parents often ignore, is the child’s physical capabilities and medical indications. It is advisable to consult a doctor. Any sport has its contraindications, and if you are registered with a particular disease, warn a specialist about your intentions and seek advice. If the doctor gives the go-ahead, inform the coach both about health problems and the peculiarities of the baby’s physical development. Do not under any circumstances give in to despondency if you are given a “medical withdrawal” in the section. Talk to a trainer: individual lessons are possible with an experienced teacher. Tune yourself and discuss with your child that not all exercises can be done.

SELECTING A CLUB AND INSTRUCTOR
An important point is the choice of the club itself, as well as the coach. If you have settled on one of the Western (kickboxing...) or Russian (sambo, hand-to-hand combat) methods, then the choice of the teacher himself will be easier to implement. This is due to the fact that these systems are more clearly regulated than martial arts.
To begin with, it is better to choose 2-3 clubs in which it is worth attending 2-3 classes. Try to negotiate with the coach so that you are allowed to attend them. As a last resort, if your child is already able to analyze the situation, rely on his opinion about the lessons and the teacher. After 2-3 lessons (and sometimes even after one) it will become clear where exactly to stop.
Pay attention to how the coach explains the technique - how competently and clearly, whether your child understands all the explanations. It would be a good idea to talk with other students and their parents: are they satisfied with the instructor, what indicators have they achieved, etc. Do not believe those schools that promise to supply you with equipment in a short time. The younger the children in the group, the longer the period of general physical training lasts, which gradually includes elements of the wrestling technique itself - stances, stretches, ritual kata dance.
If formal growth is important to you (ranks, belts, participation in competitions), pay attention to which federation your instructor is a member of. Needless to say, the best coach is the one whose work in the club is his main profession, and not a part-time job. Do not neglect the information of the World Wide Web, friends.
As for the club itself, pay attention to the class - how well it is equipped, whether you and your child like the place of study; on the traditions and customs of this school.

EDUCATIONAL EDUCATION IN POPULAR DIRECTIONS
Karate- Japanese martial art meaning fighting without weapons (translated as “empty hand”). The concept of karate is based on the original traditions of martial arts, in which efficiency remains in the first place, helping the fighter to protect himself from the attack of a stronger opponent, to provide protection. Recommended for children from 10 years old - the age when the ability to analyze develops. If a child is aggressive and hot-tempered, do not send him to the karate section - a fairly tough branch of martial arts. But among girls, karate has gained popularity, especially its non-contact form. At competitions, the level of technique and the beauty of the competitors’ movements are assessed. Karate develops attention, speed and reaction.

Taekwondo- Korean martial art. The word “taekwondo” is made up of three words: “tae” - jumping kick with the foot, “kwon” - punch, “do” - path. This type of martial art is characterized by a constant exchange of blows between opponents during a fight. Martial arts is quite tough, so it will be more difficult for girls to learn it than for boys. If your child is 8-10 years old, you can consider taekwondo as a martial art, because... Here such qualities as discipline, firmness, and determination will be formed. Strikes to the face, back, back of the head and below the belt, grabs, various throws, pushes and sweeps are prohibited, therefore the trauma rate of taekwondo is lower than karate.

Hapkido- a hard fighting style, so it is suitable for teenagers from 14 years old. Hapkido teaches how to defend against two or more opponents who are stronger than the fighter. That is why the arsenal of this style includes strikes on nerve endings, joints, and arteries, which is prohibited by other types of martial arts. Here you can also learn weapons fighting techniques. Not every child can learn hapkido. Success will come to a courageous, self-confident teenager with good endurance and self-control.

Capoeira- Brazilian martial arts, which is distinguished by wrestling disguised as dance. Copoeira is positioned as a weapon of the weak against the strong. Here the number of strikes is kept to a minimum, but the remaining ones are very important. This type of martial arts is equally suitable for both boys and girls. The undoubted advantage of Copoeira is that a person learns to perfectly control his body and develops flexibility.

Wushu- one of oldest systems physical and spiritual improvement, which originated more than 2 thousand years ago in China. Wushu to this day is not just a type of martial art, but a form of spiritual improvement. Wushu exercises heal the entire body and train all muscle groups. Wushu classes are suitable for everyone - regardless of the gender and age of your child. Even a 4-5 year old child can already be sent to the section. Children tend to become more sociable, friendly, disciplined and confident. Such children are not at risk of scoliosis, they can easily cope with schoolwork, and are more diligent than their peers. Wushu will suit both active child- will help him learn to control his emotions and be calm. Some Wushu exercises are used in the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system and cardiovascular system.

Jujutsu translated from Japanese as “soft art”. It has a history no less than wushu in China. In fact, many Japanese fighting techniques come from jiu-jitsu. The combination of striking and throwing techniques with force distinguishes this martial arts from others. Young children are taught the “softest” techniques of jiu-jitsu, but an experienced trainer can include more rigid systems in a teenager’s program, including working with a dagger and striking vulnerable areas.

Judo is a combat sport created by the Japanese Kano Jigaro. This martial arts excludes striking techniques and techniques that threaten human life, remaining the strongest combat school. Judo techniques disrupt the opponent's balance, immobilize and neutralize him without causing harm to his life. By learning this art, a child will not only be able to develop physical abilities - flexibility, balance, but also master breathing techniques, learn self-control and calmness in the most critical situations. With its soft techniques, judo is suitable for girls.

Aikido- This is a Japanese defense technique built on intercepting the movements of the attacker. Despite the smoothness and roundness of the movements, the student will be able to successfully defend himself. Aikido is first and foremost an art and only then a martial arts. Initially, it trains spiritual qualities and only then physical ones. Both boys and girls are brought to the Aikido school.

Kickboxing originated in America, borrowing various techniques from karate, taekwondo, and boxing. The main feature of kickboxing is a balanced combination of punches and kicks.

Sambo does not belong to oriental martial arts. This Russian view struggle. The founder of sambo, Anatoly Kharlampiev, combined in the name the main goal of the tactic - “self-defense without weapons.” This type of martial arts is reminiscent of judo.

Russian hand-to-hand combat It is wrong to call it a martial art. This is precisely a martial arts aimed at winning as quickly as possible in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy. The teenager will learn to cope with several opponents at once, be they with or without weapons. In any case, the trainer will teach your child to use any available means in battle - sticks, bottles, stones, so some of the lessons take place in real life, i.e. on the street or in the entrance.

A child who has achieved success in sports, in martial arts, who has learned to control his own body and emotions, having learned the price of victory, will be able to become successful in life, achieve success in work and will be healthy.

Yulia Alexandrova

The question “how to teach a child to defend himself” often flashed through our minds, so I decided to write a small guide. What usually interests parents about this topic? Firstly, at what age can you practice martial arts - and are such activities generally dangerous for children? Secondly, which martial arts should you choose? After all, during our childhood there were practically no such sections. And now on every corner they invite you to children’s wushu, karate, freestyle wrestling, sambo, aikido, taekwondo and various other “dos”.

These are the basic questions I asked two experienced martial arts teachers for children.

But first, a couple of tips from myself, from the “parental side”. I myself had the opportunity to practice boxing and aikido with a dozen different trainers. But this is not at all because I worked hard and hard. On the contrary, I am very disorganized. Moving from city to city, changing jobs and other “creative life” often distracted me from training; at each new place I had to look for a suitable section again. My eldest son partially repeats this path: he has been studying since he was three years old. different places. And this is not very good, since every switching means breaks, and then adjustment to new rules and new teams.

So the first piece of advice is that it is advisable to immediately set yourself and your child up for regular classes. Martial arts is not a one-time master class in baking gingerbread, but a constant practice and discipline. In this sense, not very fashionable, but a local section, where it is easy and convenient to take your child three times a week, may turn out to be more useful than some cool and expensive gym, which is difficult to get to, and you will eventually start skipping classes (and They usually charge you for the whole month, regardless of your absences).

The second piece of advice is related to the advantage that switching from one section to another gave me - I could compare different teachers. Of course, I won’t give clear criteria for a good coach. But I will share one observation: good martial arts teachers tend to be laconic. Japanese sensei practically don’t talk at seminars at all, they just show (and sometimes they laugh very childishly, watching you repeat after them). Russian teachers are more talkative, but even here a good coach is usually not a chatterbox. So if you see that a coach is giving a half-hour lecture with all sorts of beautiful analogies, diagrams and clever terms, then most likely he is just a failed physics teacher, and not a martial arts master.

And thirdly, you should listen to the desires and interests of your child regarding the choice of section. Perhaps it is not his, but your own desire to learn how to fight, and always with your feet, as in the favorite movie of your childhood.

However, this does not mean at all that the child will be happy to go to another section that he himself has chosen. The fact is that outside observation and a one-time visit are not at all the same as regular classes. So you need to try, and then be interested in the child’s attitude towards the section, not only after the first lesson, but also after six months or a year of training.

Well, now let's talk to the professionals. My interlocutors (by the way, very few words):

Alexander Lee– conducts training in aikido for children, as well as boxing and karate. 3rd dan in Aikido Aikikai, 2nd dan in Shotokan karate, candidate master of sports in boxing.

Shamil Vaysurov– conducts classes in combat sambo, including for children. Bronze medalist of the World Championship in Combat Sambo (2007), champion of Moscow in Combat Sambo (2008), champion of Russia in Ultimate Fighting (2009), champion of the international tournament “CIS Cup” in Jiu-Jitsu (2011).

– How old have you been practicing martial arts?

Alexander: From the fourth grade. I started with boxing.

Shamil: At the age of 12 I started practicing Wushu Sanda.

– And now, from the point of view of your coaching experience, when do you think children can start practicing martial arts?

Alexander: Judo, sambo - from the age of ten is optimal, in my opinion. Aikido can be started earlier, it is not such a traumatic form. But in general, in any martial arts section for children from five to six years old, the classes will be approximately the same: the ability to fall, tumble, and general physical training. More serious things are studied later.

Shamil: It is better to engage in combat sambo after the child has already taken part in several types of martial arts. When there is already a base - and percussion technique(karate, boxing), and wrestling (freestyle or sambo). After this, you can already go for a mixed style. If there is no such base, if a person, for example, is only familiar with freestyle wrestling, he will have to separately master striking techniques.

As for the basics... I would recommend that a child of five or six years old be first enrolled in sambo or aikido, where the loads are not so intense. In general, I would first send my son to gymnastics so that he can stretch. Then, at the age of eight, I would have given him to karate or Wushu Sanda. From the age of twelve - freestyle wrestling. At the age of 14-15 you can start boxing, and then you can start combat sambo or mix fight.

– Now many people send their children to martial arts earlier, from the age of four or five.

Shamil: Of course it is possible. But it’s better to send him to gymnastics at this age. You see, a child under 6 years old simply does not have such awareness, they play more. Only after 6 years do they more or less begin to repeat things.

Alexander: We have been studying aikido since the age of five, but this is precisely a general developmental system: the ability to fall, the ability to move, the ability to make contact. Now, unfortunately, this moment – communication with each other – disappears for children altogether. Everyone has the Internet, everyone sits alone... But here they say: “The hall unites.” And this applies not only to Aikido.

“Nevertheless, when parents choose a class for their child, their eyes widen at the names of martial arts. Maybe you can say a few words about how different martial arts differ, and how to choose them?

Alexander: From my experience I will say: it depends on the child. At the hand-to-hand combat section, I often see children who do not have sports anger; they are non-conflict by nature. Aikido is the most suitable for such people. best option. It's almost like physical education.

And there are children who are “charged to win”, very motivated fighters - so it’s better for them to engage in martial arts, where there are sparrings, competitions, where this spirit of struggle is welcomed. I myself have practiced karate a lot, there is a special selection system, and the goals are clear - both for the trainers and for the children. People who just want to improve their health do not stay in such a system.

If you choose between karate and boxing as a system - in my opinion, of course karate. More techniques, including elements of wrestling and boxing. Freestyle wrestling is also very intense in itself. But taekwondo is a completely incomprehensible system for me. There are no throws, no punches. Although, I note again, the choice depends on the individual.

Shamil: All directions have their advantages, so for practical application It’s better to study not one, but different directions. Aikido is good: it teaches you to avoid attacks and defend yourself. But this doesn’t always help, let’s put it this way. No hits. But in taekwondo, only the designations of blows are used: they are not embedded in the blow, it’s like giving a slap in the face - in practice, it’s not very effective.

Boxing is good practical view martial arts. But in boxing you have to manage to hit the head. If you don’t have time, the wrestler may throw you. Kudo is also good, there is a lot of footwork, but other techniques are not used. So in life, a “mixed style” is better.

– What if a child is bullied at school, and parents want to quickly teach him some kind of martial arts?

Shamil: I would recommend giving it to individual training. You can't learn quickly in a group.

Alexander: I prefer that children study in groups. Although you can practice some techniques individually if you have a clear goal. But this is more for adults.

If a child is bullied, of course, we can recommend a martial arts section - sambo, boxing. But this is a double-edged sword. If he learns to fight in the section, he can begin to “sort things out” in other cases in this way. So aikido is preferable in this sense. However, in Aikido you need much more time to feel confident. It often happens that people start with boxing or karate, and then come to aikido.

– In terms of the number and duration of classes, what do you recommend?

Alexander: For children under 10 years old, it would be optimal to do three times a week, for an hour and a half - this is if there are group trainings. Or an hour, if individual. This is enough for children. Well, for those who are older... It is generally believed that if a person wants to reach professional heights, then he needs to study 6 hours a day.

Find out which martial arts is best for your child. © Shutterstock

Are you choosing a type of martial art for your child? Remember, it is important to find a real martial arts trainer who will not only teach your little one a variety of techniques and methods of attack, but also introduce him to a philosophy and a certain way of life. After all, this is exactly what main value martial arts for children.

It is very important that the coach does not instill a cult of power in the child, but explains that many conflicts can be avoided if you put aside your ambitions and try to come to an agreement.

What are the benefits of martial arts for a child?

1. Martial arts for children is not only the ability to stand up for oneself, but also hardening and physical development. One of the most useful martial arts is wushu; during practice, the load on all muscle groups is uniform, so a good figure is formed, and slow wushu exercises burn calories no worse than aerobics.

2. It happens that a child grows up without a father. A man's hand is especially important in raising boys. Therefore, a karate, aikido or other martial art section is an excellent option for a boy to make up for the absence of his father. In addition, it happens that for a difficult teenager with whom parents are unable to cope, the coach becomes an indisputable authority.

3. If a child does not go to kindergarten or school, any club will help him adapt to the children's group. Martial arts are especially suitable for timid and physically poorly developed children.

4. True martial art does not justify fighters, but, on the contrary, teaches you to live in harmony with the world and with yourself, teaches you to be brave, but fair, strong, kind, but not aggressive.

5. A correctly presented martial art philosophy will allow a child to cope with his aggression. The trainer will explain even to an inveterate fighter that a warrior does not crave battle, but can always protect himself and his loved ones. And he can resolve a conflict without the help of fists.

6. Martial art will help a child get rid of the fear of attack. For girls, karate is an indispensable form of self-defense.

What are the negatives of martial arts for a child?

1. The main danger is that martial art can make a child more aggressive if the trainer himself is aggressive and practices this style of education. But this can be avoided if, firstly, you choose a good trainer, and secondly, if you choose the “right” martial art. For example, kung fu and wushu do not develop aggressiveness, but, on the contrary, teach how to avoid conflict situations.

2. Not all types of martial arts are suitable for children who have not played sports before. Wushu, for example, is suitable even for diseases of the spine (after a doctor’s recommendation), but kung fu is a sport for those who are trained.

3. Before a child begins to practice any form of martial arts, he must undergo a medical examination. After all, these sports have serious medical contraindications. Almost all types of martial arts cannot be practiced with chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system, spine, any diseases at the acute stage and with contraindications to physical activity. Karate cannot be practiced if you have any form of scoliosis or other diseases of the spine.

Jiu-jitsu is strictly prohibited for any diseases of the joints and musculoskeletal system. And here light form Taekwondo is not prohibited even if you have joint diseases. Aikido, in addition to general restrictions, is contraindicated for hypo- and hypertonicity of muscles, joint diseases and visual impairment (strabismus, farsightedness, myopia).

4. Different kinds martial arts occupy 17-27th place in terms of injury risk, that is, like any sport, martial arts are traumatic. But if a child does it for fun and doesn’t chase victories and records, in most cases injuries can be avoided.

It’s another matter if medals and prizes are at stake, then the baby may not be able to withstand the responsibility and easily get a nervous breakdown, get tired and get injured.

Martial arts for children: how to choose familyr_papa wrote in April 18th, 2012

text: Lekha Andreev lexa

Since the question “how to teach a child to defend himself” often came up in our discussions, I decided to write a short guide. What usually interests parents about this topic? Firstly, at what age can you practice martial arts - and are such activities generally dangerous for children? Secondly, which martial arts should you choose? After all, during our childhood there were practically no such sections. And now on every corner they invite you to children’s wushu, karate, freestyle wrestling, sambo, aikido, taekwondo and various other “dos”.

These are the basic questions I asked two experienced martial arts teachers for children.

But first, a couple of tips from myself, from the “parental side”. I myself had the opportunity to practice boxing and aikido with a dozen different trainers. But this is not at all because I worked hard and hard. On the contrary, I am very disorganized. Moving from city to city, changing jobs and other “creative life” often distracted me from training; at each new place I had to look for a suitable section again. My eldest son partially repeats this path: he has already studied in three different places. And this is not very good, since every switching means breaks, and then adjustment to new rules and new teams.

And thirdly, you should listen to your child’s desires and interests regarding the choice of section. Perhaps it is not his, but your own desire to learn how to fight, and always with your feet, as in the favorite movie of your childhood.

Well, now let's talk to the professionals. My interlocutors (by the way, very few words):

Alexander Lee- conducts training in aikido for children, as well as boxing and karate. 3rd dan in Aikido Aikikai, 2nd dan in Shotokan karate, candidate master of sports in boxing.

Shamil Vaysurov- conducts classes in combat sambo, including for children. Bronze medalist of the World Championship in Combat Sambo (2007), champion of Moscow in Combat Sambo (2008), champion of Russia in Ultimate Fighting (2009), champion of the international tournament "CIS Cup" in Jiu-Jitsu (2011).

- How old have you been practicing martial arts?

Alexander: From the fourth grade. I started with boxing.

Shamil: At the age of 12 I started practicing Wushu Sanda.

And now, from the point of view of your coaching experience, when do you think children can start practicing martial arts?

Shamil: It is better to engage in combat sambo after the child has already taken part in several types of martial arts. When there is already a base - both striking techniques (karate, boxing) and wrestling (freestyle or sambo). After this, you can already go for a mixed style. If there is no such base, if a person, for example, is only familiar with freestyle wrestling, he will have to separately master striking techniques.

- Now many people send their children to martial arts earlier, from the age of four or five.

Alexander: We have been studying aikido since the age of five, but this is precisely a general developmental system: the ability to fall, the ability to move, the ability to make contact. Now, unfortunately, this moment is completely disappearing for children - communication with each other. Everyone has the Internet, everyone sits alone... But here they say: “The hall unites.” And this applies not only to Aikido.

However, when parents choose a class for their child, their eyes widen at the names of martial arts. Maybe you can say a few words about how different martial arts differ, and how to choose them?

Alexander: From my experience I will say: it depends on the child. At the hand-to-hand combat section, I often see children who do not have sports anger; they are non-conflict by nature. Aikido is the best option for such people. It's almost like physical education.

And there are children who are “charged to win”, very motivated fighters - so it is better for them to engage in martial arts, where there are sparrings, competitions, where this spirit of struggle is welcomed. I myself have practiced karate a lot, there is a special selection system, and the goals are clear - both for the trainers and for the children. People who just want to improve their health do not stay in such a system.

Shamil: All directions have their advantages, so for practical application it is better to study not one, but different directions. Aikido is good: it teaches you to avoid attacks and defend yourself. But this doesn’t always help, let’s put it this way. No hits. But in taekwondo, only the designations of blows are used: they are not embedded in the blow, it’s like giving a slap in the face - in practice it’s not very effective.

Boxing is a good practical form of martial arts. But in boxing you have to manage to hit the head. If you don't have time, the wrestler may throw you. Kudo is also good, there is a lot of footwork, but other techniques are not used. So in life it’s better to have a “mixed style”.

- What if a child is bullied at school, and parents want to quickly teach him some kind of martial arts?

Shamil: I would recommend giving it to individual training. You can't learn quickly in a group.

Alexander: I prefer that children study in groups. Although you can practice some techniques individually if you have a clear goal. But this is more for adults.

- In terms of the number and duration of classes, what do you recommend?

Alexander: For children under 10 years old, it would be optimal three times a week, for an hour and a half - this is if there are group trainings. Or an hour, if individual. This is enough for children. Well, for those who are older... It is generally believed that if a person wants to reach professional heights, then he needs to study 6 hours a day.