| Answering questions about the Martial Arts | |||||||
| by BUDDY AMATO | |||||||
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I have been compiling some of the best questions over the last two years even though I have answered them over the phone and some of them through the mail. I thought that I would share some of them with the readers and you also may benefit with some of the most commonly asked questions about the martial arts. Question No. 1: How long does it take a person to obtain a black belt? The answer to this is: It depends on the student, there is no way someone can tell you or give you an honest answer to this. However, it should take at least three ad a half years to about four years of hard training, that's going to class at least three times a week and practicing a lot on your own at home. You may find some schools that will promote you or your child to black belt in a couple of years, but you can also go to a martial arts store, buy a black belt off the shelf and it will be just as legitimate. Question No. 2: Will my son or daughter get into to trouble if they train in the martial arts and use it on the street? The answer to this is: That we, of course, teach self-control and that you should avoid street fighting at all cost. However, if it is self-defense and you are in the right and have no other alternative then you would be within the law. You of course must stop defending yourself against your would be attacker once he or she is no longer a threat. That is to say you must not go overboard, but this is whether you know the martial arts or not. Question No. 3: What if my son is a bully and is already over aggressive, can the martial arts help? answer, most definitely the martial marts will teach your son to be more respectful. It will have a humbling affect at the same time once he see's that there is so much to learn, he will settle down in to a calmer mode and he will realize that it is not necessary to fight at the drop of a hat. The Martial arts instructor will also act as a person for the payment who will oversee what the child is doing wrong on the outside of the Karate/Martial Arts school. The parent simply has to tell the instructor tha the boy did something wrong and the instructor will deal with it with the student. The child knowing that the instructor will be told will not want to misbehave with the arts that is being taught for fear that he will fall out of grace with his teacher. Question No. 4: At what age can my child start training in the martial arts? the answer: the average age is four years old. However, I have accepted students as young as three; this however is rare. what I do is let the child take the class at no charge to see how she or he grasps and listens. After that I will be able to tell whether or not he or she will be able to learn in a structured environment, or if they will just be a disruption to the other students. To give you an example, my own daughter trained when she was three years old, but I worked with her on her own because in a group type setting she was too hyperactive and she want's all the attention. On the other hand, I have a a three year old in my class of beginners that acts and behaves like she is a six year, so you have to take it on a case to case basis. Question No. 5: How many children are in a class? this is one of the most common questions asked by parents and the answer to this is it varies. The average is twenty in a class but there are times when there is less and times when there is more. The thing you have to remember is at least at my school when you have too many kids in a class you must break them up into groups with their own instructors. This is, of course if you have the room and if you have the staff. In my case, I am lucky enough to have more than both. However, there are some things that can be taught by the teacher that a large group can benefit by and if you are a good enough instructor with enough patience and background, you can handle a large group surprising well. Grandmaster Buddy Amato operates Amato's Karate and Weapons Academy, 589 Palmer Avenue, West Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom. For more information, call (732) 671-9555.
Copyright Buddy Amato Amato's Goju-ryu Karate, Nunchaku, Bo-staff, Aikido, Sword, Kendo, Sais, Kick-boxing, Tai-Chi and more 589 Palmer Ave, Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom, NJ 07734 (732) 671-9555 |
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