Which Martial Arts Is Best for Teens?

Are you wondering which martial arts is best for teens? All martial arts teach physical fitness, self defense, and ethics.  If you just want to get into shape and learn some self defense, any martial art will do that.  This article will look at some of the different types of martial arts and include tips on picking the right one for a teen.

There can be several reasons a teen would want to take martial arts: to exercise and get stronger, to build endurance and coordination, to learn self defense, or just because martial arts are cool. However, any and all martial arts will help you to do this, so there is no "best" martial art for a teen. You need to compare martial arts side by side to find the one that meets your teen's goals.

Karate vs. Tae Kwon Do   

All martial arts teach that you must strengthen and control the body and the mind; that strength comes from a combination of the two.  They all teach that martial arts become a way of life and permeate all the areas of your life.  Let’s compare two of the most popular martial arts: karate and tae kwon do.

Karate

Karate teaches offensive and defensive techniques that use all the parts of the body.  In practice, you work on basics like stances, blocks, kicks, punches, and strikes.  You also have forms, which are a combination of the basics, and sparring.

You are taught that karate is the combination of the mind and the body, and to advance you need to improve both of these.  They work together and as you strengthen one, it affects the other.  It is a mental and physical discipline.

Tae Kwon

Tae kwon do uses some of the same techniques that are in karate, so they are not really very different.

However, there is more protective gear worn in tae kwon do that in karate, as karate prepares the body for hits.  In tae kwon do, gear is needed to protect both parties as it is a sport where you show strength, not injure others.

Tae kwon do teaches that through training you improve mentally and physically, and achieve inner peace and harmony with nature.  You are also taught to achieve balance by controlling good and evil forces.  The tenets of Tae kwon do are courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit.  Tae kwon do is an Olympic sport.  

How to Pick a Good Martial Arts School

Selecting the best martial arts for teens really depends on the teen.  However, there are some things to do to help a teen pick a good school: 

• Observe a Class - After you pick the martial art that you want to study, or if you already know, you still should observe a class or two.  Some schools will let you try out a beginner class to help you decide.
• Ask Questions about Classes - Find out the ratio of teacher to students.  Sometimes the black belt students assist as part of their training.
• Ask about Sparring - Some schools spar quite often and others very little.  Some wait until the students are more advanced, and some start right away.  Find out the philosophy on this and go with the one that fits you best.  
• Check out the Teacher - Check into his or her training, certifications, etc.  When you observe, notice if he is fair, just, and has good discipline in class.
• Ask about Competitions - Find out how much emphasis is put on competitions.  Competitions cost money, not only with fees to compete but also travel expenses, so keep that in mind.
• Know the Age Ranges - Teens do not want to start with five year olds.  Find a large enough school that offers beginning classes in your age group.

The best martial arts and the best martial arts school for a teen is the one that meets the specific needs of the teen.