Have You Considered Kids Judo as a Way to Help Your Child Thrive?
What is judo?
Is it safe?
Can Judo help my kid with wrestling (or football)?
Do you Know that Judo is One of the Safest Competitive Sports for Kids?
It’s crazy to think that a combative art could be safer than, say, soccer, but it’s true. The statistics show again and again that judo ranks at or near the top compared to most other sports for kids. That may be because we teach kids to fall correctly, or because judo is so systematic about how it teaches throws and takedowns. Either way, it’s nice to know that your child will be well taken care of while they get fit and learn to defend themselves.
What is Judo, Anyway?
Judo means “the way of adaptability.” Kids learn throws, takedowns and pins. As they stick with judo, their balance gets better, they get calmer, and they get more comfortable with movement. Our classes teach Japanese etiquette, respect, basic movement skills, competition, and social skills. If kids decide to compete in tournaments, we can help guide them.
Give Your Kid a Leg Up for His or Her Entire Life!
You’ve probably heard about all the benefits of a good martial arts program: greater confidence, improved mental focus, an understanding of some aspects of other cultures, and the ability to defend yourself. Think about what an extraordinary gift it would be to set your child up for a life of physical and mental balance. Why wouldn’t you want them to experience confidence and joy, and to be able to move through life with power and grace? Almost nothing does that like martial arts!
Why is JMAC a Good Choice for Kids Judo in Ann Arbor?
Our kids curriculum is designed to balance entertaining kids with their needs for lifetime fitness and focus. Since each kid comes to us with a different range of abilities, there’s no “one size fits all” approach at JMAC. We pay attention to what they do well, assist them at improving those aspects they find more difficult, and gently guide them about what they can do outside the dojo to improve their mental and physical fitness. We don’t tolerate bullying. Our mission is to create an atmosphere of mutual cooperation and development. Our standards are high, but we’re here to help kids achieve them!
Be Sure You Know What You’re Getting Your Child Into
You’ll start out by watching a kids judo class with your child. If the class looks like fun and it works with your calendar, we work with you to schedule two private intro lessons for your child, with no cost or obligation. In those lessons, we’ll teach them some basic etiquette and a few fundamentals of judo. After they’ve completed those lessons, we’ll explain what it takes to get started. There will be no pressure - we want kids at JMAC who truly want to be here and whose parents are interested in seeing their kids get focused and healthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the age ranges in kids judo?
We allow kids from age 8 to 12 in our kids judo program. There’s a great mix of younger and older kids. Between 5-7, kids attend our “Little Dragons” class. When they reach more advanced ranks and hit the 13-14 year age range, many kids will graduate to our adult judo classes.
Will my kid get hurt?
Unlikely! We work very hard to train safely and systematically. Our safety record is very, very good. Of course there’s are scrapes and an occasional bruise, and there is risk of injury in every activity, so we can’t promise that your child will never get hurt. But we can say that we’ve never had a serious injury in our kids judo class, and we do everything in our power to keep it that way.
Will I get locked into a long contract when my child starts?
No! After your child’s intro lessons, we’ll ask you to sign them up for a membership. The membership is for one year, but you can opt out any time within the first 60 days. That 60-day period gives you time to make sure training at JMAC is what you and your child are hoping for. It also gives us a chance to assess your child and let you know whether our program will be a good fit for them. Once a student has been with us for a year, the training is month-to-month (no contract). We’ve had students who joined in 2006 and are still training at JMAC today!
The First Step to Take if You’re Considering Kids Judo
If you think you might like to get your child involved in judo, we’d love to have you watch a class with them. Email is the best way to contact us. You can reach JMAC at info@japanesemartialartscenter.com(or use the contact box in the upper right corner of this page). If you’re more comfortable on the phone, call (734) 720-0330 to arrange a time to visit or get your questions answered.
We can’t wait to meet you and your child at a judo class!