Is martial arts at a young age an advantage?

i probably wont be a big martial arts star in my life but i really want to learn it.i see most of action film stars,like jet li and jackie chan, start out when they were kids.does learning martial arts at a young age give an advantage over those learning it during their teen or adult life?

Is martial arts at a young age an advantage?
yes, a person starting younger has more exprience because they have been doing it longer than a person who started later. so in that since theres an advantage. however does that mean you cant catch up in skill or even surpass em? no.





things to take in consideration about skill level:


1)natural talent, some people are more gifted and can learn easier than others requiring less time to get good.





2)dedication is very important. say i've been doing kempo since a kid but i didnt take it seriously went once or twice a week didnt practice on my own at home, i can still be at a disadvantage to say someone who has done it for a few yrs but puts their all into it.





example look at bj penn he is considered a prodigy in brazilian jiujitsu he got his black belt in only 3 yrs and became the first non-Brazilian to win a gold medal in the black belt division in a world championship





again with bj penn i've seen a video while he was a white belt put the hurting on a black belt in judo





the thing is an older person thinking that a person starting it younger is gonna have an advantage over them gives them a negative attitude in which sometimes keeps them from training at all(oh im too old to start everyone else has been doing it longer) but thats what is really putting you at a disadvantage not starting they are improving even more while you are doing nothing. at least if you train you'll not let the gap get even bigger
Reply:Check out Steven Seagal's Biography on his website.
Reply:yes my son is 4 and is a orange belt so goood luck








love mallard duck dude








ps stuffed animals rule
Reply:My son is 9 and and a blue belt in Tae Kwon Do after 10 months of pretty dedicated training. I started him in TKD as I was told it would help with his ADHD (which it most certainly did), We have a few 9 to 12 year old JUNIOR Black Belts in our school and they are wonderful kids; healthy, well adjusted, self confident, well mannered, etc... (tho I've no doubt they could be little horrors at home sometimes!)... The obvious advantage of starting early is that you learn the techniques while you are very supple and have miles of stamina, then around the age 10 to 11 (I'm told by the other TKD mums) the serious realization kicks in and they begin to appreciate the finer points of what they have learned..


Whatever your age; go for it..
Reply:As long as "Martial Arts" are really taught and the place isn't a "McDoJo" (a place to go buy belts with little emphasis placed on the art) .. It is great exercise and mental discipline. A good school will teach the difference between defense and offense and will even weed-out those that can't tell the difference. I started at 8 and have no regrets.
Reply:I think it helps to teach the child both physical and mental coordination, as well as discipline. The advantage is that they learn these skills before getting older, and lazier and then having to reverse bad habits.





It's easier and more realistic to achieve, and then maintain an existing skill than it is to have to overcome old bad habits while learning something new.
Reply:Beyond the simple value found in learning to kick and punch studying Martial Arts from a young age can provide a wide range of skills and tools that can aid in personal development and success during the formative years. Children often struggle with their own identity and face many situations in their daily lives that challenge their self-esteem as well as their moral and ethical decision process. The structured discipline and reward system characteristic of most Martial Arts training provides the young student with a strong foundation of personal achievement through focus and hard work. Memorization and critical thinking skills are developed through the use of forms and sparring drills. Any kids class worth its salt covers some basic life-skill elements such as personal integrity, courtesy, self-control, dedication, etc. Kids who start out life with a good basis of physical fitness are more likely to maintain that basic health later in life than those who don't do anymore than what is required in gym class. Kids that are old enough to understand what is being taught are more likely to learn and retain more easily than adults. Additionally, programs that teach Stranger Danger, Bad Bully and similar concepts give practical teaching that help keep our kids safe in ever more dangerous world.





While I am certainly a proponent of the “You're never to old to start” philosophy of Martial Arts teaching I advocate strongly the notion of “Start 'em young, train 'em right”





Good luck in your studies.





Regards,


www.thundereaglemaa.com
Reply:The only real advantage it gives you is time. You can never make up time.





So if you start young then when you are older it is that much more experience you have, but that does not mean you will be better or worst. it just means you have more time in.





Sure it could also help you stay flexible and healthy through your life too if practiced properly.
Reply:yes because it stays in ur head and if someone trys to hurts u, u will not get hurt
Reply:Starting martial arts at a young age is a good idea, however be careful what martial art you take because if you get injured when your young it could affect you for life, I would not recommend anything full contact, jujitsu or ninjutsu till your at least 14.