re: Martial Arts for Kids Recommendations

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so fundamentals are out of the question at that age?

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Bruce Lee.....was 13 years old when he began his training... Chuck Norris was older at 18. General Choi Hong-Hi, founder of Taekwon-Do, was around the age of 20 ..... Michelle Yeoh of Crouching Tiger and James Bond Tomorrow Never Dies fame, didn't start martial arts training until 22......

From this it would seem that attaining a high level of success in martial arts is not dependant on a very early start, all these people being above 11 years old. However some other martial arts greats did begin a little younger. Jet Li .. was aged 8 ... Jackie Chan was 7, Grandmaster Rhee Ki Ha was around 7 or 8 when he began judo,...) and Steven Seagal was around 6 or 7

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Of thirty seven instructors, nine had taught children of 3 or 3½ but none had had a 3 year old starter reach black belt. Some of these children may still be training but only one instructor had managed to get a 3 year old starter to at least green belt. Fifteen instructors had taught 4 or 4½ year olds, three of whom had had a child go on to achieve a black belt (in no cases were children the offspring of the instructors).

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