How Often Should Kids Train Martial Arts?- Knoxville TN

Training in Karate or other martial arts is not like training in many contemporary sports. Martial arts is not learned only for immediate competitions or seasons. There are arts that have those things. But self defense and self improvement are foundational reasons that make Karate a lifelong pursuit.

Kids should take martial arts classes a minimum of 1 time per week and a maximum of 2 times per week. One time per week is preferable for some kids and allows for other interests. Some children may be able to train 2 days or even 3 days per week for a time, but only temporarily.

This doesn’t mean that 2 or even 3 times per week is not an acceptable amount of time periodically. There are times of preparation for testings, tournaments, and demonstrations that could demand extra training.

The problem comes when too many classes per week is taken as the norm and other things have to take a back seat. I knew my children and how much training they could handle on a regular basis and as an instructor I trust parents to know their own children.

Whether you choose Karate classes 1 or 2 days per week you know your child’s attention span and other interests. I would just caution anyone to keep 1 class per week as the norm and 2 or 3 as periodic and circumstantial.

Here is the official attendance policy of Master Booe’s Karate Kidz in Knoxville TN.

How Many Days Per Week Should Kids Train Martial Arts?

There are a couple of situations that will help determine how many days per week kids should train in martial arts per week. I will go over some of these here so you can determine what is best for your little Karate Kidz.

Children should attend martial arts classes at least 1 time per week with a maximum of 3 times per week. Going to classes 3 times per week should not be a normal schedule. More than one or two times per week should be used to train for specific events.

I am not saying that if you deem it appropriate a child shouldn’t attend 2 or even 3 times per week to any style of martial arts. It should just not be taken lightly.

The national average for a child attending 2 times or more per week is to stop taking classes after only 6 months. In order to be able to defend themselves and acquire the benefits that Karate and other styles have to offer, years of training are needed.

When Your Kidz Do Karate And Other Sports

There are many families that enjoy sports, activities, or have other commitments for their kidz or as a family. They should also be able to train in martial arts without giving up other pursuits. This is not an easy thing to do with most martial arts schools.

Many schools strongly advise or in some cases require 2 to 3 classes per week. This makes other sports difficult if not impossible to do simultaneously.

This is compounded by the fact that contracts are involved with most every martial arts studio in the area. These agreements don’t allow for lessening attendance or taking breaks and continuing in the future. This is the problem with most Knoxville studios, but not an issue with one.

My Karate Kidz Knoxville school doesn’t use contracts, encourages the norm of 1 to 2 classes per week, and allows parents the flexibility to take breaks, increase class times when time allows, and to plan their child’s journey without coercion.

Parents can plan to use class as fast or as slow as they choose. The control is in their court.

Should Anyone Train Martial Arts Every Day?

Burnout and overtraining not only happens to amateur athletes and those looking only for self defense. It can and does happen to professional athletes and service personnel.

Training martial arts every day for anyone is excessive to the extreme. That much training in nearly anything will bring on certain mental and physical problems. Training should be in a group setting nor more than 1 to 2 times per week, with 2 additional days of self training.

The class times should be around an hour and self practice around 20 minutes for most all kids. This will keep them progressing and keep them from burnout.

In my Karate studio in Knoxville, 1 day is the base and 2 days are recommended for reaching short term goals and event training.

How Many Hours Should Kids Train Martial Arts?

The amount of hours a child trains per week in Karate is something that parents should be intricately involved in. They know their child better than anyone. That being said, there is a recommended amount per week.

For younger children, 1 hour in group classes and 1 hour at home is plenty. As they get older, a max of two hours in martial arts classes and 2 hours at home is best. In total younger children should train from 1 to 2 hours per week and as they grow a max of 4 hours per week.

The benefits of martial arts will help kids of all ages, but it takes prolonged training to take full advantage of them. There is no way for any child to see how much martial arts can help them if they quit.

To keep a student training in the martial arts there has to be an equal mix of Fun, Fit, and Functional. For kidz, the fun usually is what keeps them going. Overtraining is the easiest way to kill the fun.

Wrap Up

One problem with training in some professional martial arts studios is… well, they are professional martial arts studios. Don’t get me wrong, there are some good ones in the Knoxville area. Yet, the stresses of overhead, advertising, and simply making a living takes its toll on many of them.

They resort to linking small children to long term agreements and forcing parents to attend several classes per week with their kidz in order to charge prices that average $150 per month per student. I understand their problem, but it is not supposed to be that way.

In Knoxville, my Karate Kidz studio is one of the only not using contracts and the only one that advocates attending one time a week as a base. Some schools may allow it for a time, but will pressure students to attend more to justify the monthly tuition.

If you are interested in seeing the difference 30 years of experience can bring, contact me and we can set up a FREE class. And when you sign up for your first term, get a FREE uniform!