Children can be so energetic and spirited that their energy at times seems uncontrollable. Their attention spans are often short. They can be easily distracted, or they can be just the opposite—subdued, quiet, or extremely serious. Some may not have the skills to mix socially and play with other children their age. Having fun, acting silly, playing games, playing pretend, and using one’s imagination are a part of growing up.

Opportunities and permission to do things allow children to take risks in a safe way. By exploring their limits, children can open new realms of understanding about themselves and the world in which they live. Martial arts are generally considered a serious study that also lets individuals test their limits. Many practitioners of martial arts feel that the element of "fun" does not belong, because to study martial arts one must be dedicated and serious. However, for a child, any environment that promotes learning through laughter and the use of imagery and games becomes a safe environment. This safe environment can enhance a child’s ability to learn and thus to begin studying the more serious side of the martial arts.

Traditional Taekwon-Do is a nonviolent martial art that incorporates natural principles such as relaxation, focusing energy, concentrating on a task, and moving in harmony with a partner. It differs from other martial arts in that the goal of blending with a partner or with one’s environment plays an integral role in learning the art. Not only can Traditional Taekwon-Do improve one’s physical condition, it also can help one gain a better understanding of movement.

It is important that caring adults give children the skills to deal with difficult situations and people in a more nonviolent manner than currently learned through the media and the examples of others. The challenge is not to clash or become uptight when we encounter conflict, but to learn to relax and possibly redirect the energy or take a break from the conflict without the threat of injury. Traditional martial arts focus on the avoidance of violence. Children learn how to cooperate, not fight. They learn how to resolve conflict in a positive way; how to make friends and avoid making enemies. They learn self-defense, but more importantly, they learn self-confidence, self-respect and the path to self-discovery.

There is a great difference between the way martial arts are viewed in Korea and Japan and the way they are often viewed in the United States. In the east, whether it is school education or instruction given in the home, martial arts training is a highly regarded teaching method. In the US, most people think of it as simply one of many available recreational activities like soccer or baseball. I think it is a dangerous mistake for a parent to let a child study a martial art unless the parent understands that martial arts training is a method of education. Even though martial arts like Traditional Taekwon-Do has become popular around the world, there are many people who confuse it with other martial arts. A traditional martial arts class should be a place where children can develop their individuality within the context of martial arts training and without parental pressure. In Traditional Taekwon-Do classes, students practice individually as well as in pairs, with both parties working together to perform a technique successfully. Students don’t learn how to hurt each other; they learn how to cooperate with each other.

Over the last several years, a number of Hollywood films have popularized martial art heroes, and many new Taekwon-Do students have inquired about classes with preconceptions about martial arts. The popularity of these movies led many parents to enroll their children in Karate classes. Many martial arts schools added "Karate" to their names with hopes of cashing in on the trend. Suddenly there were thousands of Karate schools. I have made it a rule to tell these people that if they chose to study Taekwon-Do because they were impressed by something they had seen in a movie, they chose the wrong martial art.

If you are looking for a martial arts school for your child, I recommend that you try to look beneath the surface. Don’t be too easily impressed by the Hollywood sales pitch. Many martial arts schools try to attract new students by putting on flashy demonstrations and push their students to attain increasingly higher levels along with frequent promotion tests. Parents at these schools walk in and out of the practice area to watch their children in class, much like they would at a sporting event. Classes are scheduled regularly, with as many different ones (by age, weight, and height) as possible. Black Belt is given to any child whose parents made all the required payments on time. Contracts are used to lock-in you and your child. Even though your child may lose interest over the course of a few short months.

The tremendous demand for martial arts training has enabled many people to operate successful martial arts schools. But do the schools that emphasize a combative approach and rely on many belts and promotions offer the kind of training that will help students deal with the situations they face in their daily lives? I don’t believe so. These schools are primarily profit-oriented businesses, and they adapt quickly as different styles come in and out of fashion. Again, I recommend that you try to look beneath the surface. Don’t be too easily impressed by the Hollywood sales pitch. Eastern Taekwon-Do provides a safe environment that can enhance your child's ability to learn and studying the more serious side of martial arts.

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