Karate Kids

Twenty-five years after “The Karate Kid” first hit theaters, participating in martial arts
is an established part of American childhood. But it’s not just about breaking
boards in midair: martial arts keeps kids fit while imparting important life
skills. And in a city as varied as New York,
Karate isn’t the only option—kids
can take classes in Tae Kwon Do, Tai Chi, Jiu Jitsu, Kung Fu, Judo and
Capoeira, too.

Whether kids start when they’re two or 12, the long-term benefits
of martial arts are wide-ranging. “It teaches children how to focus, how to
really work hard, really emphasize their short-term goals, and set long-term
goals,” says Paul Lim, owner of West Side Taekwondo. In other words, children
exposed to the sport develop a healthy sense of self-discipline.

Participating in
martial arts also helps develop coordination and balance, improving kinesthetic
awareness—the knowledge of where each part of the body is, and what motions
they perform for any given task. Each of these skills can translate into other
sports as well down the road.

But the biggest boon to kids who undertake martial arts
training? Self-confidence and self-esteem. “The great thing about martial arts
is that you’re not competing against someone else or some other team, it’s
about how much better you can become,” says Lim. With martial arts like Tae Kwon Do, for example, kids work their
way through the belt system on their own, focusing on their individual
accomplishments each step of the way.

Last, while it’s an individual sport, martial arts have a
lot to teach kids about getting along with others. Since children often enroll before they start school, it can be their
first experience learning in a group setting. Discipline and respect for
instructors and each other are at the core of every program; the common
practice of bowing both expresses and reinforces that respect. Exercises
in class emphasize the skills kids need to succeed at home and in the
classroom: patience, the ability to focus on a task, the ability to listen, the
maturity to accept when peers excel and the discipline to persevere.

So, how old do kids have to be to start their training? The
majority of programs start at three to five years old. “The younger they are,
the easier they are [to teach]. They’re
like sponges, there’s no fear—so they’re quick to absorb what [they’re
learning],” says Randy Dorleans, a martial arts instructor at Chelsea
Piers.

In fact, East Side Tae Kwon Do has a special class for kids
as young as 18 months old to participate in with a parent or caregive EastsideTaeKwonDo(as)_2.jpg r. According
to Mary Clare Bland, the owner/manager, the
classes are more tightly structured than classes for older children. Toddlers learn
to follow instructions, understand spatial relationships, jump and even stand
still in addition to gaining improved balance and hand-eye coordination.

As kids get older and progress in their martial arts
training, classes tend to focus more on physical endurance. “Martial arts is
very good for physical conditioning in terms of core strength, flexibility and
cardio-vascular workout,” says Lim. Self-defense also becomes more of a focus—knowing that they are capable of taking care
of themselves in dangerous situations will give them the confidence they need
to assert themselves when necessary.

Once you decide to enroll your child in a martial arts
program, it is important to find
the right instructor. “The number one thing is, ‘Do I have an instructor who
really cares about my child?’” says Mike Bailey, the youth sports director at
Asphalt Green. Observe how
instructors talk to their students and their individual teaching styles. Also, make sure that the martial arts
program takes place in a safe environment. Check that the studios have padded floors and the students wear
pads when sparring. Make sure that the
instructors stress the importance of safety, and have the appropriate
qualifications for teaching children. “Children function much better, and just
seem happier if they feel safe; I think
that’s the most important thing,” sums up Bland.

A ROUND-UP OF VENUES OFFERING MARTIAL ARTS CLASSES FOR KIDS

A1 Karate Kids
110 West 14^th Street,
2^nd Floor
212-807-7336
a1karatekids.com

AmeriKick Karate Studios
529 Fifth Avenue,
Brooklyn
718-768-8200
amerikick.com

Asphalt Green
555 East 90th Street
212-369-8890
asphaltgreen.org

Brooklyn Aikikai
408 Third Avenue,
Brooklyn
718-643-6044
brooklynaikikai.com

Brooklyn Dojo
93 Pineapple Walk
718-237-0568
brooklyndojo.com

Chelsea Piers
23rd Street
and the Hudson River
212-336-6666
chelseapiers.com

D-Dojo
500 8^th Avenue,
12^th Floor
212-537-6441
d-dojo.org

Discovery Programs
251 West 100^th Street
212-749-8717
discoveryprograms.com

East Side
Tae Kwon Do
325
East 65th Street
212-755-5982
eastsidetaekwondo.com

Gymtime Rhythm &
Glues
1520
York Avenue
212-861-7732
gymtime.net

Gotham
Taekwon-Do
328
East 61^st Street, 3^rd Floor
212-326-9510
nyctkd.com

Harlem
Tae Kwon Do
236
116^th Street, 2^nd Floor
347-624-5546
harlemtkd.com

Honma Dojo
58
East 11^th Street
212-505-3656
honmadojo.com

JCC
in Manhattan
334
Amsterdam Avenue
646-505-5700
jccmanhattan.org

Manhattan
Movement & Arts Center
248
West 60th
Street
212-787-1178
manhattanmovement.com

Modern Martial Arts NYC
Various locations in Manhattan
212-772-3700
manhattantkd.cmasdirect.com

New York Jiu Jitsu
666 Broadway, Lower Level
212-343-8310
nyjiujitsu.com

Premier Martial Arts
548 Union Street, Brooklyn
718-965-4222
premiermartialarts.com

Reebok Sports Club/NY and
The Sports Club/LA New York
Reebok: 160
Columbus Avenue, 212-362-6800
Sports Club: 330
East 61st Street, 212-355-5100
mpsportsclub.com,
thesportsclubla.com

Shaolin Kung Fu Training
Center
109
West 27^th Street
212-242-7308
shaolinkungfuntrainingcenter.com

Six Harmony
Martial Arts Academy
232
7^th Avenue, 2^nd Floor
212-727-0714
sixharmony.com

Tiger Schulmann’s Mixed
Martial Arts
39
West 19th Street
212-727-0773 or
1-800-52-TIGER
tsk.com

Upper West Side
Kenshikai Karate
928
Columbus Avenue
212-222-1172
uwskenshikai.com

West Side
Taekwondo
700
Columbus Avenue
212-663-3998
westsidetkd.com

World
Martial Arts Center
Manhattan:
69 West 14^th Street;
Brooklyn: 475 Atlantic Avenue
Manhattan:
212-941-8771; Brooklyn:
718-855-9898
happykicks.com

YMCA of Greater New
York
212-630-9600
ymcanyc.org

New York Society of Play Summer Camp and Classes

Summer Game Camp There are many who do not feel safe sending their children back out into the world with summer camp, this year. To serve those parents and keep the children connected and stimulated during this challenging time, we are offering NYSP Digital Summer Camp. The name of the game with NYSP Summer Camp is community. We have made a large effort to make our camp feel like a living space, with features including &ndash; - Role-Playing games familiar and new, led by our master storytellers! - Enriching electives such as Chess, World Building, Character Acting, Crafts, Drawing, and more! - Discussion and media screening rooms during lunch! - A digital campus! - Moderated chat hours! &nbsp; Join us for a summer of games, friends, and more! Mon - Fri 10am - 2:30pm &nbsp; Roleplay Expeditions: Dungeons &amp; Dragons No experience is required to join one of our Dungeons &amp; Dragons games. Our game masters have pre-made character sheets, so you'll be able to start playing the game right away! We adapt the rules of traditional Dungeons &amp; Dragons to make them more approachable to children of various ages. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons &amp; Dragons workshop!&nbsp; &nbsp; Public games meet once per week, with different groups every time. Private games meet 1 to 2 times per week with the same group of kids. Since the players and the storyteller in the group are consistent, this enables us to tell epic tales of adventure together! &nbsp; Dungeons &amp; Dragons Junior No experience is required to join one of our drop-in Dungeons &amp; Dragons games. Our Dungeons &amp; Dragons Jr. game provides a D&amp;D storytelling experience without character sheets. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons &amp; Dragons workshop! A great way to introduce young children to D&amp;D so they can eventually move onto the main game.

British Swim School - Long Island

The premier learn-to-swim provider for people of all ages, offering programs for children ages 3-months through adults.&nbsp; British Swim School uses gentle teaching methods and a survival-first approach to help people of all experience levels become safer, stronger swimmers. British Swim School&rsquo;s safe, fun, and effective instructional program has made it the preferred choice for parents and students for over 40 years. Come see the British Swim School difference!

Chickenshed NYC

Chickenshed is an inclusive theatre company that began in the UK in 1974. Chickenshed NYC is a young organization bringing that same ethos and unique methodology to the USA. Chickenshed&rsquo;s mission is to create entertaining and outstanding theatre that celebrates diversity and inspires positive change. Chickenshed's model of Inclusive Theatre is based in the belief that everyone can flourish when everyone is included. At Chickenshed everyone is welcome, everyone is valued, and together we produce remarkable theatre. We want to break down barriers between people to create a world without labels and where differences no longer divide. At Chickenshed, support is given to those who need it, and given by those who can . We believe that creative activities, self-expression and performance should be available to anyone who has the desire, no matter their background or circumstances. We know that when everyone has the opportunity to shine, amazing things happen. Chickenshed NYC provides programming for little ones, children and youth through semester-long activities and performances.