Taekwondo for toddlers

A couple relatives had their children in martial arts. What I saw as the best part is just what you said, they got some discipline and learned some respect. If your program is designed around kids it sounds great. I studied Choy Li Fut, Kung Fu for about a year in California. The kids I saw in the program basically just went thru the motions. The programs were taught to the kids, but they weren't designed for them and the kids knew it and didn't pay much attention. Their belts "appeared" to be more a reward for time served than for actual martial skill or form/function. Appearances can be deceiving, but that's what it looked like at that school.

So if you know of one designed by someone who knows about and understands kids, I would say go for it. They would teach it in a way, and at a pace the kids could actually get something from.

We are planning on starting my boys - age 4 and 5 soon. I think it teaches a lot of good behaviors and is incredible exercise while still being fun for the kids.

I hold belts in both Karate and TaeKwonDo. I taught for a very long time, and I highly recommend martial arts for children. Even really little ones learn lots - especially around respect, discipline and taking direction from adults other than their parents. My students ranged in age from 3 to 82. (but my favorites to teach were the little ones!)

Both of my older kids are black belts, and I am very close to it myself. I'll be testing for brown belt when I ever get enough money to go back. My 6 year old is a yellow belt. I think anything you do that is fun for your toddler and shows them that exercise is normal and fun is a great thing. But 2 is probably way too young to actually get any martial arts training out of it. But if you are modeling healthy behavior for them, I say go for it.

2 years old is a hard age to judge. I have a daughter that just turned 4 and a son that is 2.5. I started the daughter in gymnastics at not quite 2.5. Most of the time, she could focus enough. At that age, any program teaches them mainly structure -- wait in line, respect other kids' time when it's their turn, etc. Now, my son is no where NEAR mentally mature enough to do gymnastics yet. He wouldn't be able to be able to wait his turn and probably wouldn't understand the drill they were explaining.

Jujitsu would be better...

Both of my nephews starting TKD at age 4. The older is 10 now and a Junior Black Belt. The younger is 8 and testing for his Black Belt this summer. Both are going to nationals for a second year in a row. Their skill sets are completely different. The older does really well in forms and it has been a real exercise for him to become a competitor in sparring. He just doesn't like jabbing/kicking the other kids. The younger is a little scrapper and will fight like no one's business. His challenge has been to harness that energy and try to focus on forms.

It has been a great and useful experience for them to be involved in such a sport. It has helped both of them work on their own challenges and be a part of a special team. The support there has been amazing and they really have a second family with all the others there. My SIL started classes there a couple years later and just got her purple belt. My Bro isn't into it for himself, but supports all their efforts.

I say go for it!

There is one near here called Kiddie Karate, LOL. I want to take my two year old but I've been waiting for her to get a little better at following directions, plus trying to get my schedule to work around it. She's two and a few months now so it seems to be time. It's listed that parents have to participate and it's only half an hour. They emphasize fitness and respect too. I think it's a fantastic idea. Especially since I want her to have self defense training of some sort as soon as she is old enough.

I was in Taekwondo when I was really young. I'm not sure exactly how old, but it's my earliest memory, I believe before my parents split up. I don't remember much of it, but I have a few good memories of it.