General Chat & Info Board

Jessica Gonzalez said:We’re talking about kids who are only three or four years old—most of them probably still using pacifiers—yet here we are discussing things like capoeira and water polo. I guess it might be a bit premature.

Look, even in a city like Seattle, there’s at least one Capoeira studio that runs classes specifically for four-year-olds.

If my kid signed up for Capoeira, I’d probably have to disown them if they weren't a girl or trans 😳

Still, it’s better than them picking Ninjutsu or Wing Chun. In that case, I'd be forced to cut ties regardless of who they are 😳

bluemason3 said:If my kid signed up for Capoeira, I’d probably have to disown them if they weren't a girl or trans 😳

Still, it’s better than them picking Ninjutsu or Wing Chun. In that case, I'd be forced to cut ties regardless of who they are 😳

🤣 Don't even mention Wing Chun, you might accidentally summon that guy—what was his name again?
MosKita??

bluemason3 said:If my kid signed up for Capoeira, I’d probably have to disown them if they weren't a girl or trans 😳

Still, it’s better than them picking Ninjutsu or Wing Chun. In that case, I'd be forced to cut ties regardless of who they are 😳

I don't know what to tell you. Sometimes things just fall apart, and there isn't much anyone can do about it. You sit there, watching the clock, waiting for something—anything—to change, but the gears just keep grinding the same way they always have. It’s exhausting. Honestly, I stopped expecting a different outcome years ago. It’s easier that way. Just another day in the grind. 😁
My kid’s five now. He’s been doing gymnastics for two years already. I’m thinking about putting him into judo next, though part of me keeps eyeing Krav Maga. There’s a club over at the local arena that handles kids, mostly teaching them the basics through games and stuff to keep them engaged.

Don't start with me, I'm just here for the judo.😁

bluemason3 said:Don't start with me, I'm just here for the judo.😁

What’s the point? My cousin recommended it to me, but his people ended up going for Maggi instead.

Believe what you want. Physical training is fine, but Krav Maga feels like a modern version of Wing Chun practiced by people in tactical gear.

Take this with a grain of salt since I’ve never actually stepped foot in a class; I've just spent some time watching videos from back home and abroad.

From what I've seen in those clips, every instructor who actually seems to know what they're doing comes from a combat sports background—think Judo, BJJ, kickboxing, that sort of thing. Meanwhile, training sessions led by "pure" Krav Maga instructors look pretty terrible. By that, I mean guys training at a local gym usually have better basic strikes, like a decent jab, after just two weeks of boxing.

That’s just my impression, but looking at interviews with former instructors available in English, it seems like a marketing franchise. People jump into it because it sells well, but there's zero guarantee of quality control. You get instruction that ranges from mediocre to downright bad.

The whole approach—avoiding competition and skipping free sparring because the techniques are supposedly "too dangerous"—is exactly how traditional martial arts became ineffective.

For that same reason, it’s hard to judge value if someone doesn't have a foundation in combat sports. With sports clubs, you just look at their tournament results. You don't need obscure myths about ninjas or Israeli commandos, and you don't need to rely on internal belt hierarchies or instructor ranks. Even in sports like Judo or BJJ where belts still exist, I don't think a serious athlete takes them too seriously.

It seems more logical to find a solid sports club than to hunt for a Krav Maga gym with an instructor who has a sports background but lacks proper training methods.

In my opinion, the best foundation is a solid base in locally established combat sports—Judo, maybe BJJ, wrestling, boxing, Muay Thai, or MMA. Self-defense oriented skills should be an upgrade later on, not the primary starting point.

Thanks. Honestly, I don't give a damn about technique. As long as I can get my hands on someone and let loose, I'm happy.
My plan was basically football and boxing, but then you start thinking about finding a wife and all that, so I'll probably end up doing some judo instead. And if God is watching over me, maybe I'll get into field hockey. If not, I guess I'll just be stuck studying music theory... 🙄

In that case, MMA could actually be a solid choice. You should go check it out, but from what I’ve gathered, unlike some traditional martial arts, they don't ignore physical conditioning, which is definitely a big
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I’m not sure what anyone could find fault with any of those activities 😁. I was at the soccer match 😁.
Honestly, it doesn't matter much; the kid will just pick whatever he likes eventually. From my perspective, having a good coach and a quality gym matters more than the specific style at this age, if you ask me 🤔.

I just don't get why she prefers judo over boxing. If you train recreationally and aren't taking full contact to the head every single day, it’s probably the safest option on this list—not counting soccer, of course. At my age (45), I stick to striking mostly to minimize injuries, which tend to be worse in grappling arts. In striking, you risk getting hit in the head, but if you avoid that, there isn't much else. You might catch a broken nose or a jaw, or very rarely a rib, but usually without permanent damage. It's much more likely to happen in football, and I'd guess hockey too. Grapplers, on the other hand, often end up with chronic issues in their joints, necks, spines, or hips
.

Zeni je actually more into judo than boxing, mostly because of what you mentioned earlier—how it works all the muscles and focuses on those essential takedowns. It’s a bit more fundamental, I guess. I was just scrolling through some stuff online, don't quote me on it...
Solfege was definitely just a joke, by the way.
Even my wife wouldn't send him there; she can't even carry a tune to save her life when singing "All Birds from Above."
Look, we’re obviously going to give him a shot to try it out before he decides for himself. He can cycle through ten different sports if that's what it takes to finally find his thing.

Aikido could work too; they’ll at least learn how to fall properly. 😬

Good grief, we used to have to beg just to get signed up somewhere. Nowadays, you've got entire research teams behind a five-year-old's hobby. 😬

bluemason3 said:In that case, MMA could actually be a solid choice. You should go check it out, but from what I’ve gathered, unlike some traditional martial arts, they don't ignore physical conditioning, which is definitely a big
.
I’m not sure what anyone could find fault with any of those activities 😁. I was at the soccer match 😁.
Honestly, it doesn't matter much; the kid will just pick whatever he likes eventually. From my perspective, having a good coach and a quality gym matters more than the specific style at this age, if you ask me 🤔.

I just don't get why she prefers judo over boxing. If you train recreationally and aren't taking full contact to the head every single day, it’s probably the safest option on this list—not counting soccer, of course. At my age (45), I stick to striking mostly to minimize injuries, which tend to be worse in grappling arts. In striking, you risk getting hit in the head, but if you avoid that, there isn't much else. You might catch a broken nose or a jaw, or very rarely a rib, but usually without permanent damage. It's much more likely to happen in football, and I'd guess hockey too. Grapplers, on the other hand, often end up with chronic issues in their joints, necks, spines, or hips
.

What kind of "science" are we talking about for a five-year-old?
Just sign him up for something and get him moving.
It would definitely be better to pick something heavy on motor skills, like judo, wrestling, or gymnastics. This is the window where the body develops coordination. After 12, it gets a lot harder...

Grapplers and chronic illnesses? Any athlete can deal with that if they don't give their body time to recover. Sometimes someone has shoulder issues, but they've probably just been competing for years. Like I said, every sport carries risks...

Hey everyone,

I'm looking for some recommendations for a local club (and coaches too!), regardless of the style—karate, TKD, judo, "mini MMA," you name it.

My main goal is just to make sure the kids actually have fun. I’m not looking for anything too intense with excessive discipline or doing the exact same drills every single session. I also want to ensure the instructors are properly trained.

Ideally, somewhere near the Lake Washington/South Seattle area within a 3.1 miles mile radius.

Thanks!

I’m fully on board with everything Sam Roberts said, but I’ll add my two cents. You mentioned the kid is only five? My advice is to get him into swimming first, then maybe rowing a few years down the line. Those two are arguably the best sports for developing a child's motor skills before they hit puberty. They actually beat out any martial art for early development, especially swimming at that age. Now, I get that some kids aren't fans of the pool or are intimidated by it, but try throwing him in the deep end—metaphorically speaking—and see how he handles it. Swimming at such a young age is incredibly beneficial.

As for the rest, since I train in boxing, I’ll obviously suggest boxing. However, I wouldn't start now; wait until he's closer to ten, just before puberty hits. That’s the sweet spot to begin boxing training because those years right before puberty are crucial for building mental toughness, which is the most important factor for a kid.

Regarding judo, why not mention sambo to your wife? It sounds a bit cooler 😁 and, honestly, it’s often a better fit. Sambo was developed using judo as a foundation, but it blends judo with other disciplines like wrestling, boxing, and even elements of street fighting. While sport sambo looks a lot like judo, combat sambo allows for a much wider range of offensive techniques. The biggest difference is the philosophy. Judo focuses on mental composure and conflict avoidance, similar to most ancient Japanese martial arts.

If a fight breaks out, you want to end it as quickly and easily as possible without hurting the opponent. That’s why in certain contexts, there are no strikes, just takedowns, and once things hit the ground, the match is over. On the flip side, sambo (specifically combat sambo) lets you aim for a win through almost any means. There isn't a strict philosophical code you have to follow. You can utilize basic striking techniques, including punches and elbows. It also involves much more grappling and allows for leg grabs. You won't find those moves allowed under judo rules. Most of those are banned in sport sambo too, which is another major advantage sambo has over judo. It's simply much more effective for self-defense.

There’s also this huge misconception that sambo is what happens when you trade technique for raw strength, while judo is the opposite. In reality, you need a healthy balance of both if you want to be competitive at any level in either sport.

I know sambo sounds a lot more aggressive than judo, but trust me, these are all sports where kids learn massive amounts of discipline. With the right upbringing, he won't turn into a bully, if that's what your wife is worried about. And here's another thing—and this will almost certainly happen—he’s likely going to find judo boring and monotonous. Kids need something a bit more engaging. Sambo would be ideal and fun for him; he'll stay focused.

Still, swimming comes first. 👍

Jessica Torres7 said:Hey everyone,

I'm looking for some recommendations for a local club (and coaches too!), regardless of the style—karate, TKD, judo, "mini MMA," you name it.

My main goal is just to make sure the kids actually have fun. I’m not looking for anything too intense with excessive discipline or doing the exact same drills every single session. I also want to ensure the instructors are properly trained.

Ideally, somewhere near the Lake Washington/South Seattle area within a 3.1 miles mile radius.

Thanks!

Give the American Sambo Federation a call; their office is over in the Tresnjevka district. Ask to speak with Coach Klarić or Coach Petranović when you get through. Just tell them someone sent you their way, and they should be able to point you in the right direction.

Do you have any contact info?

On I can't find anything besides names.

+385 91 6300831
+385 91 7393032

Thanks for the samba recommendation, Megan White4. 👍
Swimming probably won't stick; he needs something that actually keeps him engaged.
We’ll look into it, though I wouldn't be sending him anywhere—aside from his gymnastics classes—until he starts school, so we're looking at another year or so minimum.

valensvk said:Nah, I see how other boxers move and they don't do that... You're just one of those arrogant types who put on some gloves, hit a bag a couple of times, and suddenly think you're an expert. Hard work? What is he even doing? He got knocked out in the first second; if this guy had been slightly better, he would've won the match today. But honestly, whatever. Boxing isn't even a sport I follow enough to argue with you. Just go to Leo's gym so he can actually teach you something.

Look, you idiot, just because Muhammad Ali didn't box like everyone else doesn't mean anything. That's not an argument; it's just proof your IQ is bottom-tier. How do you explain all those other boxers who fit your shallow little definition of boxing, yet they're nobodies who couldn't even hold a candle to him?
How do you explain that.
Watch Tyson Fury box. I have no idea who boxes like him, yet he's still a champion. So maybe, just maybe, you should use your brain, little parrot. Or better yet, get in the ring and show us how it's done. Put your hands where your mouth is.

Next time some idiot starts acting up outside the chat, they’re getting banned—but hey, we’re all such "intellectuals" here, right?🙂