Belt & Mat

1Which martial art suits your child?

Start here. An honest comparison of the main styles, what each one teaches and which kind of child it suits, plus the best choice for a child who is being bullied.

2Head-to-head comparisons

The matchups parents ask about most, side by side: technique, sparring, safety, belts, cost and the kind of child each style suits.

Style vs styleKarate vs Taekwondo for kids: the real differences, explained for parentsKarate or Taekwondo for your child? How the two styles differ in kicks and punches, forms, sparring, belts, competition, cost and class culture, and which kind of child each one suits.Style vs styleTaekwondo vs BJJ for kids: kicking art or grappling art?Taekwondo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu compared for children: striking vs grappling, self-defense, safety, belts and progress, competition, cost, and which child each one suits.Style vs styleBJJ vs judo for kids: which grappling art should your child try?Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and judo compared for children: throws vs ground work, safety, belts, competition, cost and self-defense, plus how to choose between them.Style vs styleKarate vs BJJ for kids: tradition and striking or modern grappling?Karate and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu compared for children: what each teaches, self-defense value, discipline, safety, belts, cost and how to choose.Style vs styleTaekwondo vs judo for kids: kicking art or throwing art?Taekwondo or judo for your child? Two Olympic martial arts compared for children: kicks versus throws, sparring, falling, belts, competition, safety, cost and which kind of child each one suits.Style vs styleKarate vs judo for kids: striking or throwing, compared for parentsKarate or judo for your child? How a striking art and a throwing art differ in what children learn, live practice, falling, belts, competition, safety, cost and which kind of child each one suits.Style vs styleJudo vs wrestling for kids: two grappling sports compared for parentsJudo or wrestling for your child? How the two grappling sports differ in throws, takedowns and pins, uniforms, seasons, competition, safety, cost and the kind of child each one suits.Style vs styleMuay Thai vs boxing for kids: which striking sport is right for your child?Muay Thai and boxing compared for children and teens: what each teaches, starting ages, head contact and safety, fitness, competition, gear, cost and how to choose a good gym.Style vs styleBJJ vs wrestling for kids: which grappling sport fits your child?Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or wrestling for your child? How the two grappling sports differ in takedowns, ground work and submissions, pace, belts, seasons, safety, cost and the kind of child each one suits.Style vs styleKids MMA vs BJJ: which is better for your child?Kids MMA or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? What children actually do in each class, how much striking and head contact is involved, self-defense, safety, belts, cost and when MMA makes sense.Style vs styleTaekwondo vs kung fu for kids: kicks and belts or forms and flow?Taekwondo or kung fu for your child? How the Korean kicking art and the Chinese martial arts differ in technique, forms, sparring, belts or sashes, competition, culture, cost and which child each one suits.Style vs styleKarate vs kung fu for kids: what is the difference?Karate or kung fu for your child? How the Japanese and Chinese martial arts differ in movement, stances, forms, sparring, ranks, culture, cost and which kind of child each one suits.Style vs styleKarate vs Krav Maga for kids: traditional art or self-defense system?Karate or Krav Maga for your child? How a traditional martial art and a modern self-defense system differ for children: what is taught, structure, belts, sparring, safety, cost and which child each suits.

3Age, cost and choosing a school

When to start each style, what classes really cost, and the warning signs of a school that puts selling ahead of teaching.