Feb 28, 2018

What Is A Good Age To Start Taekwondo

What is a good age to start Taekwondo?

We regularly get calls here at Team Carlo from parents wondering when their child can start taekwondo classes. Some parents are eager for their children to start as young as three. We understand where parents are coming from, because martial arts requires dedication and time, but at Team Carlo, we believe that this is too young. This is largely because of the developmental stage of a three year old child, at this age, children rarely have grasped the concept of consequences! For a child at this age, everything must happen immediately, so the dedication required to succeed in martial arts can display itself as frustration or rejection by the child. Whilst this is the main reason we caution against starting children too young, there are also physiological aspects that need to be taken into account. For example, children have larger heads (proportionally) than their arms or legs, which makes a number of Taekwondo techniques almost impossible to execute properly. 


That’s why at Team Carlo we recommend for children to begin their journey from
four years of age. 


Why have we decided on this age? Mainly because at this age, children can begin to understand important concepts like responsibility, feel guilt, but also feel pride in their actions. These are incredibly important concepts that must be (at least on a basic level) understood in order to become successful in martial arts. Whilst Taekwondo is a fantastic martial art for children from the age of four to learn, it also encompasses a philosophy to guide your child's life. Taekwondo is a Korean word, meaning the art (Do) of foot (Tae) and fist (Kwon). The art (Do) is central to everything that Taekwondo teaches, and this philosophy is centered on the five basic tenets of courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and spirit. However, starting children too young on their Taekwondo journey can lead to frustration within the child, and as well as we all know, young children aren’t fantastic at following instructions. If you start them too early, it might turn them off their journey, leading to many missed long term benefits. 


We all like to believe that our child is an exception, because who wouldn’t! Many parents believe that if they start their child earlier, it will ‘pay off’ because they might get a black belt earlier, but this is the wrong way of approaching it. Everything at Team Carlo is centered on helping your child develop important life skills whilst having fun too. 


Another important thing you must consider before helping your child start their Taekwondo journey, is to establish the aim. Many parents hope that their child might one day gain a black belt, but we would argue that this is not the goal of martial arts. The way we approach our training for children is centered on these central Taekwondo principles we spoke about earlier, but also focused on improving children's self-esteem. We’ve all seen it in the news that children are now feeling more stressed at school than ever before, which is why our goal is also to focus on their development as people, not just on their taekwondo skills. Our Taekwondo programs at this level aren’t focused on self-defence either because that is just not feasible, our programs are more focused on helping your child develop hand-eye and body coordination, whilst also socialising with other children in a friendly and nurturing environment.


With our Taekinda program specially designed for children, it introduces the basic concepts of Taekwondo in an easy to understand, yet rewarding manner. Every week, small achievable tasks are set, and students can see their progress as they earn stripes on their belts, and work towards new belt levels. Team Carlo is headed by 6th Dan Kukkiwon Black Belt, Carlo Massimino, who has had one of the most successful careers in the history of Australian Taekwondo. Team Carlo understands how children learn, and knows how to make classes fun and hassle free. By understanding the development stage of four-year olds, we have specially crafted the Taekinda program. The Taekinda program focuses on eight age-appropriate skills, which will help build confidence, self-control, and teach them that dedication pays off. These skills focus on kicking, punching, blocking, crawling, hopping, rolling, running, and catching. You can see that some of these skills aren’t related to Taekwondo techniques, but are included because they are also fun activities that are important for children to partake in. 


Team Carlo takes a whole-of-life approach to Taekwondo, no matter the age group. We are here to help children and adults learn more about themselves and to develop important life skills. That’s why Carlo Massimino, works alongside suicide prevention charities like Life’s a Ball, and works in schools around Australia to help children learn self discipline. Everyone at Team Carlo wants your child to succeed, in a fun, nurturing, yet educational environment, that focuses on courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and that never say die attitude. So contact Team Carlo today!


By duda 06 May, 2021
What has been your experience training in gym environments and fitness cultures? Have you ever felt like just a number? Do you have a trainer that you trust? Do you feel confident or self-conscious? Maybe you feel bored, desperately wanting something different? Taekwondo inspired training at Team Carlo Fitness is the answer. At Team Carlo Taekwondo we focus on building physical capacity which breeds that core value of inner confidence as well as supporting mental, emotional and social life skill development. In the same way, taekwondo inspired fitness training at its core, is about building strength, power, capability and confidence. We take a holistic approach to our members health and well-being. We have so much to share with you. We know it takes courage to try something new and in line with our Team Carlo values, our coaches and staff foster a culture of support, encouragement and intuitive understanding. What are some of benefits you might experience at Team Carlo Fitness? A sense of PRIDE for trying something new and out of your comfort zone. Surprising yourself with how CAPABLE and unstoppable you are. Finish training feeling EMPOWERED knowing you have limitless potential. Feeling COMFORTABLE in your own skin, just as you are, right now. Taekwondo changes lives. That's why you signed your children up to Team Carlo isn’t it? Well, now it’s your turn. Do you want to know the best thing? We have witnessed first-hand that your Team Carlo kids will become your proudest cheer squad. Take a leap of faith and book a Team Carlo Fitness trial, you won’t regret it.
By duda 28 Sep, 2020
#TeamCarlo want to share some health and well-being products with you that they're passionate about... It's only natural to start with the most important aspect of our health - #hydration. Optimal hydration is the corner stone of a strong immune system, and therefore your overall wellbeing. It is a fairly common sight in our hospitals to see patients hooked up to an Intravenous (IV) fluids device e.g. saline. Normal saline contains sodium and chloride, so it replaces lost fluid and prevents or corrects some types of electrolyte (#alkaline mineral) imbalances. These same alkaline minerals are present in #zazenAlkalineWater. We are talking about cellular hydration where your body’s cells are truly balanced with the correct ratio of alkaline minerals. Therefore, the quality and quantity of the water you drink to hydrate is a huge factor in improving your immune system’s ability to handle stress, prevent illness and recover from disease. With the current COVID-19 virus, Government and medical guidelines suggest sensible basic self care and hygiene advice such as: get plenty of rest and sleep; drink plenty of liquids; wash hands frequently; cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing; and social distancing to avoid close contact Beyond this, what can you do to boost your immune system to assist with prevention as well as recuperation? Underpinning zazen Water is a philosophy that drives and directs our product design and it comes from a holistic view surrounding health and wellbeing, and the understanding of the foundational role that water plays in the body (it is used in every bodily function) and therefore in any wellness strategy. To help protect yourself and your family during this time, there are a few simple steps you can take to boost your immune system. 1. Drinking Water/Hydration It is vital that you stay #hydrated. Cellular hydration is key to optimising and maintaining immunity. Make sure you are making the most of your investment in your zazen Alkaline Water System and follow the government guidelines of drinking plenty of liquids/water - we suggest at least 12 glasses a day for adults and 8 glasses per day for children. Additionally, our in house Natural Health Practitioners, Fiona and Caroline advise there are several nutrients you can consider to further strengthen your immune system. 2. Vitamins Zinc is a key mineral for immune support, found naturally in good levels in nuts, seeds, oysters, beef, lamb and green leafy vegetables. You can also choose to supplement with a 30-50mg daily dose especially during the winter months. Vitamin C is another key player for immune protection and support. Small regular doses through the day will optimise levels 500mg 2-4 times daily. Vitamin C is found in fresh fruit and vegetables; especially berries, kiwifruit, capsicum, citrus fruits including a squeeze of lemon juice in your first drink of water each morning. Vitamin D levels are essential for immune protection. Sun exposure helps to convert Vitamin D in our skin. A daily dose of 20 minutes early morning sun preferably is recommended but also include foods rich in Vitamin D as well as a supplement of 1 x 1000 IU capsule daily. Foods include cod liver oil, oily fish and grass fed butter. 3. Foods Fermented foods such as sauerkraut and drinking traditional Kombucha, as well as herbal teas are also all fantastic immune boosters as it is considered that 80% of our immune system is housed in our gastrointestinal tract. Ensure to add in natural foods with known antiviral properties such as Coconut Oil, Olive Leaf Extract, raw garlic, ginger and medicinal mushrooms. 4. Herbs Traditional herbs such as Astragalus are high on the list of choices for prevention against traditional colds and flus. 5. Stress Stress is a known precursor to burdening our immune systems. Fear is a great cause of Stress. The fear cycle is now in full swing with panic buying at the supermarkets, the stockmarket causing financial woes, etc. Be careful what you continue to read and focus on - choose more positive thoughts, TV shows or in-home movies. "It is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others." His Holiness, the Dalai Lama XIV The Importance of Hydration when Unwell Viruses, such as seasonal flu and now the COVID-19 coronavirus can cause you to become dehydrated. Hydration is always important but it is essential when trying to fight a viral flu or even the common cold. Your body requires more water when you are experiencing common symptoms such as fever, sweating, vomiting, diarrhoea and even a sore throat, which can lead to less desire to swallow, can all contribute to dehydration. #Electrolytes (alkaline minerals) are recommended by the World Health Organisation to relieve symptoms associated with virus-related mild to moderate dehydration. This is why typically patients when admitted to hospital with symptoms of dehydration, one of the first treatment protocols to be considered will be an IV saline drip individualised to the patient’s needs. These are times when we need to stay as calm as we can. Fear and anxiety deplete our immune systems. Choose to only read and listen to reliable and credible news sources. Are you interested in a zazen Alkaline Water System?? We can help. Click here to find out more information and purchase your water system.
By duda 11 Aug, 2020
1. Meeting our students' #1 need One of the greatest #benefits we can provide to our Team Carlo community through #virtualclasses is #connection . Connection is a basic human need and we can bridge the gap for our students as most of their connections have been taken away. 2. Technical development expectations exceeded Students are currently demonstrating strong #discipline and have the unique opportunity to solely #focus on their #instructor during a #virtualclass . This means that their face to face training #workethic will be taken to another level! 3. #Lifeskills to not only survive, but to #thrive Our #virtualsyllabus continues to be steeped in foundational life skills with our students exploring themes like #confidence , #determination , #persistence and #courage . There’s never been a time where they have needed this messaging more. 4. Train anywhere, anytime with anything Our instructors guide and challenge our students to think creatively about what they have on hand to complete their class. They're learning to create #fun #fitnessopportunities that #stimulate and entertain that they're also connecting to a #homepractice going forward. 5. The consideration of more #screentime We know that screen time beyond our students’ school day is tricky to navigate in #isolation . 30- 45 minutes, once a week of #connection , #movement , #learning and #growth we think, is a tick in the right box! Our team continue to demonstrate their passion for the life skill of taekwondo by delivering a #diverse and #creative syllabus virtually. We have seen first hand the #positiveimpact and #support it can provide during this time and we invite to #bookaclass and see for yourself…
More Posts
Share by: