• Uses defensive and aggressive moves

• Centers on building strength and endurance

• Involves chops, punches, kicks, strikes, blocking and sparring

• May use weapons

Jujitsu

• Uses defensive and aggressive moves

• Involves lots of sparring

• Teaches a fair amount of weapons training

Aikido

• Uses a more “spiritual” and harmonious style in redirecting aggression of attacker as form of defense, using throws, pins, rolls etc.

• Taught on premise of disabling an aggressor without attacking, through your individual inner energy

• Does not involve sparring or competitions

Judo

• Uses gentle, “wrestling-like” movements

• Considered one of safest methods of martial arts

• Emphasizes physical control as well as mental development

• Engages in competitions

Martial Arts From China

Kung-Fu

• The generic term referring to Chinese martial arts with a variety of styles

• Involves attack movements as well as defensive techniques

• Teaches kicks, punches, chops, throws, falls, grappling, katas, leg sweeps and blows among others.

• Engages in sparring competitions

Martial Arts From Korea

Taekwondo

• Competitive in nature, involves techniques using elaborate footwork and unique high kicks.

• Emphasizes strength, force and attack methods.

• Engages in lots of sparring and competitions.

Choosing The Right Instruction

If you have an idea of type of martial arts class you’d like your child to participate in, next step would be to find right school. Finding right class that not only matches your child’s and your needs, in terms of teachers you feel comfortable with, price, facilities and so on, are all important factors.

Say you’ve found a local place that specializes in Karate for Kids. What are things you should look for?

1. Good Instructors

Check out their qualifications, teaching methods and watch carefully how they interact with other children. It should be a fun learning experience!

2. Space and Safety

Obviously you would want to entrust your child in as establishment that is safe, well-maintained, and clean with ample space as well as decent facilities and equipment.

3. School Values

Different martial arts schools inevitably go by different values, for instance, one kid’s karate class may handle aggression in one way, while a judo class would have a different approach. Take some time to observe which school’s ideals match your family’s principles.

4. Prices and Schedules

Prices for martial arts training can vary according to school and location, so make sure you instruction you choose represents fair value. Finding most effective way to fit martial arts training into your family’s lifestyle is also essential, knowing what works best with your schedule and other activities.

Baby Blackbelts

Starting your child young in karate training is ideal (children as young as age of four are usually accepted, as it is also a good way to hone fine motor skills), and lots of parents have found that in as little as a year, their children who were involved in martial arts had noticeably gained positive traits such as increased self-esteem, respect and overall physical fitness.

Many parents also opt to join a martial arts training program themselves, making it a great bonding experience for entire family.

* Clarify rules to yourself. Before you enter a tantrum-triggering zone, make sure that your rules are reasonable and consistent. There are no compromises at this stage. If your child refuses to eat dinner but insists on dessert, choose one phrase. "Dinner, then dessert." This way, when begging starts or questions are fired at you, you can respond with a simple, sanity-saving comment, almost like a mantra.

* Clarify rules to your child. Before entering a situation that is likely to provoke a tantrum, quietly, but firmly explain what is expected of your child. "You may watch this program. When it is over, TV is turned off. Do you agree?" If a tantrum occurs when TV is turned off after program, your phrase can be, "We agreed, no more TV today."

* Stay Calm. Easier said than done. Try to tune out. Try to ignore unwanted behavior by not responding or responding only with your practiced phrase. A child will realize that she's getting nowhere and be confused. She'll turn up heat. The cries may become screeches and dinner may be thrown across room (although it might be a good idea to remove dinner after a few refusals, just in case). That's OK. She's getting message. If you do not react, she will eventually realize. The tantrum isn't working.

* Don't give up. This is imperative at this stage. If you usually give in after five minutes and this time, you held out for ten, next time you're in for a longer stint. In your child's mind, tantrum still worked, she just had to work a little harder. So will you.

* Reward immediately. If you stick with it, eventually your child will see that tantrums no longer have any effect. As soon as you see tiniest improvement, offer a reward. I don't mean to change your rules. If your child screams for only two minutes instead of three and then agrees to turn off TV, don't reward her with more TV. She will be confused. You will be sending her a mixed message. Reward her with a story or a walk or a cuddle. "You cried much less today than you did last time. Good for you."

Taming tantrums is challenging and rewarding. Be gentle with yourself. There will be setbacks and days when things seem worse. It can be difficult but it's temporary. When your child's eyes begin to shine through haze of anger and frustration, you will agree. The long-term benefits are worth it.

Ann Harth is a freelance ghostwriter, manuscript assessor, copyeditor, and published author. Ann writes a regular column on running a home business for the Writing4SuccessClub website. Her columns can be viewed at http://www.writing4successclub.com Additional information on Ann Harth's published work and freelance services can be found on her website at http://www.annharth.com