At Chung TKD in New Hyde Park, a 4- or 5-year-old trains in the Children program, for ages 4 to 6. Your child doesn't need to be ready for everything on the first day, and two free trial classes are the easiest way to find out.
What a class asks of a 4- or 5-year-old
A Tae Kwon Do class asks a young child to listen to an instructor, copy a movement, wait for a turn and try again after a miss. It doesn't ask them to know any Tae Kwon Do already, or to get it all right on the first day. A 4- or 5-year-old who manages some of this, some of the time, is ready to try.
A few questions can help you decide:
- Can your child copy a movement they've just seen, like a clap or a hop?
- Can they wait for a turn, at least some of the time?
- Will they follow an instruction from an adult who isn't you?
- Do they light up when other children run, jump or kick?
"Sometimes" is a fine answer to any of these. A trial class shows you the rest.
How progress works at 4, 5 and 6
Children earn stripes on their belts between tests. A child earns a stripe for a class in which they reviewed their belt's curriculum with an instructor. After a number of classes and stripes, the instructors check whether your child is ready to test for the next belt. A child who needs a push gets extra attention.
There are no fixed test dates until brown belt, so a young child tests when the instructors judge them ready. Grandmaster Howard Chung, 9th Dan, runs every belt test, and the instructors demonstrate. Everyone has a seat and watches, so you'll see your child test.
Tae Kwon Do or karate for a 4-year-old?
Tae Kwon Do is a Korean martial art. Many parents search for karate, and if you've been looking for karate for a 4- or 5-year-old, the Children program is the class to ask about. For how the two compare, read Tae Kwon Do vs karate.
What if my child is shy?
Some children watch for a while before they join in. Plenty jump straight in, and many nervous children soon forget they were nervous. A parent or guardian stays for both trial classes, so your child isn't on their own in a new place.
Younger or older?
If your child is still 3, the guide for 3-year-olds covers the Pee-Wee classes. At 7, children move up to Youth, or earlier if the staff think they're ready and give their permission. To see which class fits each age from 2 to 13, read what age kids can start Tae Kwon Do.
How to start
Every new family starts with two free trial classes, and a parent or guardian stays for them.
Questions parents ask
Can a 4-year-old do Tae Kwon Do?
Yes. At Chung TKD, children from 4 to 6 train in the Children program.
Which class is my 5-year-old in?
The Children program, for ages 4 to 6. At 7, children move up to Youth, or earlier if the staff think they're ready and give their permission.
When does a 4- or 5-year-old take a belt test?
When the instructors judge them ready. There are no fixed test dates until brown belt, and Grandmaster Howard Chung runs every test.
How do we start?
With two free trial classes. A parent or guardian stays for them.