SHOULD MY CHILD BE DOING MARTIAL ARTS?

MOST parents, uncertain of whether their waddling, wheezing offspring will actually outlive them, are likely to be enthusiastic about any form of exercise their children are actually excited by. And what wholesome kiddywink hasn't dreamed of cracking a brick in two with their forehead?

At one time or another, martial arts have teasingly appealed to most of our childhood selves. However, naturally enough, parental paranoias stir at the idea o' the bairns fechtin'. Also, aside from any fears over child safety, the public's near-demonic perception of modern youths could easily imagine hordes of Bash Street refugees, trained like ninjas and unleashed on the streets of Britain to wreak havoc. So, for their sake and ours, should children be doing martial arts?

WAX ON, WAX OFF First, banish any fears you have that studying martial arts will make your child violent. In most circumstances, apart from putting them in a positive, disciplined group activity - which significantly reduces the likelihood that they will be involved in violence - most martial arts teachers will set clear boundaries for pupils. As Dianna Gordon MacYoung of www.nononsenseselfdefence.com writes: "A competent martial arts instructor will be well aware of the zero-tolerance policies in force in most public and private schools. He or she will teach playground safe' tactics that allow the child to disengage and seek help from the adults in authority."

Proper martial arts training can help children more fully appreciate the mechanisms and consequences of violence. However, this is reliant upon the quality of the martial arts course undertaken, as well as the dedication of the children themselves. Since kids can be subject to whims of the moment, the first step in selecting a martial art for your child is making sure this is something they really want to do.

A DANGEROUS GAME When choosing your child's sport, don't assume all martial arts are the same. One form of exercise the British Medical Association is definitely not a fan of is boxing, which continues to attract participants who are often still in their teens. Since the early 1980s, the BMA has supported a total ban on amateur and professional boxing, starting with a ban on children below the age of consent taking part.

Their website makes the case: "The BMA's opposition to boxing is based on medical evidence that reveals the risk not only of acute injury but also of chronic brain damage, which is sustained cumulatively in those who survive a career in boxing. It may take many years before boxers and ex-boxers find out they are suffering from brain damage."

As the law stands, children can box competitively, once they have gained a medical card, from the age of 11. However, long-term boxing can cause brain damage as the repeated blows cause the brain to impact against the inside of the skull, damaging nerves, blood vessels and brain tissue. This can cause brain haemorrhage, the leading cause of boxing deaths, as well as permanent loss or disruption of sight or hearing.

ENTER THE DRAGON If the child is determined, then the next course of action is for them to choose which martial art they intend to study. While safety is obviously paramount in the parents' mind, the whole exercise becomes pointless if the child's desires are not taken into account. What kind of martial art would your children enjoy?

Aikido, Wing Chun, Danzan Ryu If most of your knowledge of these disciplines is derived from B-movie beat 'em ups, it's obviously a good idea to find out more. Talking with the instructor of the course you are considering can be worthwhile, but for a more comprehensive guide to the martial arts, try the appropriately named Martial Arts For Dummies by Jennifer Lawler, which contains descriptions of each art's techniques, advantages and style.

Fears regarding your child's safety when practising martial arts are understandable. However, they show not just concern but also a basic misunderstanding about the nature of martial arts. Most are not just styles of fighting, but philosophies wherein the art is an outlet for aggression - not an excuse to use it.

In his life, Bruce Lee had a couple of good one-liners, one of which was this: "Don't fear failure - not failure, but low aim, is the crime. In great attempts it is glorious even to fail." Words worth remembering for any young person wondering if it's worth tearing themselves away from the Xbox to learn something new.

Martial Arts For Dummies by Jennifer Lawler is available from John Wiley & Sons, priced £16.50 Comment on this story here