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i say u must at least be 8 years old to start martial arts seriously, its proven that most kids who start something at a very young age drop it as soon as they mature cause they started it by force an of their own free will or motivation, but when ur around 10 u are already starting to think for urself and when u start at that age u will probably stay in martial arts for awhile.

I'm totally agreeing with this one. The kids at my class don't even know the kata's they should have learned months ago. It's pathetic. They do nothing but talk the whole time. I think there should be a test to determine if the kid is capable, and serious enough to take martial arts. Lets face it, if you're too young, you're not going to be too good mmost of the time.

I think I disagree. I strongly disagree with children blackbelts because they just dont have the understanding. But they still get lots from training in martial arts, fitness, self confidence, enjoyment, ability to defend themselves from bullies, stranger awareness and being safe on the street. Of course a child training in Muay Thai isn't going to compete in the ring but I bet you none of the other kids mess with them.
Typical example, when I was at uni I attended this quite large class with a big kid class on before hand, I was sat in my flat and I happended to look out the window and saw this kid that was about 8-10 that trained there being given grief by these three boys that were all bigger than him, they were all grouped up shoving him and stuff, I was about to go down and give them a slap when this kid just went for the biggest of them, it was awesome, he punched him about three times then kicked him in the head, that kid went down, one of the others tried to grab him and got a kick to the nuts for his troubles, the other one backed off. I was really impressed, he was a bit stupid for trying a head high kick on the street but he made it work for him and work really well.
The point being that they might not be ultimate martial artists but they still get lots and lots of benefit from it

Yeah, I don't agree about the mcdojo aspect of the topic. I don't think that a childerns class turns the dojo into a mcdojo. But in my experience, which as we all know is limited, kids don't usually take it seriously. That could be a result of the instructor though. I do know a couple of younger students that are actually pretty good, and are blackbelts. Their father is a godan I think, or maybe higher, so thats why. Anyway, I shouldn't have used a stereotype in my last post, because I know it doesn't apply to all kids. A lot of them, yes, but certainly not all.

I think that if the kid has the right mind set and discipline, then let 'em go at it. There's this one 4 year old that comes to learn and OH MY GOD! His discipline is simply amazing. I don't think you should put a level on learning you just really need to consider that particular child's behaviour and whatnot. There's also a certain attitude you need to teach them with and that'll eventually have then performing just as well as any other student. In China, the students selected for different types of things are all judged. For example they will take a large group of potential kids and dependant upon their personality, character, and whatnot, they will be sent to what they would be more proficient at (i.e. some kids suited for Wushu, some kids suited for San Da, some sent to gymnastics, and etc.) Then from there they are taught from that wee age and keep going.

I have a question? Why can only a Thai child learn Muay Thai? What makes that kid capable over say a Canadian, or Australian kid?

Exactly, someone see's my point. They're not any more capable then anyone else in the world, however saying that you must be VERY careful when it comes to placing young kids under martial tuition.

I myself have been learning since I was 4.