Whatever your reason for wanting to study Judo or for your children studying Judo it’s most important that you visit the club. Go to the club on a night when the club’s training so you can see how the class is run, and also go to the club at the start and the finish of the session so you can talk to the instructors. It’s very important that you communicate with the club instructors as some clubs operate a policy of no spectators with the very young children, the 5 years olds and upwards, as they’re very easily distracted, and if there’s any noise behind them whilst their practising they’re very easily distracted and they’re looking over their shoulders and they don’t pay attention.
So it’s quite important to establish if you can actually sit in and watch. This should be possible by prior arrangement and if it’s not you can’t make a judgement on whether or not your child should go to that club. Many senior players actually start Judo because their children go to Judo. They bring their children along to start Judo and rather than sit and watch all night they decide they too will join in on the mat, and this is sometimes possible. Judo clubs vary quite a bit from the purpose built Judo club where the mat stays down and is never removed, to the sports centre or even the church hall or local community hall, where the mats have to be laid prior to each session and lifted at the end of each session.

Aylwin Judo Club South East London SE16