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Sure, if they want to.

My DS started karate at 4 years old at our local community center. It's great since she mainly teaches bully avoidance and enforces the kids to not speak to any strangers. They practice punches and kicks, but she always reminds them that they should only be used when a stranger is trying to attack you. She'll also teach defense mechanisms when a strangers actually grabs your arm, and how to get out of it. She also gives examples that strangers can look nice and pretty, and can also be women or kids. They can also try to entice you with toys, treats or cute little animals. My DS loves it, and right now (he's 5 now), it's mainly trying to enforce confidence.

For sure. Both DH and I have done karate - most karate studios are like yoga in that there's a mental component as well as a physical one. There is a lot of focusing on perseverance, humility, respect, and self-control.

@bluestriped bee: Meh, I'd actually say it probably shouldn't be offered as a component to gym class - I don't think that would allow enough time for it to be taught properly, and you'd end up with kids who know the very basics of kicking and punching and not a whole lot else, which doesn't seem like the best idea. I don't think it'd be a bad idea to be offered as an after-school program, like swimming or cross-country though.