Is boxing or MMA a good sport for my child?

The topic of teaching youngsters mixed martial arts is now quite contentious. Mixed Martial Skills (MMA) is a hybrid combat sport that combines grappling arts such as Brazilian Jui-Jitsu, Judo, and wrestling with stand-up combat sports such as Muay Thai, kickboxing, and karate. A mixed martial arts (MMA) bout aims to knock out your opponent or force them to resign.

Several states in the United States allow children as young as seven or eight years old to compete in cage fights as they all are well-trained with many MMA Equipment. On YouTube, one may find videos of fights involving children less than ten years old, in which the participants are not wearing any head protection, and a drunken audience can be heard berserk in the background. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) classes are being offered to children as young as five all around the world.

 

The question over here is whether or not children should be permitted to participate in this well-liked but possibly risky activity. If this is the case, at what age would it be appropriate to begin? You must research and choose the most appropriate martial arts school for your kid, considering the above-mentioned considerations. 

 

The following are some pointers that can assist you in getting the most out of your time (and money!) so that you may provide the most enriching experience possible for your children.

What kind of martial art is ideal for young people?

No single martial art is superior to the others for children, although the following six styles of martial arts often provide specialized training for children.

 

Taekwondo

When looking for a martial art, many parents may start their investigation with taekwondo, a Korean martial art famous for its powerful kicking techniques. Taekwondo is a terrific way to introduce younger students to martial arts because it combines old ideals with cutting-edge athletic methods. In addition to being a recognized Olympic sport, taekwondo is also an excellent way to teach children about self-defense. 

 

Judo

Judo was the first eastern martial art to be included in the modern Olympic games. Japanese Judo concentrates primarily on throws and takedowns, but it also contains locks and submissions. Judo was the first eastern martial art to be included in the modern Olympic games. It is an excellent martial art for teaching children how to maintain control of their bodies to maintain control over their adversaries. The Freestyle Martial Arts training that young students can get is heavily influenced by Judo. It features several Judo-derived techniques and ideas.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

BJJ, often known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, is a grappling art that originated in Brazil and focuses strongly on ground techniques. The art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was established on the principle that a smaller, weaker individual may effectively defend oneself against a larger, stronger opponent by using the technique, gaining leverage, and bringing the battle to the ground. 

Schools that teach mixed martial arts and freestyle, such as Perth's Premier Academy, often integrate abilities, techniques, and ideas learned from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) into their curricula. Kids who wish to enhance their grappling abilities further may take advantage of several specialized BJJ lessons that are offered at different places in the world.

Kickboxing

The ancient martial arts of taekwondo and karate and western-style boxing have been incorporated into developing the more contemporary art of kickboxing. It was created to enable practitioners of various martial arts styles to compete against one another inside a ring. As a result, it primarily emphasizes the sports application of kicking and punching techniques. 

Kickboxing often does not contain the conventional parts of martial arts training, such as patterns, Poomsae, kata, or self-defense training. Instead, kickboxing focuses primarily on the combative aspects of the sport. In the Junior Martial Arts curriculum at Premier Academy, kickboxing skills are taught as part of the sparring component. In addition, special kickboxing lessons are available for those young students who are interested in competing in this exciting art form.

 

Boxing

Boxing is a combat sport in which the hands are used exclusively for striking and defending. Most boxing clubs provide programs for children as young as six or seven years old, where they may learn boxing techniques in a safe and supervised atmosphere. These classes often begin at the age of six. As with kickboxing, the primary emphasis is placed on competition inside the ring; this setting is not ideal for every youngster. Premier Academy integrates the strategies, abilities, and ideas derived from Western Boxing as a component of its dynamic Freestyle Martial Arts program for children.

MMA

Students of MMA and Freestyle Martial Arts can strike with their hands, elbows, knees, and feet, take their opponent to the ground, and use locks and submissions to defeat them. This is possible because MMA and Freestyle Martial Arts combine the most compelling aspects of all of the forms mentioned above of martial arts. 

The dynamic kids' Freestyle mixed martial arts program at Premier Martial Arts and Fitness Academy was created by combining the most compelling aspects of Taekwondo, Kickboxing, Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Boxing. This program is designed to meet the needs of children starting at the age of seven and going up to older ages.

 

The Benefits of Mixed Martial Arts for Children

Even though they wear protective MMA equipment bought from MMA Supplies Melbourne, young people have been participating in amateur boxing for years, which entails delivering repeated strikes to the head. Even when they wear helmets, some children who play rugby, ice hockey, or gridiron nonetheless end up with concussions. Other activities, such as motocross, snowboarding, gymnastics, and skateboarding, have a greater incidence of injuries than others. Surprisingly, cheerleading is among the most hazardous sports and hobbies in the whole vast globe.

 

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has a lower knockout rate compared to boxing, which might help reduce the risk of brain damage during fights. Aerobics exercises, such as jogging, jumping rope, or ring fighting, are great ways to improve cardiovascular fitness. Calisthenics, such as push-ups and pull-ups, and weight training are effective ways to increase muscular fitness. However, weight training is not advised for children and teenagers.

Learning Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is one of the most delicate things your kid can do to improve their abilities in self-defense. The student is more prepared for a real battle than they would be with any other kind of training since they learn both stand-up and ground combat. Children do not require to participate in MMA competitions to learn the sport. Children can participate in a safe environment in Brazilian Jui-Jitsu and grappling tournaments, which are organized regularly.

 

The Downsides of Mixed Martial Arts for Children

Receiving several strikes to the head before a child's brain has finished developing may lead to various complications. Even with a helmet on, it is pretty hazardous. It is inappropriate for children to strike each other in the face with their entire might. Young children are encouraged to assault one another physically and are rewarded for doing so. This includes hitting, kicking, twisting limbs, and other similar behaviors. A youngster's ability to feel the pain of others may be dulled if the child routinely inflicts bodily harm on other people.

 

A strict diet to stay within weight limitations is unhealthy for the body, particularly for children. If it were legal, some parents might force their children to fight against each other, regardless of whether or not the children wish to do so. Who will defend children against insensitive parents who want to experience life vicariously via their offspring?

 

What kind of shape would your body be in after ten years of being punched, strangled, ground-and-pounded, having your joints hyper-extended, and being knocked out if you begin your fighting career when you are nine years old? Isn't that the time when you need to be beginning your career rather than winding it down? Mixed martial arts programs are often criticized for allegedly failing to instill their students' fundamental life lessons, such as respect, self-discipline, and decency.

 

Bottom Line

Because boxing may be somewhat violent, most parents do not consider it the most beneficial activity for their kids. However, there are many more benefits associated with boxing for children than drawbacks, particularly in enhancing their physical and mental health and their capacity for self-defense. 

There is no sparring allowed in junior boxing sessions until your child is at least ten years old, and the safety and health of the children are always the coaching staff's number one concern. As a result, junior boxing courses are pretty safe in the majority of gyms. Junior boxing is not more harmful than other sports, such as football, rugby, or even soccer, regarding the risk of injuries sustained while training. So, if you are looking for any MMA equipment, you should call us, as Mani Sports is one of the best MMA Supplies Melbourne. Mani Sports will help your kid to excel at MMA or boxing with the best level of protective gear.