Kickboxing is a dynamic and high-energy combat sport that blends various martial arts techniques with western-style boxing. It involves the use of fists, knees, and feet to strike opponents, requiring a combination of strength, speed, agility, and endurance. All this makes kickboxing a serious contender for one of the best activities for kids to practice.
The sport has a long history, beginning in 1950s Japan and evolving in the 1970s in the United States. It has since grown in popularity as a form of fitness training, self-defence, and competitive sport all over the world. Attracting people of all ages and skill levels. Whether you want to keep your child active or train the next world champion. Kickboxing provides a challenging and rewarding path to success for your children.
Top 5 benefits of kickboxing for kids
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Improved Physical Fitness:
Kickboxing is an intensive activity that improves cardiovascular health, endurance, and strength. It consists of a variety of movements such as punches, kicks, and footwork that improve balance, coordination, and flexibility.
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Increased Confidence:
Regular practice helps children develop confidence in their abilities, which carries over into other aspects of their lives. Kickboxing can aid in the development of mental toughness, self-discipline, and self-esteem in children.
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Enhanced Focus:
Kickboxing necessitates a high level of focus and concentration because it introduces a variety of techniques and movements that must be executed precisely. The mental challenge of kickboxing can help children improve their ability to focus and stay attentive.
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Teaches Self-Defence:
Just like all martial arts, kickboxing is effective at teaching self-defence to kids. It gives them confidence and preparedness in potentially dangerous situations by learning various strikes and techniques.
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Better Social Skills:
Kickboxing is a fun and social activity that kids can do with their friends or in a group class. It allows children to socialize, make new friends, and develop a sense of camaraderie and teamwork.
What are the Risks of Kickboxing for Kids?
Kickboxing can provide immense benefits for developing young athletes, but like any contact sport, does come with some inherent injury risks. However, these risks can be minimized with proper precautions and age-appropriate training.
Managing Injury Risk
- Beginners should avoid hard sparring and focus on technique
- Head contact should be prohibited for entry-level kids
- Protective gear like gloves, pads, mouthguards mandatory
- Kids should train under close supervision of qualified coaches
- Strictly enforce safety rules and intelligent training protocols
With controlled contact and good coaching, the vast majority of kickboxing kids avoid serious injuries.
Developing Skills Gradually
- Skills progression should be gradual based on ability
- Limit contact in early stages and only increase slowly
- Younger kids focus on pads, bags, footwork – no sparring
- As skills develop, very light controlled sparring can be introduced
- Heavy sparring only for mature teens under guidance
When kids develop abilities incrementally, risks are mitigated.
Promoting a Supportive Culture
- Ethos should be about safety, growth and support
- Avoid overemphasis on competition or machismo
- Instill respect for partners and controlled technique
- Provide quality protective equipment
- Monitor athletes closely for signs of injury
The training environment and coaching prevent issues before they happen.
Kickboxing can be practiced safely when participants, coaches and guardians exercise wisdom. Kids reap rewards when properly guided.
So Is Kickboxing Safe for Kids?
Yes Kickboxing is safe for kids when trained in an appropriate environment. Children lessons will not allow for impactful blows to the head or body which would cause injuries. Instead they provide opportunities for children to benefit from everything that martial arts, as a collective, teach. For a better comparison on safety of martial arts check out our Top 6 Best Martial Arts for Kids article.
How do I teach my kid kickboxing?
If your child is eager to start training a martial art such as kickboxing. Consider following a free class online or trial a local kickboxing programme. Practising kickboxing at home is also very accessible, with the only barrier to entry being a set of pads and supervision.
Checkout this starter kickboxing class to see what its like.
FAQ about Kickboxing for Kids
What are the difficulties of Kickboxing for kids?
Like with all competitive sports, losing is perhaps one of the hardest things to deal with. However, learning to deal with shortcomings is a vital part in developing a true winner. Kickboxing can be a tough competition as children will likely set unrealistic expectations for themselves. Yet over time, they will learn invaluable lessons of staying consistent and see the progress it brings.
What age can Kids start Kickboxing?
Children as young as 4-5 can enroll in kickboxing classes. At this age, children are typically developing their motor skills, coordination, and basic social skills. Kickboxing classes for kids at this age are typically focused on fun and playful activities that help them build these fundamental skills while also learning some basic kickboxing techniques.
What is the best age to start kickboxing?
Around 5-6 is when children have developed enough motor skills to start benefiting from learning techniques in kickboxing classes. Although the fundamentals needed for kickboxing can start being instilled from as young as 3 years old.
Is Boxing or Kickboxing better for Kids?
Both contact sports improve physical fitness, teach valuable life lessons and increase confidence. However, for kids, kickboxing can be seen as a better holistic sport as it utilises a wider range of movements using the lower body. Contrarily, boxing provides more opportunity at the highest level and can be more accessible due to its popularity.
Kickboxing is often compared to Muay Thai – check out our Ultimate Muay Thai guide for kids
How expensive is Kickboxing for Kids?
Session costs vary widely between programs. However, expect an individual child Kickboxing session to cost anywhere between $10 – $30. Many kickboxing gyms offer classes bundled as a membership, where the price per session will average down to anywhere from $7 – $25.
