Millions of children in the United States enjoy taking martial arts classes. They offer a great way to teach discipline and self-defense as well as building confidence. If your kid wants to take it a step further and take MMA lessons, you probably are a bit concerned about safety. Mixed martial arts certainly can be dangerous; there are some ways to minimize the risks.
Keep in mind that your child won't be thrown into a cage and begin sparring on the first day. Not only does it take a great deal of training to get to a level of competition, when your child does compete, he will be wearing a variety of pieces of protective gear, including head gear, shin guards and other pieces of equipment. Also keep in mind that most sports pose some risk to the body, including the most popular kid sports such as baseball and football.
It's important to note that sanctioned fights aren't a part of children's MMA. At the youngest levels, from about age 10 to 16, children focus on training and gaining a skill set, not jumping into a cage and beating each other up. Not only is this not allowed, it's also not the point in the first place. The focus of MMA for children is to learn methods of self-defense, gain respect for yourself and others, improve your fitness level and increase your self-confidence.
The best way to find a school that provides this type of experience is to actually go to several MMA gyms and find one that has the type of environment you want. Look for a gym where the students seem to be engaged, focused and having a great time. There should be an aura of camaraderie present, and instructors should not be focused on aggression or competition but on self defense and discipline. What you don't want is a child grabbing another one and putting him in a rear-facing chokehold while the instructor yells, "No Mercy, No Mercy!" But take heart, this really isn't even the focus at an adult MMA gym.
Of course, if you would still prefer to avoid MMA classes but your child is really enthusiastic about training, consider a compromise. Why not sign up for just one style of martial art? One martial art that definitely will help lead a child into MMA training at an older age is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This art teaches many skills essential for MMA fighting, though it doesn't pose the same level of risk as all-out MMA. Most BJJ facilities focus on self defense and not on pushing aggressive behavior.
A few other options include Judo, Taekwondo, wrestling and Karate, and while you can get injured, the risk is fairly low as opposed to boxing, kickboxing and Muay Thai. However, there is no reason why you can't learn some boxing skills without facing an opponent. Boxing training is great physical exercise and teaches excellent footwork and improves coordination, all of which you can learn without fighting anyone.
Keep in mind that your child won't be thrown into a cage and begin sparring on the first day. Not only does it take a great deal of training to get to a level of competition, when your child does compete, he will be wearing a variety of pieces of protective gear, including head gear, shin guards and other pieces of equipment. Also keep in mind that most sports pose some risk to the body, including the most popular kid sports such as baseball and football.
It's important to note that sanctioned fights aren't a part of children's MMA. At the youngest levels, from about age 10 to 16, children focus on training and gaining a skill set, not jumping into a cage and beating each other up. Not only is this not allowed, it's also not the point in the first place. The focus of MMA for children is to learn methods of self-defense, gain respect for yourself and others, improve your fitness level and increase your self-confidence.
The best way to find a school that provides this type of experience is to actually go to several MMA gyms and find one that has the type of environment you want. Look for a gym where the students seem to be engaged, focused and having a great time. There should be an aura of camaraderie present, and instructors should not be focused on aggression or competition but on self defense and discipline. What you don't want is a child grabbing another one and putting him in a rear-facing chokehold while the instructor yells, "No Mercy, No Mercy!" But take heart, this really isn't even the focus at an adult MMA gym.
Of course, if you would still prefer to avoid MMA classes but your child is really enthusiastic about training, consider a compromise. Why not sign up for just one style of martial art? One martial art that definitely will help lead a child into MMA training at an older age is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This art teaches many skills essential for MMA fighting, though it doesn't pose the same level of risk as all-out MMA. Most BJJ facilities focus on self defense and not on pushing aggressive behavior.
A few other options include Judo, Taekwondo, wrestling and Karate, and while you can get injured, the risk is fairly low as opposed to boxing, kickboxing and Muay Thai. However, there is no reason why you can't learn some boxing skills without facing an opponent. Boxing training is great physical exercise and teaches excellent footwork and improves coordination, all of which you can learn without fighting anyone.
About the Author:
Rod Bourgoine likes blogging about mixed martial arts advantages. For more info about an MMA gym in San Diego or to find jiu jitsu lessons in San Diego, please visit The Arena MMA site today.
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