When are your kids old enough to join a Boxing Club?

Although hand to hand combat has been around for a long time, the history of boxing dates back to the ancient Greek. Boxing was part of the Olympic games of ancient Greece. In Great Britain, the sport evolved to what we now know as modern boxing. Though the boxing has changed a lot since the times of the ancient Greeks, it remains a popular sport. Boxing training is now common in many gyms and many people are enrolling for the training. Even children are putting on their boxing gloves. For parents, the main question is not whether or not to take their children for boxing; it’s when to do it. What is the right age to start boxing?

Different people start to train in boxing for different reasons. Some want to get into the ring and spar while others want to go through the training to gain muscle mass and strength. For children, training in boxing is a good way to keep fit and also kick off a journey towards professional boxing. A child can start boxing at any age, but they are limited to particular training activities. Some children start at a tender age of 5years old. At this age, it recommended that they do not take any hits on the head. This is because the child is still growing and a punch on the head can cause irreversible damage. Moreover, at five years old, a child should not partake in sparring. They can, however, do the circuit training and hit punching bags and pads.

Most clubs do not allow children to enroll in boxing till they hit ten years old. At this age, most children can grasp the fundamentals of boxing. In addition to doing the circuit training and punching bags and pads, ten-year-olds can apply the rules they are taught. Furthermore, the fine motor skills of a ten-year-old are developed enough to handle some of the basic boxing maneuvers. Their hand-eye coordination is adequate to execute a proper punch on a specified target. Despite all this, a ten-year-old is still too young to spar. At such a tender age it is prudent to avoid any injuries, especially injuries to the head. Furthermore, children can get carried away and forget the fundamental rules of boxing. At ten, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

When it comes to boxing, sparring is always fun to watch. Unfortunately, sparring is not for all age groups. Most children are not recommended to participate in sparring. Many clubs introduce sparring at the age of 14 years. The initial brawling is always structured to avoid serious injuries. A child may start off by learning five step sparring to avoid accidents. If the child grasps the simple sparring, then he/she can progress to free sparring. Even then, the free sparring has to be supervised and limited by rules. A few knocks here and there are allowed, but the training has to be semi-contact and not full contact. When it comes to sparring, most training clubs are cautious due to the chances of getting permanent damage. During teenage years, one is still growing and injuries can be irreversible if not fatal.

Teenage years are crucial when it comes to boxing. Even though most people go pro in their twenties, teenage years set the pace for chasing a professional career in boxing. Once your child can spar, he/she can start acquiring some of the basic fundamental skills of boxing. They can master more complex boxing maneuvers as they grow. Physical development is the highlight of adolescence. Training in boxing helps teenagers develop fine motor skills necessary to win a brawl. The exponential muscle growth that also occurs during adolescence is ideal for boxing. Through proper training, a teenager can be conditioned to be a professional boxer. Another reason for starting boxing during teenage years is the physical resilience of a teenager. A teenager can not only pack a hefty punch but also take one. Considering boxing is a contact sport, a few hits are anticipated. Teenagers can handle massive hits without risk of developing head injuries or fractures.

When it comes to enrolling your child in boxing, there are many factors to consider. If your child likes to tag along as you go for your training, they will probably take up the sport at a tender age. For your teenage son or daughter, training can immediately start with sparring and acquire all basic fundamental boxing skills. Your child can start boxing as soon as they gain interest. Depending on their age, training will involve different activities. So don’t deny your child the opportunity to train in a boxing club. Boxing is for everyone.