Should My Child Learn Martial Arts?

Parents & Kids

An honest answer to the question, including who it might not be right for.

Should your child learn martial arts? Our honest answer is yes, and this is the reasoning behind it, including the rare cases where it might not be the right fit.

Parents usually arrive at this question for one of a few reasons, and we will get into what is really underneath it. We will also be straight with you about who martial arts suits, what to realistically expect in the early days, and how to find out if it is right for your child without any pressure.

What's Really Behind The Question

Martial arts genuinely helps a child with discipline, self control, focus, coordination, confidence and a healthy outlet for their energy. It can help with bullying, and it gets them off screens. So on the surface, yes, it delivers all the things parents hope for.

But most parents come to us for one of three reasons. Their child is being bullied, their child is acting out and not listening at home, or their child is spending too much time on screens. And here is what we have come to believe. Underneath all three of those is the same root cause, a lack of self confidence.

Every kid needs that confidence boost. A self confident child is less likely to be bullied, because a bully feeds on the reaction, and less likely to be defiant at home. Build the confidence, and so many of the surface problems start to resolve on their own.

Is It Right For Every Child?

We genuinely believe martial arts is for almost every child, and we meet each kid exactly where they are.

• If a child is shy, the coaches and the community help bring them out of their shell.
• If a child is hyper, it is a great way to positively focus all that energy.
• If a child is uncoordinated, it is one of the best ways to build coordination.
• If a child is not interested, we make it fun and engaging with games, and over time they build relationships with the coaches and other kids and grow a real love for the sport.

To be honest with you, there are only a couple of times we say no. The first is age. We are an eight-and-up gym, because our coaches are technique focused and eight is typically when children can retain the information and build these skills, which we explain more in our post on what age kids can start boxing. The second is rare. If, after many genuine interventions and conversations, a student keeps acting out violently in a way that endangers themselves or others, we will not let it continue. In those cases it is always important to us that coaches and parents work together. You can see our programs on our Kids Boxing and Kids Muay Thai pages.

A Story For The Parents Who Are Unsure

One of our students came to us as a smaller kid who was being bullied a lot, and who lived with a lot of anxiety. His parents had the exact fears so many parents have. They worried he would become a punching bag for the other kids, or that he would learn skills only to become aggressive toward his bullies.

Neither happened. Coming to the gym steadily boosted his confidence to the point where he could hold his own. He did not go to school picking fights. Instead he learned to stand up for himself by ignoring it, walking away, or simply speaking up for himself. The sport turned out to be genuinely good for him. If bullying is your specific worry, our post on whether martial arts helps bullying victims goes deeper on exactly this.

What To Realistically Expect Early On

Part of this question is really "what am I signing up for?" So here is the honest version. In the first few days and weeks, your child will likely be tired and sore, and they may not want to go back. That is completely normal. They are simply not used to the physical energy and exertion yet.

This is why we encourage parents and kids to commit to around three months. That is enough time to settle in, push through the adjustment and get a true sense of the experience before deciding whether it is for them. If they still do not enjoy it after that, then they can consider stepping away.

As for how quickly you will see change in confidence or focus, we will be honest that it varies. It depends on the child, their temperament and natural athleticism, and just as much on the support the parents are putting in at home. Some kids take to it fast, and some are more resistant to change or discipline. All of that is normal.

How To Help, And How To Start

If you are leaning toward yes, here is how you can help. Remind your child that learning something new is hard and takes time, and that they are not going to get it on the first go. Nobody does, in martial arts or anything else in life. Good practice makes perfect.

The practical path is simple. Come in for a trial class, then take a look at our memberships and make a small commitment of a few weeks or a couple of months, encouraging your child along the way. Talk to the coaches about your goals for your child and what they need, and we promise to meet them exactly where they are at.

We know this is a big step, so we welcome you to come in for a conversation too. Meet the coaches, see the space, get a feel for the community and ask us anything before you sign your child up. When you are ready, you can book a free trial class.

Your Child's First Class Is On Us

Come See The Space

The best way to know is to visit. Book a free trial, meet the coaches, and let us show your child exactly what this community feels like.

Book Your Free Trial Class