MMA for Kids: Everything You Need to Know

MMA for Kids: Everything You Need to Know

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a combination of martial arts techniques and combat sports from around the world. It is now being recognized as a sport by many countries in the world. To make the sports less harmful and less brutal generally for kids the competitors wear more padding than the adults which reduces the chances of injuries during the sports. The rule of the sports in kids are also different than to adults however there are no standard defined rules and may vary from region to region.

From recent past parents are showing a healthy interest for their kids going to MMA. This is now regarded as a practice and not as a fight. There are also certain benefits of MMA in kids who think differently. As it teaches self-control, respecting others, and following the instructor.    

The health and life benefits and the drawbacks for MMA go side by side and are more than one thinks. On the one hand, it is thought that these kinds of sports make kids bullies and are the source of promoting barbarianism. The kids who take part and learn MMA may take undue advantage of being physically strong and able to control others.

On the other hand, it is also said that MMA for kids produces and promotes many positive points in their personality. The kids learn discipline, get more confident, enjoy better physical fitness, and most importantly learn to respect others. Since getting into MMA and taking its active training is totally the kids own choice hence he positively follows the protocols of the game like respecting the opponent, following game rules, and not going below the belt.

An injury during the game mostly can be a result of an accident and not an intentional attack to harm the opponent.    

What age is good for kids to start MMA?

Though some academies have programs for the kids from the age of 7 however The experts say that the ideal age to start MMA for kids is between 13-16. Medically this is the age where the body is transforming from a kid into an adult being. It is also to be noted that kids willing to join MMA should have a background of sound fitness and be motivated to take the challenge.  However, if the kid younger than 13 has an interest in martial arts and is willing to start the journey then karate, muay thai, and ju-jitsu can be a good start to walk on the path. 

Is MMA dangerous for kids? 

Like every other sport Yes, it also has some dangers attached to it. Namely, head injuries (the top injury for what MMA in kids is opposed for) spine disorder. But despite this, every child has a different physical structure and way to deal with the situations. In the same given situation, some kids may get physically hurt and some may just deal with it like a piece of cake. 

But with proper protection and paddings in place, the chances of injuries can be reduced. And the damages if injury (if it occurs) can be minimized. 

The parents are the best decision-makers as they know well about their kids. Like the physical strength of their kids, the medical history (if any) of the kid must also be discussed with the instructor to make sure that the journey is going to get trouble-free.

How often kids should train MMA?

For adults, it is recommended that one should have training of 6 days in a week and should take a rest of one day. However, as far as MMA for kids is concerned most of the academies offer twice a week classes each consisting of a 60 minutes session. The purpose of only 2 classes seems to be to walk the kid through the journey and not to put a heavy burden.  

What equipment do kids need for MMA?

Like other sports MMA also requires special equipment and gadgets. Most of the equipment of the spots is the self-safety gadgets The equipment of MMA for kids is different than of adults. Apart from the size, they are made to protect more and make it lightweight. The most necessary gadgets include

MMA Apparel

The most irritating part when it comes to apparel is what to wear for tomorrow’s training as the shirt you are wearing will be smelling bad because it’s all sweaty and you would not like to wear the same for tomorrow’s session. So do consider having an extra pair of shorts and a shirt in your bag.

It’s crucial to invest in proper gear to ensure their safety and comfort during practice. Explore our detailed guide for more information on how to find the best MMA shorts that match both performance and comfort, giving your child a competitive edge.

Mouth Guard

It is of most impotence to protect your front teeth and lips. While practicing face is the most attractive place to be attacked by the opponent hence needed to protected the most. When practicing alone there is no need for a mouth guard. But while practicing with an opponent it becomes compulsory to put a mouth guard on and smile as you do. 

MMA Gloves

When punching your hands are likely to get scratched or even may get stressed so you must always need to be concerned about protecting your hands because your hands are going to protect you when you practice MMA.

You may feel anxious about finding the right MMA gloves for your kid, considering the wide variety available on the market. To ensure the best protection and performance for your kid’s hands, I recommend you check this detailed guide on the best MMA gloves on the market. Based on my knowledge and experience as a professional MMA fighter, I’ve covered a wide array of options that cater to individual fighters’ needs, preferences, and fighting styles.

It is very difficult to give a 100% guarantee of protecting something in a sports like MMA. But you can minimize scratches and stresses of your hands by using a good quality pair of leather gloves for MMA

Groin Protector

Like a mouth guard, a groin protector is also a very important protecting gadget and like the face it also protects a very important organ of the body. And again also like a mouth guard you will only need it when practicing with a partner. They are available with adjustable sizes and also different groin protectors for kids for kids and adults.   

Shin Protector

Shin, the toughest bone in a human body. But in the most dangerous game in the world like MMA the toughest bone is the most vulnerable part which is used to attack and defend also. 

A shin pad can protect your shin from minor scratches to major injuries like fractures. A shin pad not only protects the shin but also the feet and the ankles to be hurt during the practice. 

Can kids learn MMA from home? 

In this digital age, there are a lot of resources available on the internet claiming to teach MMA online. But if we consider learning from home we are missing the most important learning of MMA i.e. corporation. We must see the difference in training alone and train cooperatively. The kid may learn the actions of MMA if learn from home however he will not learn the main and the most important part of the training which is respecting others and working with others. 

And if the student of MMA is not learning respecting others then what he is learning is only the ways to fight.

How to choose the right MMA class for kids?

It might be quiet a task for every parent to choose the right fit for MMA for kids. To help you here are some easy to follow steps that you can take in order to select the right academy. 

1. Shortlist some academies that you think might be a good place for your kid.

2. Visit their websites and dig deep to know more about them.

3. Study about the instructor (from the website) and try to find as much as possible about them (make notes).

4. Fix a meeting the owner of the academy.

5 Ask for a meeting with the instructor.

6. Try to drop in when the instructor is in the class by this you will get a chance to see his/her way of working with the kids.

7. Meet the instructor personally and ask him about their background and how long has he/she been teaching (make notes).

8. Reconcile the notes you took from the website with those you took in person. See how it comes out.

9. Find how many students are there in the class and what’s the maximum number of student they take in a class.

10. The structure of the classroom and the academy itself.

11. Try it out!

After doing the above mentioned exercise, send your kid for a couple of trial classes before making the final decision. Ask the kid on return if he/she had fun there and enjoyed it with the peers.

If you are still thinking if MMA is the right sport for your kid, or should they try some other martial arts, we have made an article about best martial arts for your kid. Check it out!

Vladimir Vladisavljevic has been training in the art of kickboxing for over seven years, holds a Taekwondo black belt, and has a master's degree in sports and physical education. He's also a huge mixed martial arts fan. He's a big deal in Bulgaria as a mixed martial arts commentator, analyst, and podcaster.
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Vladimir Vladisavljevic

Vladimir Vladisavljevic has a master's degree in sports and physical education. He has been training in kickboxing for over seven years and holds a Taekwondo black belt. He's also a huge mixed martial arts fan. Vladimir is a big deal in Bulgaria as a mixed martial arts commentator, analyst, and podcaster. He was known as The Bulgarian Cowboy in the Western world. In addition, he has a YouTube channel where he talks about his love of esports, one of the fastest-growing fields in the world. Our testing and reviewing method.
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