Is Kid’s Boxing Safe?

In today’s ultra-safe society, it seems that more and more activities are being banned for the sole reason of “protecting the children”. From sports such as football to recreational activities like dodgeball and, in some cases, running, today’s children are more and more shielded from danger. Whether or not this is a good thing depends on your view of the state of the world as it is right now. Today we will talk about one sport that has many parents worried for their children: boxing. Kid’s Boxing has always been a popular way to teach kids discipline and respect for each other, but lately, the sport has come under heavy scrutiny as to whether or not it is safe for children. Let’s take a closer look at what kid’s boxing is, and determine if the mania surrounding it is justified or not.
 
Science vs. Experience
 
If you walk into a gym and ask any of the trainers whether kid’s boxing is dangerous, most of them will say that it can be, but not any more than other sports. Conversely, if you were to walk into a doctor’s office and ask the same question, you would be met with a resounding yes, kid’s boxing is one of the most dangerous sports out there. So why the discrepancy? What it ultimately boils down to is cold hard facts vs. experience in the ring.
 
Any doctor worth his or her degree will tell you that children are far more susceptible to brain injury than adults. The reason for this is because a child’s brain is still developing, and the skull has not fully hardened yet. Thus, encouraging youths to engage in a sport that rewards constant blows to the head would be a bad idea. However, if you’ve ever witnessed kid’s boxing, or have gone through it yourself, you’d know that this idea is not exactly correct in practice. Typically, kid boxing requires much more safety equipment than adult boxing, and most trainers are teaching their students how to spar, not how to knock their opponent out. Much like karate, kid’s boxing is designed to get the kids in shape and teach them discipline, not create a room full of bloodthirsty fighters.
 
The Reality
 
For many parents, the image of their child engaged in a battle with another opponent conjures up pictures of bleeding faces and bruised bodies. However, most kid’s boxing is far from the blood sport shown on television. What many people don't realize is that most trainers are acutely aware of the dangers of head injuries, and, therefore, encourage their students not to try to hit the opponent in the head as hard as they can. Instead, the children are taught varying moves to score points on each other, which is when a boxer makes direct contact, but doesn’t necessarily hurt their opponent.
 
Overall, kid’s boxing is no more dangerous than most competitive sports. If you want to seek out a reputable training center, look no further than A4 Fitness. We provide the necessary environment and training for kid’s boxing in Los Angeles and Santa Monica. It has never been easier to find a place to teach your child discipline and control in a safe environment.

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