Kids in Mixed Martial Arts

Parents have been searching for ways to control and discipline their children for centuries. They’ve tried everything from corporal punishment to time outs to V-Chips in television sets. Little did they know that the answer was residing in Randy Couture’s fists the entire time. That’s right, the seemingly barbaric sport seen on SpikeTV once a month could be one of the most effective solutions for parents looking for a way to give their children focus and confidence.

Generic “Karate” classes have been a cornerstone of youth athletics for quite some time, but with the recent upturn in MMA coverage and popularity, full service multi-discipline gyms are opening up for only the toughest kids. Just kidding. These gyms are open to children of all ages and experience levels. Additionally, MMA is one of the easiest sports to learn and maintain.

However, it probably isn’t a good idea to send your child to one of these gyms if you expect him to be the next Gracie or Hughes. Martial Arts Academies that specialize in working with children tend to focus just as much on discipline, time management, respect, and other life skills as they do on traditional self defense. More importantly, MMA for kids offers an alternative to coming home from school and doing nothing, or even worse, becoming involved with drugs, gangs, and alcohol. Granted, there are schools which are more competitive that do specialize in future professional fighters, but most focus on a more holistic education.

The “distraction” of an after-school program like a MMA class will instill all of the qualities you wish for you child to exhibit while being cool enough as a sport to stand up to peer assessment. There’s a marked difference in leaving school to work on your ground and pound as opposed to developing your chess game. Involving your child in MMA is a win-win situation for the child and adult. The child is allowed to save face with friends, learn a new skill, and feel better about himself while the adult knows the child is in good hands with a productive and positive after-school program.

Some detractors of the sport have pointed out the effects of teaching children violence. While professional wrestling has been blamed with deaths of many, MMA is a different sport and one in which violence is not glorified. However, if your child is enrolled in a school of any quality, it will be set out during the first session that the moves are not be used on the parent’s bed against a sibling. The moves are real, they are dangerous, and they are only meant to be used if there is no other alternative.

Mixed martial arts has been proven to motivate children towards better grades in school, increased attention span, and more success in other sports they play, let alone the obvious benefits of regular exercise and self-defense capabilities. So don’t just sit there! Use our Martial Art School Finder and enroll your child in a martial art school today!