Starting a 7 year old in boxing

rossi272

As the title says I want to start my son in the local boxing club even just to see whether he likes it or not. Unfortunately my wife is dead against boxing so I need to try and convince her of the sports merits. I'm gonna go down the line of it being good for his confidence and that it will teach him self discipline and have him physically active. Any other ideas for a good argument to start a young lad in boxing? Thanks

rossi272

rossi272 wrote: »

Unfortunately my wife is dead against boxing so I need to try and convince her of the sports merits. I'm gonna go down the line of it being good for his confidence and that it will teach him self discipline and have him physically active. Any other ideas for a good argument to start a young lad in boxing? Thanks

Discipline is a huge part of Boxing imo. It's one of the biggest pro's in young people joining boxing.
Also Self-Esteem, Fitness. You've basically covered everything but make sure she knows he can't fight competitively until he's 11.So he'l be a ringer by then :pac:

cynder

I would be dead against it to, i have 3 and 4 year old boys, i got the boxiong gloves for xmas but would never dream of them doing it for a sport. Prehaps he should do a year of tai kon do, or karate!

I even hate men boxing, you boy is a boy let him be one. hell be a man when he reaches 18.

FTA69

Try and alleviate her concerns. Some people think that if their 7 year old goes to a boxing gym that he's going to come home battered to bits and will have a brain haemorrage by age 15. Point out the fact that amateur boxing isn't the equivalent to pro-boxers pounding each other to the point of disability. Highlight the fact that kids that age will have massive gloves and headgear, that he'll be under the care of a trainer who is passionate about the welfare of the youths he trains. Also, as others above have said, stress the fitness benefits and the discipline and confidence it will give him.

Boxing isn't a sanitised version of a violent street brawl as some people seem to think it is. It's a sport that brings nothing but benefits to those who practice it. If she's still giving out, offer a compromise. Say you'll bring him along to three sessions to see how it goes; tell her she can come down and see for herself. Chatting to the trainer will probably do a lot to calm her down and dispel some of her suppositions, after three sessions the youngfella will probably love it and then she'll have to relent!

My old lade said the same to me when I took up boxing, she thought I'd have Parkinsons within the month, God love her. It's natural for mothers to give out!

Failing that, just bring the kid anyway.

FTA69

grindelwald wrote: »

I would be dead against it to, i have 3 and 4 year old boys, i got the boxiong gloves for xmas but would never dream of them doing it for a sport. Prehaps he should do a year of tai kon do, or karate!

I even hate men boxing, you boy is a boy let him be one. hell be a man when he reaches 18.

Balls. What's the worst that's going to happen to him? And why exactly shouldn't a seven year old boy take up boxing, that's the best age for it in my opinion.

walshb

My advice is to wait a while. 7 is really too young to bring him. Wait until 9 or 10. And, always play an active role, be there, watch him, take an interest, because you know, sometimes, not all goes according to plan and some children will "suffer". What I mean is, some coaches may not get it right, may over match the child, allow the child to take "punches" that he shouldn't be taking etc. Not all boxing coaches get it right all the time. Most kids end up leaving the sport, not because they don't like it, but because they haven't been properly broken in and guided. Too rushed.

rossi272

thanks for the replies.. it turns out she brought him down and it was a disaster. they had 7 year olds in with 15 year olds all doing the same exercises and the coaches shouting at them and getting them to do 20 push ups for getting things wrong or being too slow... then they had them sparring without headgear ... what a joke..

strobe

grindelwald wrote: »

I would be dead against it to, i have 3 and 4 year old boys, i got the boxiong gloves for xmas but would never dream of them doing it for a sport. Prehaps he should do a year of tai kon do, or karate!

I even hate men boxing, you boy is a boy let him be one. hell be a man when he reaches 18.

There's a chance you could break your eye socket in a rugby tackle or have your leg broke in two playing soccer, or your teeth elbowed out playing basketball. You can't wrap kids in cotton wool. If they want to do something you shouldn't stand in thier way.

MBC

rossi272 wrote: »

thanks for the replies.. it turns out she brought him down and it was a disaster. they had 7 year olds in with 15 year olds all doing the same exercises and the coaches shouting at them and getting them to do 20 push ups for getting things wrong or being too slow... then they had them sparring without headgear ... what a joke..

Sounds like a bit of a nightmare alright, this can happen due to lack of volunteers/training nights etc

We run a 5-8 year old class for 1 hour a week........but let me stress it is called NON CONTACT BOXING......tbh we do very little actuall boxing training, its more games and is geared towards getting the kids used to being in a gym/ getting them active etc........it has gone down a treat within the community.

I can understand your wife's concerns also, I get that all the time. But amateur boxing is not designed for 2 guys/gals to pummell the head off each other, it is an art, it is designed to promote Fitness, Self Estemm, Disipline, Courage and Respect. The sport if taught in the correct manner is far less dangerous than most football and rugby matches. No one could ever pretend that boxing is pain-free. Yet if it teaches kids how to take a knock, grit their teeth and carry on, then that’s not such a bad lesson to learn, is it?

Best of luck with your son's boxing career, I hope what you have witnessed hasnt turned you off the sport.

digme

grindelwald wrote: »

I would be dead against it to, i have 3 and 4 year old boys, i got the boxiong gloves for xmas but would never dream of them doing it for a sport. Prehaps he should do a year of tai kon do, or karate!

I even hate men boxing, you boy is a boy let him be one. hell be a man when he reaches 18.

Under the law he will be a man.Doesn't mean he is a man.

digme

rossi272 wrote: »

thanks for the replies.. it turns out she brought him down and it was a disaster. they had 7 year olds in with 15 year olds all doing the same exercises and the coaches shouting at them and getting them to do 20 push ups for getting things wrong or being too slow... then they had them sparring without headgear ... what a joke..

Sorry to hear that.Maybe have a word with one of the trainers or give a hand yourself?

cowzerp

rossi272 wrote: »

thanks for the replies.. it turns out she brought him down and it was a disaster. they had 7 year olds in with 15 year olds all doing the same exercises and the coaches shouting at them and getting them to do 20 push ups for getting things wrong or being too slow... then they had them sparring without headgear ... what a joke..

What club was this? its worth noting that the coacches are giving up there time and cant just put on under age classes in most cases due to work etc..

I'm with walshb here though-boxing is serious, you cant train half hearted when your competing and 7 year olds wont be competing for 4 years so putting them with competitive kids is a mistake IMO, coaches need to be strict and cant let some away with stuff and make others do it...

Personally id wait till he's 10, or go to MBC club and get him involved that way, i don't take under 10's in my class for the reasons above..

and if i do a junior class it will be more fun orientated to build them up to progress into the real class.

please dont be turned off boxing by this.

rossi272

cowzerp wrote: »

What club was this? its worth noting that the coacches are giving up there time and cant just put on under age classes in most cases due to work etc..

I'm with walshb here though-boxing is serious, you cant train half hearted when your competing and 7 year olds wont be competing for 4 years so putting them with competitive kids is a mistake IMO, coaches need to be strict and cant let some away with stuff and make others do it...

Personally id wait till he's 10, or go to MBC club and get him involved that way, i don't take under 10's in my class for the reasons above..

and if i do a junior class it will be more fun orientated to build them up to progress into the real class.

please dont be turned off boxing by this.

Ah I wont be put off. The story was that there is no club where I live so the coaches from the boxing club came over from the town next to us at the request of the local youth development officer to see if they could drum up interest. Apparently loads turned up of all ages and they were all mixed in together....

joepenguin

cowzerp wrote: »

What club was this? its worth noting that the coacches are giving up there time and cant just put on under age classes in most cases due to work etc..

I'm with walshb here though-boxing is serious, you cant train half hearted when your competing and 7 year olds wont be competing for 4 years so putting them with competitive kids is a mistake IMO.

+1. See if there is something like a non contact boxing class on or maybe martial arts / kickboxing for a few years until he can go into boxing.

colly10

cowzerp wrote: »

What club was this? its worth noting that the coacches are giving up there time and cant just put on under age classes in most cases due to work etc..

I'm with walshb here though-boxing is serious, you cant train half hearted when your competing and 7 year olds wont be competing for 4 years so putting them with competitive kids is a mistake IMO, coaches need to be strict and cant let some away with stuff and make others do it...

Personally id wait till he's 10, or go to MBC club and get him involved that way, i don't take under 10's in my class for the reasons above..

and if i do a junior class it will be more fun orientated to build them up to progress into the real class.

please dont be turned off boxing by this.

To an extent I can understand why most of the things he mentioned happen but why were they sparring without headgear. Didn't think that happened anywhere