Martial Arts for 8 year old with one kidney... yay or nay?

Scotty # · 15-04-2013 08:50PM #1

So my son saw the local taekwondo club exhibit during the St. Patrick's Day parade and ever since has been asking about taking it up. The problem is he had a kidney removed 3 years ago due to a medical condition and so has just the one now.

He made a full recovery and is perfectly normal and already plays football and gaelic. I'm not thinking about competitions or anything just learning purely the self defence side of things. I'm all for it but the Mrs is not so keen so just looking for some opinions from those already involved in the sport. Do you hear of many (or any) kidney injuries at that level? Is there anything to worry about at all?

Incidentally, many of us are born with only one kidney and don't know it.

Clive · 15-04-2013 09:44PM

Nothing to worry about at all in my experience. He'll be getting far more knocks playing gaelic than in taekwondo!

Dave 101 · 15-04-2013 10:42PM

talk to your doctor and get the ok, shouldnt be a problem

Peetrik · 15-04-2013 11:12PM

As Clive said. Much more chance of him taking heavy knocks in GAA. Can't imagine there would be any problem with it

Tweedle Dumb · 16-04-2013 07:37AM

like dave101 said talk to your doctor and once you get the ok, inform the coach of everything and make sure his first aid is up to scratch. not that there should be any problems, but better safe than sorry

Jason McCabe · 16-04-2013 12:50PM

I have one kidney, born with one

I've done full contact martial arts for roughly 20 years

I spent many years playing rugby too

There probably is a risk but you gotta do things you love in life

Scotty # · 16-04-2013 01:33PM

Thanks for the replies folks! As I said, I'm all for it just trying to convince the Mrs.

The doc told us at the time that stabbing is the most common cause of young lads losing a kidney followed by motorcycle accidents. She did say boxing might not be a good idea but not to worry really about sports injuries.

I'll have a chat with the instructor next just to make sure he's ok with it then sign him up.

Thanks again.

JohnNightmare · 16-04-2013 01:45PM

just too add 1 more thing that might help ur mrs not be so unsure, if ur son was to do competitions he would be wearing something like one of these even in sparring training ( WTF) ITU is different though.
http://www.kicksport.com/shop/Taekwondo-Chest-Protection/
which does protect the kidney when its tied properly unlike other sports like kickboxing or even gaa like he plays already were there is no protection on the body. as an other poster says he had done martial arts for 20 years with 1 kidney and had no problem.

Chris Dowling · 17-04-2013 07:02AM

Well I can give you two perspectives on this one as a instructor, I have seen even experienced marital artist get kicked in the back either by accident or the turned for their own technique and there partner/ opponents stick lands on the lower back, so if its a contact based style/club I would definetly say its not worth the risk, secondly my partners child was diagnosed with an Ethiopic kidney basicly meaning they only have one kidney( well 2 but one rather small and joined to the other) we discussed sport with the Dr's in Trmple street and they said they don't like children abstaining from sport but any sports with the potential of light contact she should wear a kidney shield and said they would definetly not recommend Kickboxing this was the marial art we asked as that's what she was doing and enjoyed. They also said maybe when she is older as she will have more awareness and ability to protect the area but as a 9 yr old the would not recommend it.

Hope this helps

Kungfu · 23-04-2013 12:09AM

Scotty, If you are born with one kidney your body will have adjusted to that by the age of 9. However if the child has lost a kidney how well the body has adjusted would depend on several factors, such as when and why. Best thing as already said is to consult a doctor. If the doctor says ok then maybe consider a soft style such as Tai Chi or Aikido. Probably not too exciting for a child but there is plenty of time to change over to a more energetic style later on and either of the styles mentioned would be of great benefit in teaching an understanding of the principals of martial arts and an exercise in patience.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 23-04-2013 01:16AM

OP I can not give medical advice and neither can anyone else here.

If I was to suggest a very enjoyable, effective and low impact martial art I'd point you towards Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

pablohoney87 · 23-04-2013 09:47AM

Demi Orange Veterinarian wrote: »

OP I can not give medical advice and neither can anyone else here.

If I was to suggest a very enjoyable, effective and low impact martial art I'd point you towards Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

BJJ in a good reputable club is ideal for kids. They pick it up so quick its scary. And lets face it kids love wrestlin round on the ground. This will just teach them to do it right

arybvtcw0eolkf · 23-04-2013 11:25AM

pablohoney87 wrote: »

BJJ in a good reputable club is ideal for kids. They pick it up so quick its scary. And lets face it kids love wrestlin round on the ground. This will just teach them to do it right

Yup, kids love it.

When I was doing my judo coaching course we were taken to a school in Finglas to give a class.. Some of the judo students made things very complicated, so remembering my school days I took the class and said "lads you know the way you trip your mates up in the field and wrestle on the ground ~ THATS judo".. And to a child they understood straight away.

Kids love wrestling.

nobbo · 25-04-2013 11:02PM

OP, ask your renal specialist. The only reason I say that is because my GP advised me to avoid combat sports after I had a kidney operation(basically have 1 kidney) when I was 7.

If it wasn't for it happened to come up in a conversation during a follow up with my consultant that I could do combat sports I may never had taken up martial arts and I'd be a few All-Irelands lighter...

Moral of the story, ask someone who specialized in the area who knows your childs condition and the extent to which it'll affect them.

cowzerp · 26-04-2013 08:54AM

A kid in my club took a kick and pissed blood, turned out he'd only 1 kidney so for obvious reasons needs the other 1 working 100%

The doctor advised that they couldn't spar and certainly couldn't fight in boxing as they wouldn't get licensed

I'd strongly recommend Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as a martial art kids would enjoy and 1 which would be very safe for this circumstance.

Scotty # · 26-04-2013 12:14PM

Thank you all for your comments and advice. All taken on board.

nobbo wrote: »

Moral of the story, ask someone who specialized in the area who knows your childs condition and the extent to which it'll affect them.

His consultant said not to stop him doing anything but to 'avoid boxing'. She said GAA is fine, and as mentioned already, he's probably as likely to get a knock to the kidneys in that as much as anything. He's only 8 so I think at that level he's unlikely to get any serious knocks (??). I think I'll allow him to join (club willing) and we can talk about it again in a couple of years if he wants to keep it up.

Thanks again everyone who responded.

nobbo · 26-04-2013 03:07PM

Scotty # wrote: »

Thank you all for your comments and advice. All taken on board.

His consultant said not to stop him doing anything but to 'avoid boxing'. She said GAA is fine, and as mentioned already, he's probably as likely to get a knock to the kidneys in that as much as anything. He's only 8 so I think at that level he's unlikely to get any serious knocks (??). I think I'll allow him to join (club willing) and we can talk about it again in a couple of years if he wants to keep it up.

Thanks again everyone who responded.

Well let him try various differrent styles, see which one he likes and let him do it. I've competing in grappling and striking sports and never had any complaints.

And besides, either way, anytime your son goes to a doctor his kidney function is gonna be checked, not even including the annual check up he's gonna have to get. So if anything happens to go wrong I have a feeling it will be picked up on fairly quickly. It will take a lot of hits to cause damage in the first place.

Martial Arts for 8 year old with one kidney... yay or nay?

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