Blog Posts
is muay thai a good activity for my middle school aged child?
-By Gene Byard
Kids can be fickle, with their tastes and interests changing like the seasons. Compound that with the rapid changes going on between the years of 10 to 14, and you never know what each day will bring. Maybe you’ve tried team sports with no luck. Maybe you’ve tried introducing them to your own hobbies and they just haven’t taken to them like you did. If you’re looking for an activity that can benefit them physically and mentally, has great carryover to self defense, and can allow them to shine individually, then Muay Thai checks all of those boxes.
MUAY THAI WILL GET YOUR KIDS MOVING.
If you’re looking to get your kids off the couch or away from their screens, Muay Thai’s foundational base of kicking, punching, knees, and elbows will have them moving and breaking a sweat on day one. Muay Thai is a very physical martial art that involves high repetition and the element of cardiovascular conditioning. Your child will be improving their strength and conditioning without even realizing it as they progress along their journey.
Constantly varied drilling, holding pads and mitts for one another, and optional controlled sparring will also challenge them mentally as they are tasked with complex movements under pressure.
BASIC MUAY THAI TRANSLATES WELL TO SELF DEFENSE. Sadly, in this day and age, self defense is more important than ever. Muay Thai was developed hundreds of years ago as a martial art for unarmed soldiers on the battlefield, so it was literally developed from the ground up to provide basic, fundamental techniques to be used in self defense situations.
It’s stance and footwork are very basic and easy to grasp, which will keep them from being cornered or tripping over their own feet. It’s strikes are adapted for long range and short range, should someone get close enough. Finally, when it comes to techniques, Muay Thai can turn any grappling or hands on situation into an advantage thanks to its use of the clinch.
Even more importantly than tactics or techniques is the fact that becoming immersed in any martial art is going to provide your child with self-confidence and the ability to react intelligently in high pressure situations.
AN ALTERNATIVE TO TEAM SPORTS. Maybe you’ve tried getting your child involved in team sports in the past and they just haven’t taken to them. While there is a lot of value in team sports for kids, it’s just a reality that for a myriad of reasons some kids just don’t thrive in that environment. Maybe they aren’t ready for it, or they’ve had bad experiences in the past.
For parents looking for a new challenge for their kids, Muay Thai is a perfect balance of team training paired with individual expression.
Training with a team and learning to lean on their peers, but being able to develop their own style within the art can bring many kids a sense of independence and self expression.
Unlike many traditional martial arts with rigid katas and forms, Muay Thai is based on some very simple foundational techniques that can be applied in an infinite number of ways. Kids will be able to refine their own unique skillsets as they progress and find their way. Will they develop a strong boxing heavy style? A defensive counter kicking style? The combinations are endless and are what truly makes Muay Thai an art form.
If you’re looking for a new activity for your 10-14 year old, and you’re looking for them to thrive in a safe welcoming environment, then we’d love to have you try us out here at 10 Kicks. We only do Muay Thai, and we have been helping people reach their particular goals for years. Contact us at the email or phone number below and let’s get you on your way to meeting your goals!
