Would you let your son take up boxing?

[HighlandWorrier]

DS, 11 is interested in boxing and wants to start going to a local club. I am happy enough to let him give it a try but DH is totally against the idea. I can see his point about promoting violence etc. but I do think lots of sports can be violent - footballers and rugby players are often injured for example.

I half expect the first time he takes a punch he'll give up the idea pretty quickly but joking aside just wondered what others thought?

We have a small group of our kids at school do boxing. It is carefully managed and the theory is that it teaches discipline while giving and outlet to excess energy and frustration.

Personally, I am not keen but then I am not keen on the boxing personalities that you see on the TV. I would have no issue with a martial art. I think there is a difference between getting injured playing a game and being injured because the point of the game is to injure

No. Risk of brain damage too high I think. For rugby and football, unless he is gonna be elite, don’t think it would be as bad (though have not looked at evidence).

I wouldnt personally for the same reason as Namenic.

Did you realise no sparring allowed until 16??
Its illegal.
Ds is very fitness /health orientated and has applied for the army after boxing for a few years.
Very focused, very well behaved for a 17 yo!! Brilliant big db to younger siblings..
Benefits are immense imo.
His older db has had 2 semi pro fights for charity.
Very proud dm here...
You are misinformed if you think it's violent for minors!

I was really against boxing (and I still hate all the shit that goes along with professional boxing: the obscene amounts of money, the “smack talk” and the actual violence itself) but I have been taking a small group of boys with social, emotional and mental health issues (very, very mixed ability physically) to a boxing club once a week for about 3 months now, they have only done training, bag work, pad work etc and the difference it has made to them is incredible. They are calmer, more patient, more confident and getting in better shape. I just wish all boxing could be non-contact!!

I think it's a good skill actually if the person has the right attitude. At the end if the day he wouldn't be sparring at this age but would be doing all the training and getting super fit and self-disciplined in the process! Always good to be able to defend yourself if the need arises as well...

It depends what else is on offer, I suppose (meaning what else they are willing to do).
I would prefer they did martial arts, but if my kid was set on boxing & could make the best of it, I'd allow it.

Something counter-offensive/defensive will give discipline and fitness plus personal confidence. Why focus frustration and aggression into more aggression. I'd prefer jiu jitsu, judo or even aikido... Boxing has more mainstream visibility but these others offer far more IMO.

On the plus side, there is no better sport for fitness training.

My DS has tried so many sports over the years but boxing is the one he truly loves and comes home buzzing after each session. He trains and spars in a good club with excellent coaches who look after all the youngsters and ensure that headguards are always worn. They are a lovely bunch of lads and training sessions involve no aggression - they are taught respect and constraint as with any martial art.

I allowed him one bout but that was a completely different thing so he is now restricted to sparring only until he leaves for university. I have no doubt that he will fight in the ring again once there but he will be an adult then and therefore his choice.

Why don’t you let him try the training? He doesn’t even have to spar if you don’t want him to.

I boxed a bit in my teens and early twenties. The training is fabulous for fitness. Would you (or DH) consider going with him?

My older ds has had therapy for depression and boxing has been amazing for keeping him of his flat moping around. He had anger issues which have gone now. He is eating and sleeping better through exercise and won his first fight. Can't over emphasis what a transformation due to boxing.
It's a very challenging sport,mental and physical. A bloody good activity ime!

Flat no from me, hate it and wouldn’t facilitate it.

Yes, I would have no problem with it at all, my nephew attended a boxing club for quite a few years from a younger age than that, it's going to be boxing training not punching each other at that age.

Why doesn't your DH go along and actually find out what's involved. My local boxing club has classes for women, I'm pretty sure they aren't fighting each other

"Did you realise no sparring allowed until 16??"

A relative of mine spars, he is 13 now but has been doing it for a couple of years. I cannot find any information online about this being illegal for under 16s.
The england boxing rule book states that no child under 10 can box or spar.

Did you realise no sparring allowed until 16?? Its illegal.

Sorry but that is nonsense.

I've been boxing for a few years and haven't sparred once. I'm always given the option to but it's really not my cup of tea. I am probably fitter than I've been in a very long time though. I think it's a great thing for kids to get into.

Of course. Discipline, focus, health, fitness.

I wouldn't have a problem

Apart from the fact that I don't imagine anything to do with boxing is illegal England Boxing are quite clear that you can spar from age 10

www.abae.co.uk/aba/index.cfm/linkservid/F4D9E442-92CE-7BD1-10B15B5279C70804/showMeta/0/

aprilshowers - which law are you referring to?

My DD (mid 20s) has been boxing for years and spars. It's a big fitness thing for her. Great discipline, she loves it.

Loads of kids at DS’s club choose not to spar.

No. Not in a million years. DH's cousin (23) has always been very sporty. Last year she took part in a charity boxing match against another girl. She took an awkward blow from the other girl, has been having seizures since and is currently being assessed for 'mild' brain damage.

IMO it's just too dangerous and not worth it.

Yes. I think the harder physical nature of things like martial arts and boxing, to a lesser extent rugby, offer more than something like football.

I think finding a club that has quality coaches and a proven track record with kids is important.

@Dorothy Having a bout is completely different to training.

Sorry to hear about DH’s cousin.

Nope. No armed forces cadets either. Plenty of ways to get fit and disciplined without a context of violence.