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?

I'm trying to think of anything DS ever did in cadets that could pass for violence.

Contact Rugby, I guess. Bit of shouting from the new corporals, I suppose. They seem to enjoy that.

Plenty of ways to get fit and disciplined without a context of violence

Actually I've just remembered that i did a boxing fitness course a few years ago, I think it's bonkers to suggest that it had a context of violence, it was a group of women improving their physical and mental health in a safe and supportive enviroment.

Yeah, like I said, it's the context. Armed forces.

Plus, yes, rubgy is definitely violent and shouting is a bit shit.

Jesus does no one understand the word "context"?

Has he considered martial arts? DS has been doing this for about 8 years now and it’s a brilliant way to keep fit and active and he’s not ever been hurt (he has been stomped playing football and had injuries on the pitch!)

I suppose we mustn't be as intelligent as you arnoldillo, maybe taken too many blows to the head.

@MuttsNutts, she'd been in a boxing club for a while, so didn't just go from nothing at all straight into it. She was due to get married this year but they've had to put the wedding on hold now.

Probably. Or maybe boxing makes you create arguments with people when you don't understand what they've said.

Yes, I did boxing as a child right through to my late 20s. I loved it, the fitness aspect, the disciple, gave me lots of self confidence too.
It will be a while before he spars anyway but he doesn't have to spar, lots of girls and boys who were in my club back in the day didn't spar.

my 11 year old has been boxing since he was 5 and he loves it. he wasn’t allowed to spar until he turned 11 though. it’s been great for boosting his confidence and keeping him fit.

My 11 year old does boxing, non contact though more of a boxing fitness class with punch bags and techniques. I've done cardio kickboxing and similar classes for years and recently started a women's boxing fitness class. They are the hardest classes I've ever done and are unbelievable for fitness, DS is fit but even he couldn't believe how hard it was. Wouldn't let him do actual boxing though at this age, he couldn't anyway as he's getting braces soon. Boxing gyms stink though 😷

Ds13 has been boxing for a year. He did taster classes at school and apparently had a talent so they asked him to join. He’s much more controlled, and less angry than a year ago. He’s not generally sporty, and it’s helped him to find something he’s “good at”. It’s also helped him make friends, which he struggled with before. He goes 3 times a week and stays behind for an hour/ hour and a half to use the gym or go for a run too. It’s good to see him off the PS4 and enjoying/ committing to something.

Ds has trained in MMA since he was 4, he is now 9..
Initially I hated the idea, took me a year to get my head around it and often had to walk out of sessions crying because it was too much.

Now I think it has done ds a world of good, not only does he train 3x a week so his fitness levels are high, it teaches him discipline and self defence (which frankly in this day and age we need)

He has been commended at school for his fairness, and has been in situations where he could of used his skills but always uses his words/lets a teacher resolve issues as he has been taught before he takes into his own hands.
He is has never had to, I pray he doesn't but if he was corned by a group of bigger kids I know he would be ok.

No, the risk of brain damage is too high. Even rugby is too dangerous - our neighbour’s son broke his neck playing rugby and had to have two vertebrae fused together followed by months being immobilised in a neck brace and drinking through a straw.

No, my sone employer wanted my son to box for his company I refused to allow it