You've made the decision to enroll your son or daughter in kickboxing. A great choice, of course, because you've probably heard or read everywhere how beneficial martial arts can be for children. Discipline, self-confidence, fitness, and much more!
Maybe your child has already taken a few trial lessons, or you're planning to do so at a few clubs. Usually, your children can borrow some equipment for the first few sessions, but that's usually not very hygienic or safe. The equipment is often already discarded, or completely the wrong size. Let's be honest: that's not a pleasant way to exercise.
Fortunately, kickboxing or Muay Thai (and most other combat sports and martial arts) aren't expensive, and the equipment doesn't have to break the bank. Especially if your child is just starting out, you can get started with relatively affordable equipment, which will at least be their own.
Most important: boxing gloves and shin guards
Actually, the two most important basic necessities for (children's) boxing gloves and shin guards are. However, it's also convenient to just buy a complete set, so your child has everything they need for lessons right away. This is often more affordable and even more fun if it matches, but that's more of an aesthetic than a functional thing.
Also needed: inner gloves, mouth guard and groin protector
Besides boxing gloves and shin guards, inner gloves or bandages, a mouthguard , and a groin guard are also useful and helpful items. If you want extra peace of mind about your child's safety, or perhaps it's required by your club, a head guard is also part of the full kit.
Clothing: kickboxing shorts and a sports shirt
There are usually no clothing requirements , but loose-fitting (short) sports shorts and a T-shirt or tank top are the most common kickboxing attire. Proper kickboxing shorts certainly make it more fun, and sometimes matching shirts are also included. Sometimes clubs have their own club clothing that's desirable or even required, but that's not always the case.
Kickboxing and Thai boxing are done barefoot, so shoes aren't necessary. That also saves you a lot of money.
And then you've pretty much covered the entire outfit. Of course, it's handy if your child can carry their belongings in a sports bag.
Complete kickboxing outfit for children:
- Children's boxing gloves
- Children's shin guards
- Inner gloves or bandages
- Mouthguard
- Cross protector
- Kickboxing shorts
- T-shirt
View in our webshop:
Collections >> Kickboxing >> Kickboxing sets for children
Optional for kickboxing for children:
- Head protector
- Sports bag
- Water bottle (drinking bottle)
- Towel
- Antibacterial spray to keep gloves fresh
The basic equipment for young children and older children is the same, although children who are older or have been training for longer may want to consider slightly better (more expensive) boxing gloves and shin guards.
Children's boxing gloves
Most children up to about 10 or 11 years old should start with faux leather or PU boxing gloves. If they're a bit older, train more often/harder, or simply prefer better materials for durability, you might consider leather boxing gloves.
Older children will start with 10 oz boxing gloves, and there's a much wider selection in the higher end than in the typical children's sizes 4 oz, 6 oz, and 8 oz. To determine the size you need, we've included a sizing chart for each children's boxing glove in our webshop, which you can follow to find the best fit.
Inner gloves or bandages
It's common to wear bandages under boxing gloves. These strengthen the hands, wrists, and fists, but also have the added benefit of absorbing some sweat. The bandages are washable, while the boxing gloves are not.
Be sure to check what the other children are wearing, as there's a good chance your child will want to wear it too (group behavior, which is understandable). However, putting on bandages is quite an art in itself for a child, so inner gloves are a much easier option.
Children's shin guards
For the youngest children, up to about 10 years old, we always recommend cotton shin guards. These can be stocking-style or ones with elastic closures.
If your child is older/taller, or has been training longer, then a firmer, pre-formed shin guard might be a better choice. These guards offer more protection and stay in place much better during intense training and sparring.
Mouthguard
Even if facial contact is not permitted, we always recommend wearing a mouthguard during partner exercises (especially sparring). A mouthguard isn't expensive (much less than a dentist appointment), and even the simplest one helps enormously. Punches can still accidentally hit the face (especially with children and beginners).
It's not even about the blows directly to the teeth, but about the teeth that can collide. These can quickly cause damage to the teeth when they collide.
Does your child wear braces? Then a special mouthguard is highly recommended. You can't use a regular mouthguard with braces, and you naturally want to protect your teeth, mouth, lips, and braces!
Groin protector
Both boys and girls have groin protectors (toks). These are mandatory for competitions, but usually not for training. A simple tok, however, doesn't cost much and protects against a lot of potential (severe) pain. A tok is never really comfortable, but a knee or kick in the groin is even worse!
Kickboxing shorts/Muay Thai shorts
It's usually not required, but kickboxing shorts or Thai boxing shorts do make it feel real for your child. And they'll need sports shorts for training anyway, so why not just get real kickboxing shorts?
We have plenty of options for kickboxing shorts for kids, and there's a lot more to the design than you might think. We've written a very detailed blog post about it.
T-shirt
A regular, loose-fitting T-shirt or sports top is often sufficient for kickboxing training. However, the training sessions are intense, so a special sports shirt (Drytech or Aerydry polyester) is recommended to prevent your child from exercising in a soaked shirt.
Head protector
Even though punches and kicks aimed at the head are prohibited during competitions for children under 18, head protection is always required in the ring. This isn't always the case during training, but it's often permitted. Ask your gym or coach about this, or simply check out what the other kids at the club are wearing.
Sports bag
Any sports bag is generally suitable if it can hold all your gear, plus a towel and water bottle. We have lots of great sports bags from martial arts brands in our webshop, including a large selection suitable for children.
Antibacterial spray to keep gloves fresh
If you've ever smelled someone else's boxing gloves, you know that a spray to keep them fresh is essential. The sprays in our Sukkiri, FreshKO, and Booster range work incredibly well and last for months with normal use.
More information and blogs:
- Symbolism, features and background of Muay Thai shorts
- Benefits of Kickboxing for Kids
- Where and why buy a kickboxing set?
- Which martial arts are most suitable for children?
- Martial Arts for kids: learning, laughing and yet a bit serious
- Why Martial Arts Are So Good For Kids
- Martial Arts Authority: No hitting the head under 18 years of age
VISIT FIGHT2WIN.NL
Visiting our store for advice? Click the link below. We always have plenty of children's kickboxing equipment in stock, and a knowledgeable staff member is always available.
Our showroom is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm.
