You have made the decision and decided to enroll your son or daughter in kickboxing. An excellent choice, of course, because you will have heard or read everywhere how beneficial martial arts can be for children. Discipline, self-confidence, fitness, and much more!
Perhaps your child has already attended a few trial lessons, or you are planning to do so at a few clubs. Usually, your children can borrow some equipment for the first few sessions, but that is generally not very hygienic or particularly safe. The equipment is often already worn out or definitely not the right size. Honestly, that is not a pleasant way to train.
Fortunately, kickboxing or thai boxing (and most other combat sports and martial arts) is not an expensive sport, and the equipment does not have to cost a fortune. Especially when your child is just starting out, you can simply get relatively affordable equipment that is at least pleasantly their own.
Most important: boxing gloves and shin guards
The two most important basic items are really (children's) boxing gloves and shin guards. However, it is also useful to buy a complete set, so your child immediately has everything needed for the lesson. This is often more affordable too, and it is nice when everything matches, although that is really more aesthetic than functional.
Also needed: inner gloves, mouthguard and cup
In addition to boxing gloves and shin guards, inner gloves or handwraps, a mouthguard (gum shield), and a cup (groinguard) are useful and comfortable to have. If you want to feel a little more reassured about your child's safety, or if it is required by the club, a headgear should also be part of the complete equipment.
Clothing: kickboxing shorts and a sports shirt
For Clothing there are usually no requirements, but loose-fitting (short) sports shorts and a T-shirt or top are the most common items of clothing for kickboxing. A real pair of kickboxing shorts naturally makes it more fun, and sometimes matching shirts are available too. Some clubs also have their own club clothing that is recommended or even required, but that is certainly not always the case.
Kickboxing and Thai boxing are practiced barefoot, so shoes are not necessary. That also saves your wallet a considerable amount.
And that basically covers the complete outfit. Of course, it is useful if your child can carry the equipment in a sports bag.
Complete kickboxing outfit for children:
- Kids boxing gloves
- Kids shin guards
- Inner gloves or handwraps
- Mouthguard (gum shield)
- Groinguard
- Kickboxing shorts
- T-shirt
View in our online store:
Collections >> Kickboxing >> Kickboxing sets for children
Optional for kickboxing for kids:
- Headgear
- Gymbag
- Water bottle
- Towel
- Antibacterial spray to keep gloves fresh
The basic necessities for young and older children are the same, although older children or those who have been training longer may prefer to choose somewhat better (more expensive) boxing gloves and shin guards.
Kids boxing gloves
Most children up to around 10 or 11 years old are best off simply starting with synthetic leather or PU boxing gloves. If they are a little older, train more often or harder, or you simply prefer to buy better-quality materials for greater durability, you can consider leather boxing gloves.
Older children will start with 10 oz boxing gloves, and there is also much more choice in the higher-end range than with the actual children’s sizes of 4 oz, 6 oz, and 8 oz. For the size you need, we have added a size chart to every Kids boxing gloves product in our webshop, which you should follow.
Inner gloves or handwraps
It is customary to wear handwraps under boxing gloves. They reinforce the hands, wrists, and fists, while also offering the major added benefit of absorbing some of the sweat. You can wash the handwraps, but not the boxing gloves.
Above all, look at what the other children are wearing, because there’s a good chance your child will want the same thing (group behavior, which is perfectly understandable). However, putting on handwraps is quite an art in itself for a child, so inner gloves are a much simpler choice.
Kids shin guards
For the youngest children up to around 10 years old, we would always recommend cotton shin guards. These can be a sock-style model or a model with elastic closures.
If your child is older/larger or has been training for longer, their harder, pre-shaped shin guards are a better choice. These shin guards provide more protection and also stay in place much better during intensive training and sparring.
Mouthguard/tooth protector
Even when contact to the face is not allowed, we always recommend wearing a mouthguard during partner drills (and especially while sparring). A mouthguard doesn’t cost much (far less than a dentist’s appointment), and even the simplest mouthguard helps tremendously. Punches can still accidentally hit the face, especially with children and beginners.
It’s not even about the blows directly hitting the teeth, but about the teeth being able to collide with each other. This can quickly cause damage to the teeth when they knock together.
Does your child wear braces? Then a special mouthguard for braces is highly recommended. You cannot use a regular mouthguard with braces, and naturally you want to properly protect your teeth, mouth, lips, and braces!
Cup/Groinguard
There are groinguards (cups) for both boys and girls. They are mandatory in competitions, but usually not during training. However, a simple Cup does not cost much and protects against a great deal of potentially serious pain. A Cup is never really comfortable, but a knee or kick to the groin is even less so!
Kickboxing shorts/Muay Thai shorts
It is usually not mandatory, but kickboxing shorts or thai boxing shorts make it feel truly authentic for your child. They need sports shorts for training anyway, so why not simply get real kickboxing shorts?
We have plenty of choice when it comes to kickboxing shorts for children, and there is much more behind the design of the shorts than you might think. We have written a very comprehensive blog about it.
T-shirt
A regular loose-fitting T-shirt or sports top is often sufficient for kickboxing training. However, the training sessions are intensive, so a special sports shirt (drytech or aerydry polyester) is recommended to prevent your child from exercising in a soaking-wet shirt.
Headgear
Although strikes to the head are not allowed in competitions until age 18, headgear is always mandatory in the ring. This is not always the case during training, although it is often permitted. Ask the gym and/or trainer about this, or simply see what the other children at the club wear.
Gymbag
Basically, any gymbag is suitable as long as all your equipment fits in it, along with a towel and water bottle. We have lots of great gymbags from martial arts brands in our webshop, including many that are suitable for children.
Antibacterial spray to keep gloves fresh
If you have ever smelled someone else’s boxing gloves, you know that a spray to keep them fresh is no unnecessary luxury. The sprays from Sukkiri, FreshKO, and Booster work extremely well and also last for months with normal use.
More information and blogs:
- Symbolism, characteristics, 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 children: learning, laughing, and still taking it a little seriously
- Why martial arts are so good for children
- Martial Arts Authority: No strikes to the head until age 18
VISIT FIGHT2WIN.NL
Would you like to visit our store for advice? Click the link below. We always have plenty of kickboxing equipment for children in stock, and there is always an expert staff member available.
Our showroom is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
