A logical question many people ask, but one that is actually impossible to answer with a simple answer, is: "What is the best martial art for children?". If you narrow the question down a bit to: "What is the best martial art for MY child?", then you could expect a bit more of an answer, but even then there is no clear and honest answer possible.
With over 30 years of experience in various martial arts and martial arts, and moreover more than average interest in martial arts in general, I will still try to answer this question substantively.
Choose a sport and club that fits your child
In our store, we also get adult men and women visiting who ask what the best kickboxing club or boxing association nearby is. There is no simple and clear answer to that either. The advice we always give is: visit several gyms, take some trial lessons, and then choose what suits YOU best.
Any martial art they like. Unless you find the 100 worst schools, your children will always get through and learn something from it.
The same applies to choosing a (martial) sport for children. Ultimately, it’s not just about the physical activity and the skills learned, but also that your child enjoys going there. That doesn’t mean: "Let him/her only do what’s fun.", on the contrary. But just like with work, school, and many other things, it ultimately goes much better if you enjoy it and have genuine interest.
Almost all martial arts are suitable for children
You can also turn the question around very well: "Which martial art is not suitable for children?". Then much less remains, because one way or another, it is almost always positive to bring your child to a martial arts school.
He or she will definitely gain a lot of skills that will stay with them throughout their life and come in handy. Whether it’s judo or kickboxing, krav maga or taekwondo.
Find the right club and instructor (M/F)
A more important question is to find the right gym/club and instructor for your child (or yourself). Some people like spinach and others like bananas.
What we will always say is that one person feels comfortable at gym A and another at gym B. And that is more than fine!
The instructor is the most important factor in your choice!
However, be critical when choosing a gym for your child. It is not a daycare, and they are there to learn something, not just to spend time. Fun is nice, but it is and remains not the main focus. A good trainer will know how to combine teaching skills with discipline and a safe and pleasant environment.
Your child's age plays an important role
Your child's age also plays a big role, because although I am a fan of stand-up disciplines like boxing, kickboxing, karate, and taekwondo, I think that (young) children, from about 4 years old, benefit most from sports where ground fighting or grappling also plays an important role: judo, wrestling, and grappling.
Children from about 6 years old can do traditional martial arts like Karate and Taekwondo well, but be aware that many of these martial arts were not originally intended as sports for children.
That only happened later (with the introduction, commercialization, and popularization in the West). These martial arts will teach your child a lot of discipline, social skills, and perseverance. That is a huge plus and reason enough to enroll your child in such a gym or club.
Motor phase of children and martial arts
The previously mentioned martial arts very often have traditional forms, such as Kata (in Japanese martial arts like Karate-do) and Tuls/Poomsae (in Taekwondo). These are impressive, difficult, and beautiful patterns that teach a series of movements in order.
However, the patterns and kata have too often become a goal in themselves. The goal was to learn techniques, and the sequence was a didactic tool. This tool has sometimes become the goal, which actually misses the point.
I once heard a Karate master say: "Learn the kata, forget the kata..."
These patterns are indeed useful and valuable, but young children have something like a "(pre-)motor phase." This makes it very difficult for some children to remember and perform them well.
This motor phase is different for each child and can last until they are 6 or 7 years old, but also somewhat earlier or later. These patterns are often required for the next milestone: an exam, diploma, or new belt color.
Accept that one child learns faster than another and definitely do not consider that diploma or belt as a goal in itself!
Krav Maga: gross motor skills
The (fine) motor skills required in many martial arts also differ depending on the martial art, combat sport, or self-defense form. Krav Maga, for example, clearly has as its main principle: "in an emergency, one automatically reverts to gross motor skills."
The idea behind this is that people in stressful and threatening situations revert to "natural" behavior. Fine motor skills are bypassed and survival mode takes over. This is an important fundamental principle, which in my opinion makes Krav Maga very suitable if the goal is purely to become more resilient and confident.
Krav Maga is suitable for all ages, but we would advise waiting until your child is at least 6 or 7 years old.
Look for a more well-known and popular martial art or combat sport
Personally, I also believe in competition and the law of large numbers. When choosing a martial art for yourself or your child, I think this really matters. There may be very good exotic gyms for children, but the chance is greater that there is a good karate club, boxing school, or judo association nearby than one that teaches Pencak Silat or an eccentric kung-fu style.
It is advisable to take a trial lesson to discover which sport best suits your child's interests and character.
Wherever you live, nowadays there are certainly clubs and associations nearby that offer the most popular sports for children (and adults): kickboxing, judo, karate, krav maga, and taekwondo.
In addition, in recent years, MMA (and the UFC) have also greatly boosted wrestling, BJJ, and grappling. In a positive way, meaning there is much more (and better quality) available.
Summary
Concluding and summarizing the above introduction, we can actually give a few answers:
- At a young age, the specific martial art does not matter. Choose the gym that is affordable, easy to reach, and where the instructor gives you a good feeling.
- Any martial art they enjoy. Unless you really find the 100 worst schools, your children will always get through and also learn something from it.
- It is advisable to take a trial lesson to discover which sport best suits your child's interests and character.
- The instructor is the most important factor in your choice!
Importance and rise of ground fighting
I have personally practiced Karate (Wado Ryu), boxing, kickboxing, and ITF Taekwon-do. When I was a teenager, the first UFCs were organized and the legendary Fred Royers still wrote for the budo magazine Zendokan. Downloading or streaming was not an option, so wherever I could, I tried to find the video tapes of UFC 1, 2, and 3.
The world was shocked by what many practitioners of those styles already knew: ground fighting and the associated techniques should not be underestimated! Judo had been popular for years but seemed soft compared to the harder styles that emerged, such as Thai boxing and kickboxing. However, the world suddenly saw the effectiveness of judo, wrestling, and jiu-jitsu (BJJ). We are now several decades further, and the best fighters are trained in multiple fighting styles and ranges.
Judo and wrestling are an excellent foundation for children
This is an article in itself, so we will not go further into the most effective fighting style ever, as this was about suitable martial arts for children. However, we can conclude from the two paragraphs above and say with certainty that it is enormously good for your child to start with a "ground" martial art like judo and wrestling. The best approach is to combine these fighting styles with standing martial arts like boxing and kickboxing or traditional martial arts like Karate or Taekwon-do.
Supporters of grappling and wrestling will argue the text below, and there is actually a lot to be said for it!
"Children should actually start with a wrestling art. Young children are usually not mature enough to know when to hold back from hitting and can get into trouble at school if they start hitting or kicking other children."
A bit of a cliché, but I want to add that this obviously also applies to sports like grappling, judo, and wrestling. Throwing another child onto their back would also not be appreciated at school.
In the years I have trained or taught at various gyms, I have been impressed by the professionalism of judo compared to many other fighting styles.
Most judo instructors have undergone thorough training, and the relatively large federation (JBN) provides the necessary knowledge regarding pedagogy and didactics. Fortunately, Taekwondo also had organized teacher training, and kickboxing has experienced many developments in this area in recent years.
Traditional martial arts vs. more modern hard styles
I have practiced and taught various martial arts and am a great enthusiast of the philosophy behind many traditional martial arts. Generally, there is a lot of respect present, and etiquette and discipline are highly valued. Additionally, I have always felt that traditional martial arts place more emphasis on technique and execution.
That said, it is fantastic if you can later incorporate this technique into "harder" fighting styles where more is allowed: kickboxing, thai boxing, and even MMA. George St. Pierre (one of the best, perhaps the greatest UFC fighter ever) also had a base and background in a traditional martial art: Karate.
In short, especially for children, I am in favor of introducing them to traditional martial arts if you have that opportunity nearby. As they get older, let them get acquainted with boxing, kickboxing, and MMA.
Karate, Judo, Taekwondo.
Karate, Judo, Taekwondo offer discipline and generally integrity. At a young age, they also provide good fighting skills to resist bullies. A good instructor and gym will always pay attention to this.
An argument found on Reddit: "I attend a karate school, but we also teach children practical self-defense alongside the curriculum (a kick to the groin and run away, that kind of thing). Personally, I find that much more important for a 7-year-old than any flashy 'art' wrestling. We also teach them 'power for good' – don’t bully other children, use your karate only for good things, etc."
Popular and suitable combat sports for children summarized briefly:
-
Judo
Judo is ideal for (very) young children to provide a challenge. Judo is a complete training for body and mind. Children learn balance, coordination, discipline, respect, and perseverance. -
Karate
Karate is suitable for slightly older children due to muscle development and concentration. It is a martial art where maintaining balance and coordinating movements are very important. -
Krav Maga
Krav Maga focuses on practical self-defense, recognizing danger, and avoiding bullying. It increases alertness, self-confidence, and resilience in children. If your child is struggling with bullying or you simply want them to become more resilient, Krav Maga is definitely the number one choice! -
Taekwon-do
Taekwondo is very comparable to Karate (yes, don’t let the founder hear that) and is a traditional yet modern martial art that is very good for physical development and discipline. It is also a very intensive and broad combat sport with many different facets. -
Kickboxing/Thai boxing
Kickboxing is probably currently the Netherlands' most popular combat sport. Although kickboxing used to have a rough (sometimes a bit shady) image, today it can be practiced in almost every city and village. Even the largest mainstream fitness chains almost all offer kickboxing classes. It is very suitable for all children and a fun and active sport that is good for both fitness and self-defense. -
BJJ
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is related to the Japanese variant, which is closely related to the popular and well-known Judo. This sport focuses on technique and strategy and curbs aggression. It helps children develop technical and mental skills alongside physical strength. BJJ involves a lot of so-called "ground fighting."
Why martial arts and combat sports are good for children
Whatever martial art or combat sport you ultimately choose, your child will greatly benefit in their development and gain (social and physical) skills that will serve them well. Additionally, there is a good chance your child will also make some nice social contacts.
Some of the most obvious benefits that (combat) sports offer children:
-
Physical development:
Your child becomes stronger, fitter, more flexible, and develops better coordination. -
Mental skills:
Your child learns discipline, concentration, perseverance, and self-control. -
Self-confidence:
Your child will become more resilient and confident and learn to handle difficult situations. -
Social skills:
Martial arts and combat sports always promote mutual respect and the ability to deal with other children (through training and exercises).
External sources:
- Reddit: Best martial art for young kids
- Reddit: What is the most suitable martial art to get my kids into?
- Knowledge base sports & exercise - Motor development of 0-6 year olds
- All about sports - Is martial arts a good idea for your child?
More information:
- Info: Kickboxing clubs in the Netherlands
- Info: Boxing clubs in the Netherlands
- Blog: More background on martial arts and combat sports
- Blog: Martial Arts for children: learning, laughing, and still a bit serious
- Blog: Why martial arts are so good for children
- Blog: Benefits of kickboxing for kids
- Krav Maga Union - Your fighting journey starts here
See everything for children in our webshop:
Collections >> Children
