Quote Originally Posted by CFH View Post
I am making this thread because I am interested in getting my nephew involved in boxing (or any other sport/combat sport he shows interest in). He's 5 years old and already seems to be an angry child. His parents split up after his father hit his mother in front of him (she was trying to stop that fuckers from hitting Saleem - my newphew), and being raised by a poor single mother who has to work quite a bit to support her two kids obviously isn't going to help anything. His mom has also had trouble with drugs in the past and I worry that if these problems return - hopefully they won't - he could be fast-tracked to a very unpleasant adolescence. I'd like to spare him from some of the same problems I had growing up.

I figured boxing would be a decent avenue for him as I know a (very) small amount about it and I have access to a wealth of information courtesy of this site. It also seems historically to have been a haven for kids in situations similar to his.

I'm just wondering how I would go about exposing him to the sport and introducing him to the basics. Though I've never personally seen it, I assume some boxing gyms would have classes aimed at children, but is it as simple as signing him up and taking him to a class? I'm working and going to school right now, so it's not like I have a ton of time to devote to these sorts of things...

Anyways, I guess I'm just looking for some advice regarding this situation. Thanks for reading this.
Well i started boxing quite a few years ago, and i see little kids at my gym, i used to go to. And to be honest the kids there looked forced by there parents. I used to see and listen to the parents and i didn't like it IMO, they were too young to really know what they wanted.

I don't think letting a kid join a boxing gym at 5 is right to be honest, because even though you might not think it. Your actually forcing him into it without the kid knowing what he really wants yet.

I'd say wait until he's a bit older, and get yourself some pads or maybe a heavybag or a speedbag if you have room. And maybe let him watch some fights. And if he likes it then by all means let him go and see how he fares.

Be careful of what gyms you go to though, because some trainers are real jerks and let kids do sparring when there not ready. And they let him get hurt, so give it a few weeks trial and see what its like.