When is the proper age to start a child boxing...Help please.

[southakron314]

Please help me. I have a 5 year old son who can easily lift double his body weight and carry around the kitchen a couple steps. I should post a picture of this kid's upper torso. His back has a taper. He has pecs allready. He is 5.5. He will be 6 in december. I started boxing around 8. I thaught that was o.k. Is 5.5 too young.

[Trainer Monkey]

I started around 8 as well,but honestly,if he watches you train,kids scrap,at least get the kid a modicum of control,because trust me,he will "Monkey See,Monkey Do"

[Scrap]

Pscyhodinamicly 14 is the age and pshsically the same age.

[Sharla]

Just out of curiosity Scrap would the optimum age be younger or older for a girl?

[Scrap]

younger just i think

[Sharla]

Interesting thanks Scrap

[Chris Nagel]

It all depends, makes me recall a post I read on here, hold on-- here it is:

Several years ago I trained a 4yr old that had an incredible natural affinity and aptitude for boxing. His appetite was voracious, his attention span that of a 4yr old, plus he was a bit of a know it all. The trick was to get him to believe that something new was his idea and to make sure it worked and he'd have it for good.
Later I trained a 6yr old who was only there because his granfather made him be there. He had no interest and thus we had no basis for communication so we ended up playing games until quitting time. Perhaps a few years later perhaps not. The sport isn't for everyone.
I think Thomas is correct in highlighting the work and so on involved in boxing. I found it worked well to make it a game that you had to practice very very hard in order to play well. The most progress I made was after "training" when I'd get on my knees and let the 4yr old take his shots. If he was just winging and playing I'd not let him hit me. But if he used his jab and moved aroundand threw "combinations" I'd let him clip me a few.
Its worth keeping in mind that at 5 he hasn't a fight scheduled. Its just a game and all in fun; if that's his interest let it be that. If he wants morego with it but never push it beyond his willingness to play along. Too young to learn about drudgery.

I'd agree that it's too young to go through the grind, if their interest is there you can just have fun with it. Show them how to make a fist, play a little game of catching their punches. If there's no fun in it then you're going to get no where with it and if pushed to fast they'll burn right out along with their interest. Just live and let live and don't let your expectations and desires get in the way of being a good loving parent.

[Scrap]

Thething is the childs bone structure and mental aptitude are not in alinement what you dont need at that age is something to stop natural developement of the skeleton with all the implications. You dont take a big dog under the age of 2 running unless you want a dog with bad hips later in life the same theory applies to kids under the age of 14. adog of 1Year is 7 to us as humans hope you understand its 5.30 cant sleep.

[Chris Nagel]

I can't sleep either Scrap.

I agree with that, a little kid isn't ready for it, forcing it is just going to make things terrible for the both of you. You can still have fun with the idea a little if you want, let them play punches on your hands and don't put boxing on them until they've matured both physically and mentally.

[CaNcer]

wat about mayweather, he's been throwin punches supposedly since he was in his crib?

[Chris Nagel]

Imagine what it would have been like if as a kid he wasn't interested in boxing at all.

[LUCKY_13]

My son is 10 months old.
I plan to put him in Football (Soccer) when he is 3 years old.
Body-weight training (pushups, situps, squats etc) when he is 5.
Boxing when he is 7.
And weight training when he is 12.

[Chris Nagel]

Hey Lucky I'm just curious why you choose that name? When I think about it I imagine Rocky Marciano after he kayos Walcott in the 13th round holding up a sign that reads "Lucky 13." What's your story?

[LUCKY_13]

Haha weird story.

I got um...bashed up pretty good when I was 16, by two guys in their mid-20's. I was hospitalised and placed on life support because my lungs were failing. Yeah I survived the ordeal and family and stuff constantly reminded me, 'Well ya lucky ya didn't die!"
Haha so I nicknamed myself that.

The 13....its the number of my favourite soccer player, Michael Ballack. Haha

[Sharla]

People who gang up on people - especially those weaker than them are such cowards. Did that compel you to take up boxing?

My brother wash bashed in his late teens by a mob - not too badly hurt luckily but since then he's got into judo and grown into a 6 foot 4 man - now he doesn't run! He actually prefers to be backed into a corner where he can take them one at a time and dislocate as many joints as possible -

I do think it's only a matter of time before guys like the ones who bashed you run into someone who hurts them. Someone like you or my brother who already know what they're about and what to do.