Martial arts are trained by kids in Brisbane and Logan for a number of different reasons. Confidence, self-discipline, respect, learning non-violent ways to resolve conflict, being aware, being a leader, boosting social skills and promoting an all-round fit and healthy lifestyle are just some of the many reasons.
Muay Thai, in particular, is a perfect way to develop these skills, and there is no reason to wait until 18 years old to start. At The Fight Centre – Brisbane we run classes for children starting at prep, as we believe every child has the right to walk around the schoolyard with confidence and shouldn’t have to worry about being bullied.
Many people have a preconceived idea about what a Muay Thai gym is like and don’t want to have their kids involved in it. Thankfully, the days of thuggery involved in martial arts gyms is very much a thing of the past. At our gym, we try our hardest to make a strong point during our kids’ Muay Thai classes that violence is not the solution to the conflict, and the skills they are learning are to be used at training and only to defend themselves.
With obesity becoming more of a problem in Logan and Brisbane, it has become important for kids to become more involved in physical activities. Boxing/ kickboxing / Muay Thai are perfect forms of fitness to keep a child or young adult interested in exercise, as it allows them to challenge themselves physically and mentally, with some more advanced techniques requiring concentration and coordination. Enrolling inactive children in Muay Thai will not only help to break an inactive lifestyle but also give them an enjoyable activity that they can work hard at whilst trying to achieve a higher ranking in the Prajioud (armband) system, which works similar to the Karate belt system.
Not only is the activity of performing martial arts a perfect way for kids to stay fit, but it also encourages a healthy lifestyle. Muay Thai teaches them to be disciplined and to respect their body. It teaches them to work hard in order to achieve their goals, just as our adult fighters have to do when they are preparing for a fight. It shows them that sometimes when they’re tired and feel like quitting, they can dig a little deeper to find a little extra from somewhere to allow them to keep working toward success.
Every parent’s worst nightmare is their child being bullied at school. One of the main targets bullies go for is other kids with low self-confidence. Our kids’ confidence comes from the knowledge that they can look after themselves. It’s a great way for them to be able to relax in the playground and enjoy themselves more around other kids knowing that an altercation is not an issue.
Our classes are not about breaking our students down to make them amazing fighters. In fact, we don’t have any preference whether or not they ever step inside the ring. The kids’ classes are about giving them tools that will make their school and social lives easier, and not giving our gym a reputation for creating small warriors. We would rather see them happy and confident than see them be a champion fighter because their coach or parent wanted it.
