Beginner’s Guide To Boxing For Kids

With so many distractions, it’s never been more important to instill in children the importance of regular exercise in maintaining health and fitness. At the same time, most kids are likely to lose interest if their workout routine doesn’t include something fun.

Luckily, boxing for kids is both a great way of encouraging them to develop good exercise habits while also having fun and instilling in them a sense of confidence and focus. Besides, what kid wouldn’t enjoy a workout that lets them picture themselves as their favorite superhero, fighting off hordes of bad guys?

Now, with Quiet Punch, teaching your child how to box has never been easier. With its lightweight design, comfortable soft-foam pad, and adjustable height, the Quiet Punch doorway punching bag is perfect for kids. Additionally, its compact and portable size makes it easy to work out at home or on the go, while a built-in sensor provides accurate data about punching speed and strength.

If your child is interested in learning how to box, here are some helpful tips for how you can help them stay active in a fun, safe, supportive environment.

Boxing Tips for Kids and Their Parents

Safety First

Some parents might assume boxing for kids is too “rough,” but the truth is it’s no more physical or dangerous than any other sport, such as football, basketball, or baseball. And unlike those other activities, boxing is a form of exercise that can easily be done solo.

That said, like any form of exercise, it’s important to value safety above all else, especially when working with children. Younger kids (ages 7-11) should stick to shadowboxing and bag drills, and older kids (12+) should only spar with other kids their age while supervised and also while wearing proper pads and protective gear.

Before your child even gets that far, though, get an idea of their fitness level and spend some time conditioning them with stretches, jump rope, and other exercise to develop flexibility, agility, and cardiovascular endurance. Make sure to closely monitor them so that they stay hydrated and avoid overexertion.

Gearing Up

As mentioned above, anyone involved in boxing for kids will need sparring pads and protective gear to get started, as well as the Quiet Punch doorway punching bag to practice on. What other equipment should you consider buying, though?

Well, to help your child stay fit, you might want to get them basic exercise equipment, such as small, vinyl-coated dumbbells and resistance bands to help them build strength. We also recommend using a jump rope to help them work on their timing, coordination, and cardio.

Of course, the most important pieces of gear for anyone getting into boxing, regardless of age or experience, are handwraps and boxing gloves. Boxing puts a lot of wear on the hands, fingers, and wrists; without proper protection, strains, soreness, and injuries can occur. Gloves help muffle the impact of a punch and insulate your child’s hands, while wraps provide crucial support to the joints and bones.

The Basics

Boxing for kids is simultaneously a very simple and a very complex activity. There’s a lot of technique to learn, but once your child internalizes it, it will quickly become second nature to them. In fact, children are often uniquely receptive to learning the ins and outs of boxing due to their pliable minds and high energy levels.

Boxing basics can be broken down into five key areas: stances, footwork, punches, combos, and defense. Be willing to spend time teaching kids the finer points of each. Try breaking each movement down into smaller actions that they can tackle one at a time. For instance, you can demonstrate the proper boxing stance as a series of steps:

• Step 1: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, with the foot that corresponds to the dominant hand in the back (right handed = right foot back),
• Step 2: Line up lead toe with the rear heel, turn lead shoulder towards target
• Step 3: Distribute weight evenly across both legs, keep knees slightly bent
• Step 4: Elbows down, hands up.
• Step 5: Head behind gloves, chin down, eyes looking over fists.

Introduce Your Kids to Boxing with Quiet Punch

The benefits of boxing for kids are virtually limitless, encouraging everything from increased focus and heightened self-esteem to a general improvement in fitness and a more mindful approach to a child’s own body awareness. The greatest benefit of all might, though, might be the quality time shared by children and their parents.

Get Quiet Punch today to begin strengthening your child’s body and mind.