4 Reasons Martial Arts Are Bad for Kids (& What to Do About Them)

Much has been said and written about the benefits of martial arts training for kids. Martial arts teach kids self-defense skills. They also teach life lessons kids need to succeed, such as respect, self-discipline, perseverance, determination, and courage.

Advocates of kids martial arts rarely discuss the cons of such training. However, it’s known that there is a ying for every yang. Since the cons of kids martial arts training are hardly mentioned, many parents often question the sincerity of martial arts advocates. That is, people extolling the benefits of martial arts are often seen as telling only one side of the story.

Martial arts are often considered bad for children because they may give a false sense of security, they can be dangerous, children may use acquired skills wrongly, and classes can be expensive.

In this article, we’ll look at this other side of the story by outlining four reasons martial arts may be considered bad for kids.

This discussion will look deeper into these “reasons why martial arts are bad” and what you can do about them. It’ll reveal what you can do to minimize any negative effects of martial arts training. The goal is to help you make sure your children reap optimum benefits from their training.

Martial arts may give kids a false sense of security

The techniques of most martial arts programs are not very effective in real-world attacks. So, children taking martial arts lessons often get a false sense of security, believing they are safe when they are not. 

Martial arts are codified systems of combat taught primarily for self-defense. The arts promote themselves as teaching skills that allow children to protect themselves and their loved ones from trouble. 

For example, a kid with good BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) skills will easily take a larger opponent to the ground. Also, a kid with good boxing skills will outstrike an aggressor.

However, the techniques that most martial arts teach are ineffective in real-world attacks like kidnapping situations. Worse still, young martial artists may believe they can handle themselves in such situations. This will push them into deploying their martial arts skills in dangerous situations, thereby putting themselves in harm’s way.

What to do to prevent martial arts from giving kids a false sense of security

Know that martial arts do not teach children to stand up for a fight in every situation. Good martial arts instructors will also teach children soft skills that help in different real-world attack situations.

For example, programs consisting of situational and threat awareness, avoidance, de-escalation, and escape skills are perfect for personal protection. To prevent martial arts from giving kids a false sense of security, choose academies and programs that focus on these personal protection lessons.

Martial arts can be dangerous for kids

Many martial arts carry risks of injury, ranging from minor sprains to serious head injuries like concussions.

Martial arts involve risky movements. These include direct blows to the head, strikes to different parts of the body, repetitive head tests to the floor, and choking. These movements may result in injuries.

In a martial arts class, students use protective equipment like soft helmets, mouth guards, face guards, etc. However, injuries are inevitable. Studies show that injury rates vary from 41 to 133 injuries for every 1,000 martial artists. 

Most martial arts injuries are minor, like bruises and sprains. However, serious injuries like suffocation, concussion, and spine damage can also occur. 

What to do to prevent martial arts from being dangerous for kids

Some martial arts are inherently riskier than others in terms of getting injured. So, you can make the training safe for your kids by choosing safer martial arts like BJJ and Tae kwon do.

In terms of injury risk, martial arts are not different from traditional sports. The risk of injury is a reality in virtually every sport. However, some sports are riskier than others in terms of getting injured. For example, your children are less likely to get injured playing golf than skateboarding.

It’s the same with martial arts. Injuries are realities when learning martial arts. However, some martial arts are riskier than others in terms of injuries. You can significantly reduce the risk of injury by opting for relatively safer martial arts.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art with a low risk of injury. Unlike many other martial arts, BJJ does not include striking, punching, and kicking. Instead, it focuses on grappling and submission holds. Interestingly, BJJ movements still provide the physical and mental health benefits of martial arts practice.

That said, if injury risks are serious concerns for you, some martial arts that you should avoid are boxing, mixed martial arts (MMA), Muay Thai (Thai boxing), and Karate.

Kids may use their martial arts skills to harm other kids

The skills learned in martial art classes can be used to cause physical harm. So, parents often worry that learning martial arts will make their kids more violent.

Children practicing martial arts reap a lot of physical benefits. They boost physical fitness and improve motor skills, improving muscle strength, flexibility, and balance. Kids also learn different movements and maneuverability skills. These skills are invaluable not only for self-defense but also for attack.

Martial arts teach these skills for bully-preventing. However, bully-preventing can go both ways. Many kids will use the skills to defend themselves. However, kids with violent behavior may turn around to bully other students. That is, martial arts may make aggressive kids become more skillful fighters.

What to do to prevent young martial artists from using their skills to harm others 

Interestingly, small children become less violent as their martial arts skill level increases. Children do not simply learn fighting skills without “controls” to check them.

Martial arts emphasize self-control, discipline, mutual respect, and emotional regulation. Because of the emphasis on proper behavior, the chance of your kid using martial arts skills to harm others is more likely to reduce than increase.

Apart from emphasizing proper behavior, martial arts also provide a controlled environment to release pent-up emotions.

To prevent your kids from using martial arts to become skillful fighters, register with a dojo that is an environment of discipline.

Martial art classes can be expensive 

The cost of martial arts classes varies, depending on the martial art. However, costs can be as high as $350 a month for kids-friendly martial arts like BJJ and Tae Kwon Do. Thus, another disadvantage of martial arts for kids is the high cost of the training.

You will incur other costs in addition to the dojo’s service fees. Some of these costs include:

• Uniforms and mandatory equipment. Your kids will need student uniforms, safety equipment, etc.
• Testing fees. Testing for graduation to a new belt involves fees. These fees start from $50 and reach three figures.
• Transportation fees. Kids earning martial arts attend several classes. If you live far from the martial art academy, the cost of constantly moving from your home to the academy can quickly become substantial. 

What to do to make martial arts classes for your kids more accessible financially

While martial arts education for your kids can be expensive, you can take several steps to reduce the training costs. 

First and foremost, cost should not be the utmost consideration when deciding for or against martial arts for your kids.

In terms of training costs, you should see martial arts the same way as an education. Considering the many benefits of education, it is unwise to decide against it because of its cost.

In the same vein, given the many positive effects of martial arts for kids, don’t rule it out because of the cost of the training. Know that martial arts teach confidence, self-esteem, discipline, and other life lessons which cannot be quantified in monetary terms. 

That said, instead of saying “no” to martial arts because of the high training costs, you can take several steps to reduce the costs for yourself.

• Find more affordably-priced academies.
• Find academies that include testing fees in their periodic training charges.
• If possible, find academies that are closer to your home.

Takeaway: Martial arts pros outweigh the cons

Martial arts are systems of combat primarily taught for self-defense purposes. However, martial arts can transform a child’s life, as they also teach vital lessons like respect, self-control, self-esteem, confidence, etc.

While most parents readily approve of martial arts for their children, other parents are reluctant because of a few perceived disadvantages of martial arts lessons for kids. However, these disadvantages are not significant enough to outweigh the benefits of martial arts for kids. In any case, you can take several steps to minimize the effects of these disadvantages.

• One perceived disadvantage is that martial arts may give kids a false sense of security. You can prevent this by registering for programs that incorporate awareness, avoidance, de-escalation, and escape skills.
• Another perceived disadvantage is that martial arts can be dangerous for kids. However, you can reduce injury risks by choosing relatively safe martial arts like BJJ.
• Another perceived disadvantage is that children may use acquired martial arts skills to harm others. You can prevent this by choosing academies that emphasize discipline and proper behavior.
• Another perceived disadvantage is that training costs are expensive. Instead of ruling martial arts out completely, look for affordably priced martial art academies.

Training Grounds Jiu-Jitsu & MMA, in Bergen County, NJ, is a martial arts academy that ticks all the right boxes. It teaches personal protection skills, offers kids-friendly martial arts, emphasizes discipline, and is affordably-priced.

Want your children to reach their full potential? Our martial art programs can help. Find out how your child can start training today!