What age

[joepawson]

Hi im new, and i was just wondering what age is good to start thai boxing, because i am 13 and have just started.

[JIMI]

WOW that sounds great man!!!! i wish i had started when i was 13. i would think you could start when you start walking well, 2-3 i know for sure i will be teaching my son the second he gets his balance, but im pretty sure in thailand they start very young, i would think a minimum of 5 years old. just my 2cents

[DJ Coldfusion]

My son is 4(turns 5 this month) and I have already bought him a small "heavy bag" (25pnds) and Iam buying him equipment for his birthday and for Christmas.

If you have the discipline to practice, and use your skills in an appropriate manner, then in my opinbion you are old enough.

By the way, Jimi, who are you and how do you know Brian Y. in SLC?

If you were at Brian's last fight, I am his big FAT friend.

[crazyjoe380]

yea that's a great age.. but any age is good to start..

i started at 17 and i'm 26 now.. but i'm more into other arts..

you never forget muay thai no matter how long you are away from it ..it's like smimming or riding a bike..

[JIMI]

HEY DJ, i was there and i think i was standing right next to you. i have 3 X's on the back of my neck ( i know like vin diesel hahaha) but anyway if i remember i think that you have joined up with brian after the last time i was there. so i never met you formally. im with brandon's team in salt lake and we occasionally come up to visit. we might even come up this thursday so make sure your there. cya

[DJ Coldfusion]

I've known Brian for 8+ years now. I'm not sure where I'll be on Thursday.

[mushinmaster]

They start a lot younger in Thailand - just don't loose interest

[joepawson]

???

How young do they start in Thailand, i have heard it is as young as 4!!!

[mushinmaster]

i wouldn't doubt it, its their national sport

[Edge]

any age if there's interest

I have 3 children I began teaching one of 'em @ 5 the next I started @ 2 & our youngest started to stand up against a couch or chair & began diong side kicks @ 4 months of age. I praticed in front of her & still do so, she learned side kick by osmosis LOL. the 5 of us wrestle & the youngest punches, kicks & pinches her way out of "headlocks" she also & our other two practice on a kick pad every other day. The little one is 2 now & she likes to surf on the kick pad after kicking & puching it.
N-E way any age is good for begining self defense sport M/A or any sport as long as the child/ individual shows an interest & the parent/instructor keeps it fun yet teaches effective techniques & instills good form & responsibility with the skills being taught. 13 is a good age to begin.
Best of Luck ---Edge---

[holte2]

wish i was 13 again--go for it

they start as early as 5 in thailand...saw a show on discovery channel about it and they train all day(maybe not at 5 but at 12, at least according to this show)regardless of the weather or the occassion.

the show ended with an american who was in his late 20s fighting a 15yr old in thailand....the 15 yr old won by judges decision but he was just so much more amzaing than the older guy was....i dont know much about muay thai yet so that is just my opinion on the match....it also seeme dth 15 yr old was taking it very easy on him.

i also know that the younger you are that you body learns things a lot easier and can adapt to things better....

start now and stick with it and you will be the most amzing thing around in a few years

[seeker]

I am 16 and I started training this autumn.

[charong]

I learn muay thai when i was 4 and stop at 14.Now i'm 31 got back to it last year teaching kids on my block out of my garage.

[ryanhall]

about teaching early (kids)--not the origional poster

i would say that it really depends. i don't want to debate the effectiveness of one system/style versus another, but each has its own focuses. teaching thai would be great--it would teach power, coordination, speed, and a damn fine system of striking. start early because, as others pointed out, one learns at a much greater rate when they are young. maybe you should also teach some psychological aspects of real life combat as well--so that your child won't be resorting to violence when another option is present.

i would hold off, however, in teaching anything that has only "self defense" applications. there is a difference between hitting a bully with a fist, and finger jabbing him in the eye to give the opening for a real whoopin--schools don't look kindly at that sort of thing. at any rate, just make sure that the child knows when they can and can't use what they are learning, and that they will be responsible for their actions. you don't want to accidentally create a super bully.

to the original poster: go for it dude. it's never too early to start if you've got the commitment to stick with it.

[seeker]

I think, that when teaching martial arts to children, the instructor should remember that children are not miniature adults. The training can (and should) be physically and mentaly hard, but not too hard. It is natural to make mistakes and/or sometimes lack interest on training.