After Christmas my 8 year old grandson wants to learn how to box..

So..in this ever growing violent world i want take him Boxing. I believe in never forcing a child to do anything they never want to do. I love the art of fighting. It still never stopped me getting bullied even though i learned to slip and punch pretty hard with both hands. But RL violence by kids my own age back then terrified me. I love encouraging my children and grandchildren to do the things they desire so iam taking my 8 year old grandson. If he doesnt like it then it stops. Im kind of hoping he does though because being bullied is a terrifying ordeal. I think being forced to fight made me a "coward" back before i was a teenager. I lived in a very rough council estate and often got a punch in the face but, LOVED after a few years, going for it with gloves. It made me quick, strong and accurate and the lil dude who bullied me and made me afraid to go out to play in 1976 felt what it was like himself when we both turned 16. I just hate bullies and id encourage any parent whos child wants to learn a combat sport to hang with them, because guns and other 'cowardly ways to beat a person aside" its only your fists head and legs that will help protect you and get you away from a situation. Ive been in a few. I could look after myself OK but i think (today especially) learning from young age if desired will help anyone who learns the ability to block blows and counter and learning to wrestle too equates to where fights go. Fists or wrestle or both. Unless you got shot 😆 but its very unusual. But in much more common unharmed situations it is important for anyone who may face attacks that happen, and 90% do somewhere in life. We all could imaging a situation doing some combos on someone, but in the real world it doesnt work unless you know how a fight feels or have been hit.. theres genuinely only 1 way to condition/protect your face body and head. Boxing can be taught in many styles and elusive counter puches usually work. Hit and not be hit if atracked. I think its good if he wants it. He.ll only be hitting mitts and little bags at his age anyway. He wont be fighting. Just learning a very possible and useful tool for any event that in life"almost certainly may and do occur that he can get away safely from it. Or a better chance atleast, which is why im not hesitating to take my lil 8 year old GS to train if he likes it. Time will tell. Theres no pressure on him. But yes, if he does then the earlier the better. 99% of times people who can fight dont or dont want to. But theres always the odd trouble maker that you.ll encounterat some point. The point of this post is to ask would you take your kids/grandkids/nieces/nephews to do such a thing? I just fear the ugliness in this world brewing up. Even a punch and run tactic will do. But if you cant fight (and theres nothing wrong with that) you do usually end up being someones prey. And they are usually very cowardly types who repeat the ugly process if you dont or cannot stand up for yourself. It can be a tough deal in life to be on the receiving end.
And I have. Millions have also.... So

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Punxi · F

I have a niece.

Personally, I've been training Muay Thai for 8 months. Initially sought it in order to find some fitness that didn't bore the hell outta me.

Then...it's spiritual principles took hold. The discipline....the dedication it requires.

Then...in a ring I discovered fight love.

It's altered my confidence 100%. In or outside of it.

Grants me peace.

I'd recommend to her....any female.

Perry1968 · M

@Punxi Brilliant. And i find most people who can fight are normally the very last types to cause trouble in public. Good for you. Fighting was once a mans sport so its great to see women getting into it. And like you say it started as a fitness thing. But once you learn technique you want to test that with someone as good and preferably a little better than yourself. Thats how goid solid experience is gained. Really happy you found something you like that will 100% have the possibility to protect you in the real world. Most guys without fighting experience would get chucked around like a wet tea towel if they were to try anything dodgy. Which imo is yet another advantage of knowing how to fight.

LadyGrace ·

This is just my personal opinion, but I would not have him train as a boxer. All that beating to the head is not good. It's pretty brutal. And I know one can get hit in the head in other sports, too, but I believe this is too much for any human brain to sustain without serious consequences. Our cranium was not meant to be boxed around like that. Eventually, it has to take a toll. I believe I would have him trained in karate and work his way up to a black belt. That should be plenty enough to defend himself.

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LadyGrace ·

@Perry1968 it doesn't sound cringy at all. In fact it really touched my heart. Thank you.

Perry1968 · M

@LadyGrace @LadyGrace Im sorry. That just made me cry. I had to take half a hour out. Can i just try to give you my own analogy of pain. For decades you have carried a very very large rock on your shoulders. Get out your hammer and chisel and chip away at it until your last days. We cannot carry very large rocks placed upon our shoulders. What we can do though is carry a stone. This is a way of thinking i carry and it helps. Your journey has been sad and terrible. Your husband really hurt you because the dysfunction he experienced he never tried to change. That dysfunction bread dysfunction and you were on the receiving end of it. My dad cheated on mum alot. She ended up a alcoholic and hooked on benzos. I was born addicted to both being the last of 6 kids. She had been in mental hospitals a few times because of it. Like yourself even after he passed in1983 she never said a bad word about him. I had to ask her. My heart aches for you. You and your husband almost sound like my mum and dad. My beautiful mother passed in 2001. She like you was a truly beautiful soul. Like you iam broken but also like you we are not unfixable. PLEASE use the analogy of chipping away at your rock until its a stine you can carry. I too have PTSD. BPD. Can i just say (and i dont say this to many unless i recognise true pain) that you are more than welcome to talk to me ANYTIME. Some of the nicest people i have ever met or spoken to are like yourself. Very very lived and with beautiful hearts and souls. I truly wish you the very very best in life. I have had EMDR to desensitise me over some issues. And only last month finished Dialectical behaviour therapy. It really did help to control emotions. Although i just cried i cried because i care. I care for people and especially those like you. I dont want to sound weird but if i could wrap my arms around you i truly would in a soul to soul manner. Like i would and did to my own mum. You keep fighting and nevef give up. You are one of lifes true warriors. I wish you nothjng but very good fortune. You have a one off kind of soul. As sad as it is its nice to know we are not alone in this world. I sit here in Plymouth UK. You in America. Yet we still connect with thjngs in common and or things we both relate to or experience and have true empathy for. That makes life worth living and brings about a connection even though we are literally oceans apart. 💙

Perry1968 · M

@LadyGrace I also want to thank you too for being so brave to share such depth and experience. Your are in my heart and in my thoughts. And for that i thank you. One of if not the most interesting. Deep conversations ive ever had here.

LadyGrace ·

My late husband was a professional boxer. He never lost a fight. In fact, there were two occasions when two other opponents refused to get in the ring with him. Forfeited the fight. He once knocked out his opponent in four seconds. He was so devoted and strict with his training. He would run the whole levy, backwards, as part of his training technique. He once sparred with Sonny Liston.

Sonny was one "bad" dude! haha

Unfortunately, Robert had his legs half torn off in a hayride accident, and they thought he was going to lose his leg, but they were able to save it by putting a few pins in it. However, that ruined his boxing career.

Perry1968 · M

@LadyGrace Geeèeeesus. He must have been one very very tough guy. Was he a named known fighter?? Because Sonny Liston was a real force of nature with a evil childhood. Poor guy was murdered by the mob and i truly believe he was. He fought in times of severe brutality and racism. Sonny was just on another level. And your husband running backwards gives a fighter the ability to box on the backfoot. As im sure you know Ali was a master at it. Liston is one of my all time favourites. A extremely sad life. 😔 .. But...Wow. Im VERY impressed by your husband. Hes on another level to my ilk. Infact another level to many fighters if hes had it out with Sonny.

AbsolutelyFabulous · F

My son did boxing for 4 years, he absolutely loved it, unfortunately though, he had a bad dislocation of his left shoulder a few months ago that happened at boxing training, he had a few other injuries and because of this he has now quit

Perry1968 · M

@AbsolutelyFabulous Oh im sorry. Hopefully it heals over time. I know some people say its a dangerous sport. And to a point it is. But id say that about most sports. My son plays rugby and had a tackle that put him in hospital. Very close to having his liver damaged. I wish your son well. He.ll never forget those 4 years of experience and i hope he is still able to keep fit and healthy in other ways.

AbsolutelyFabulous · F

@Perry1968 he's really into the gym, and his problem was that all his injuries that wetr stopping him being fit were coming from boxing

Perry1968 · M

@AbsolutelyFabulous Im sorry. I have 2 kids 38 and 31 and its our world hey. Im glad hes at the gym though. That will stand him in good stead for the rest of his young life. You sound like a supportive mother. I respect you for that.

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Perry1968 · M

@SomeMichGuy I respect that. Boxing isnt like street fighting. I totally agree. But honestly imo most people who have fight training/experience are usually the nicest people. If you live in cities or travel sometime in life trouble will come your way. And personally i think its better to be on the winning end of that trouble. Walking away sometimes isnt a option. The police are not always there either. Boxing will help in a street fight. Wrestling. Ju jitsu. Street fights are usually less than 30 seconds and scary so if you do know how to get it over quick then learning to fight 100% has its advantages.

IM5688 · 70-79, M

IMO, You should find a good accredited Karate School. Karate teaches defense but also teaches discipline and control.

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Lilnonames · F

my dad got me classes in Tai Kwon Doo,and im glad he did,i was taught to walk away from a fight,but also taught once hands are laid,fight to WIN👌

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