| Getting your children involved in martial arts has | | | | way. |
| always been thought of as a good thing. Martial | | | | The fighting and competitive aspects of MMA |
| arts promote self-discipline and physical vigor. Kids | | | | training are what have parents and other |
| in Virginia, Washington D.C, Maryland and other | | | | concerned adults worried. Training to be an MMA |
| states are taught in a respectful manner and | | | | fighter at such a young age, even high school age, |
| they, in turn, show respect to their teachers. | | | | can be risky, even is supervision is tight. Children |
| Martial arts help kids focus who may have had | | | | sparring with others without protective headgear |
| trouble with that in the past. Martial arts help kids | | | | and wearing small gloves can be dangerous. Even |
| who might not fit into organized sports find a | | | | sparring with boxing gloves and a helmet does not |
| place to fit in. Martial arts can be a strong, positive | | | | prevent head injuries. As interested as many |
| influence on children. | | | | people are in developing MMA as a high school |
| Mixed martial arts have a slightly different | | | | sport, there are just as many people, or more, |
| reputation. From its inception, MMA has had a | | | | who are skeptical about the ability to do that |
| reputation for being brutal and wild. The "no holds | | | | safely. |
| barred" style of competition has offended some | | | | The risk of getting injured exists in any sport. |
| people who see the sport as nothing short of | | | | Sometimes, children sustain serious injuries in |
| barbaric. Why would any parent let a child | | | | sports that impact them for the rest of their |
| participate in such a sport? | | | | lives. In a full body contact sport, such as MMA, |
| There is a great deal of debate about whether or | | | | parents need to feel fully comfortable with the |
| not kids should participate in MMA training and | | | | sort of program they enroll their child in. Parents |
| competition. Many parents feel that there are | | | | need to spend time at the MMA studio and look |
| safe MMA programs in Virginia, Washington D.C, | | | | at the types of martial arts their child will be |
| and Maryland. An MMA program that focuses on | | | | training in. Parents need to feel comfortable with |
| training and teaching skills would be beneficial to | | | | the level of supervision at the gym. They need to |
| children. Just as in specific martial arts disciplines, | | | | understand when and if their children are going to |
| this sort of training works with the whole child and | | | | be exposed to sparring and fighting. |
| teaches the child values as well as physical | | | | Parents who do their research and find a MMA |
| prowess. | | | | school that mirrors their values will be happy their |
| Many parents feel that MMA training helps kids | | | | children are reaping the benefits of MMA training, |
| develop their self-defense skills. It also gives them | | | | both physically and spiritually. |
| confidence in situations they might otherwise not | | | | If you live in the Maryland, Virginia, Washington |
| feel comfortable in. In school, many children | | | | DC area, you can check out Lloyd Irvin's, Mixed |
| witness or experience bullying of some kind. | | | | Martial Arts Academies. They offer a 30 day free |
| Martial arts training can give the kids the | | | | trial program on any of the MMA programs. |
| confidence to handle that situation in a positive | | | | |