In recent discussions of martial arts, a controversial issue has been whether kids and teens should engage themselves in these activities despite of the risk of injury. On the one hand, some argue that there are enough effective safety measures put in place that make it safe for kids and teens to practice martial arts. From this perspective, others have added that there are many benefits to practicing martial arts for kids and teens that should encourage parents to enroll their children in martial art programs. On the other hand, others argue that the risk of injury is too high for kids and teens to practice martial arts. One of this view’s main proponents, Robert Preidt claims that “Perhaps there’s a black belt in your child’s future. But for safety’s sake, kids should only engage in non-contact forms of martial arts”. My own view is that for safety concerns, kids and teens should avoid practicing martial arts altogether. Though I concede that there are safety measures put in place with kids’ and teens’ safety in mind in most martial arts, I believe that they are not effective enough and maintain that martial arts are not appropriate for kids and teens to practice. This issue is important because there are numerous reported incidents where kids and teens have sustained severe injuries and in some extreme cases lost their lives.
I believe that kids and teens should avoid martial arts because there are too many worrying factors that make it unsafe for them to partake in these activities. These factors include but are not limited to wrong coaching techniques, an environment that promotes violence and lack of rigid safety guidelines. Inappropriate coaching methods fail to account for novice learners’ limited capabilities and fail to teach young learners to safely execute a technique or move. This can make a mildly aggressive like Judo for instance fatal. Related to this, improper coaching, and lack of emphasis on discipline have been known to generate an environment that promotes violence. This environment can negatively affect novice learners like kids and teens making them think that the objective is to hurt others and from there injury is sure to occur. Furthermore, with no proof that protective equipment like helmets and gloves are effective, too many forms of martial arts lack effective safety guidelines to ensure the safety of new learners like kids and teens. With too many unaddressed risk factors, I believe parents should abstain from enrolling their children in martial art programs.