Is kids sparring safe? What Wollongong parents should know

Sparring is the word that makes parents pause. It sounds like a fight. In a decent kids class, it is not.

At First 2 Strike in Figtree and Woonona, kids learn control first. Teens earn harder rounds later. Nobody gets thrown in to ‘toughen up’.

What sparring means here

It is a drill with a partner and a coach watching. We set the pace. We stop sloppy shots. Beginners start with movement and pads, not full contact.

When kids start

Not on night one. First they learn how to stand, fall and listen. Sparring comes when they can follow instructions under a bit of pressure.

How we keep it safe

Age groups stay together. Gear is used when the drill needs it. Coaches end a round the moment it stops being training. If your child is not ready, they sit that drill out and still finish the class.

Try a class first

Watch a session at Figtree or Woonona. Ask what that age group does that night. Book a free trial if it looks like a class, not a brawl.