How To Find A Martial Arts Summer Camp For Your Child

Thai MMA fighter Shannon Wiratchai holds pads for a child

Great weather is finally upon us, and you’re considering putting your child in a martial arts summer camp. It’s a great choice, as opposed to letting them sit in front of the video game console for three months.

However, you have to pick a camp that will provide your child with a fun and memorable experience – and one that might even plant a seed in them to continue studying martial arts in the future.

With that in mind, here are some things to consider before enrolling your child in a martial arts summer camp.

Goals

Malaysian MMA fighter Agilan Thani holds kick pads for a group of children

When picking a martial arts gym for your child, the first thing to consider is your goal. Namely, why are you putting your child into the camp? The answer to this question will help you determine what kind of martial art classes to aim for.

For example, if you want your child to burn a lot of energy while practicing the martial art, you should consider enrolling them in a Muay Thai or karate summer camp.

However, if you want to enroll your child in a martial art that will be a little bit slower but more strategic, consider Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Location

Location is an important factor when enrolling your child in a martial arts summer camp.

You want to find a place that’s close to home so that you don’t spend your entire summer driving long distances or sitting in traffic.

The closer the martial arts gym is to your home, the more convenient it will be for your family to get there and back, which will leave you with plenty of time for barbecues or beaches.

Investment

A child hits a focus mitt

Another thing to consider when enrolling your child in a martial arts summer camp is the cost and what you get for that money.

With higher-priced camps, you’d expect your child to spend a full day or half day there and possibly get lunch or other perks. Conversely, cheaper camps may only come with daily classes that run for an hour or two and don’t include food.

Depending on your situation, it may make sense to pay for an all-inclusive camp. But then again, it may not.

Safety

Before you enroll your child in a martial arts summer camp, ask the gym about their safety measures.

Most likely, you’re going to leave your child at the camp for an extended period of time – longer than your typical martial arts class.

Ensure the gym has enough staff to watch all the kids. Moreover, check that the staff members are trained in the basics of CPR and first aid.

Coaches

Thai MMA fighter Shannon Wiratchai holds focus mitts for a child

The quality of coaching that your child receives at the camp will play a big role in whether they’re getting any value out of the classes.

For your child to maximize their experience, they should be trained by qualified and competent coaches.

So, ask the coaches how much experience they have in the martial art – and if they’ve ever taught children or at summer camps.

COVID-19

Last, you want to make sure the martial arts academy keeps up with COVID-19 safety standards.

Check to see that they clean their mats and equipment every day and that everyone in the gym is following COVID-19 guidelines.

Once you consider all of these things, you’ll be well on your way to confidently picking out a martial arts summer camp for your child.

Read more: 10 Inspirational Martial Arts Quotes From ONE Superstars

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