question for a 9 year old

[bigman1]

Ok, so my nephew is starting boxing lessons and the trainer wants him to do wrist exercises to help with the strengthening of the wrist. I wanted to know some thoughts on if this is a good idea for a 9 year old. He is a very small 9 year old and I'm happy the trainer asked before they just started him on them but really want some thoughts on if you feel it is safe or not. Thanks

 

[mike913]

Ok, so my nephew is starting boxing lessons and the trainer wants him to do wrist exercises to help with the strengthening of the wrist. I wanted to know some thoughts on if this is a good idea for a 9 year old. He is a very small 9 year old and I'm happy the trainer asked before they just started him on them but really want some thoughts on if you feel it is safe or not. Thanks

it makes sense. when i was that young i started working with trainers/pitching coaches for baseball. for the most part they didnt preach lifting weights (obviously too young of an age) but they did have us doing various wrist excercises with weights and other various other arm excercises. it obviously wasnt to build big wrists or arms, but was used to condition and slightly strengthen the tendons, ligaments and muscles. I wouldnt worry too much about it, just make sure the trainer is actually a boxing trainer and not some idiot that thinks he knows what he's doing.

 

[tri-terror]

Wrist exercises will only help him avoid injury. I don't think there is any kind of damage that could be done. I would be worried with a young person like that doing heavy weight bearing exercises but boxing/martial arts and conditioning should all be very good for him.

Good for you too, getting him involved in something like that. If he likes it and stays with it he will learn a lot about himself and build character. Being involved in boxing and martial arts when I was a kid was one of the best things for me in my whole life.

 

[bigman1]

Thanks and BUMP for more thoughts.,,,

Yes the trainer is legit as I have done my research and I myself use to teach self defense but did not work with this young of kids. I worked with young teen, youngest I would take was 12 and at this age I did recommend light weight training.

 

[tkav1980]

What exact exercises is the trainer suggesting?

 

[Ehren]

just make sure the trainer is actually a boxing trainer and not some idiot that thinks he knows what he's doing.

Exactly. Id rather see him doing things that naturally strengthen the area. But its fine of its not too hard or too much. IMO, Flexibility and natural strength is gonna do WAY more for him athletically than weights at that age. Throwing very LIGHT medballs for explosiveness or even just staying on the knucks at the top of a pushup movement with different arm placements for wrist stability.

 

[strako44]

At nine I personally would avoid the weights . . bone ends have yet to truly hardened. Hitting a bag will surely strengthened his wrists.

 

[mgnz]

I was also wondering what type of wrist strengthening exercises he would be doing. At such a young age he is more prone to injury just starting out, especially if he just starts pounding away at a hard body bag. I agree that wrist strengthening will only prevent future injury if done correctly. I remember when I took martial arts at a young age we would do various angled push ups on knuckles, fingers, wrists, etc. Those alone I think helped to really strengthen my wrists.