A Father’s Decision:
Why We Chose Traditional Karate Instead of Youth Kickboxing
By Shihan Joseph Claycomb
One of the most common questions we receive is:
“Do you offer kickboxing for kids?”
The answer is simple. A firm No.
That decision was not made because kickboxing, boxing, or Muay Thai aren’t effective. Nor is it a criticism of those who choose to participate in them.
It is a decision rooted in nearly five decades of martial arts study, teaching, coaching, personal experience, and, above all, being a father.
A Lifetime Dedicated to Martial Arts
For nearly fifty years, I have devoted my life to the martial disciplines.
My experience has never been limited to one style or one organization. Throughout my life, I have extensively studied traditional Shotokan Karate, Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Kobudo, boxing, kickboxing, and athletic movement, including gymnastics.
I have spent decades teaching, coaching, competing, researching, and continually refining my understanding of both martial arts and combat sports.
My philosophy was not formed through internet articles or passing trends. It has been shaped by a lifetime of experience inside the martial arts community and years of studying the science surrounding repetitive head impacts and long-term neurological health.
“Do you offer kickboxing for kids?”
The answer is simple. A firm No.
That decision was not made because kickboxing, boxing, or Muay Thai aren’t effective. Nor is it a criticism of those who choose to participate in them.
It is a decision rooted in nearly five decades of martial arts study, teaching, coaching, personal experience, and, above all, being a father.
A Lifetime Dedicated to Martial Arts
For nearly fifty years, I have devoted my life to the martial disciplines.
My experience has never been limited to one style or one organization. Throughout my life, I have extensively studied traditional Shotokan Karate, Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Kobudo, boxing, kickboxing, and athletic movement, including gymnastics.
I have spent decades teaching, coaching, competing, researching, and continually refining my understanding of both martial arts and combat sports.
My philosophy was not formed through internet articles or passing trends. It has been shaped by a lifetime of experience inside the martial arts community and years of studying the science surrounding repetitive head impacts and long-term neurological health.
Left to right:
Michael (Son), Mohammad (brother) , (me) Joseph, Xena (daughter)
My Greatest Responsibility Was Never My Students. It Was My Son.
My son eventually became a champion full-contact karate fighter who successfully competed and won under full-contact kickboxing and Muay Thai rules.
Those accomplishments remain a tremendous source of pride, and we proudly display those achievements throughout our academy.
- I coached him
- I stood in his corner.
- I supported his journey every step of the way.
But there was one decision I made long before he ever entered the ring.
I would not allow him to compete in full-contact striking sports until he was a fully grown adult.
Why?
Because adulthood brings the maturity to understand, evaluate, and willingly accept risk.
Childhood does not.
If I was unwilling to expose my own child to repeated blows to the head while his brain and body were still developing, I cannot, in good conscience, ask another parent’s child to do the same. That conviction continues to guide every decision we make regarding our youth program.
My son eventually became a champion full-contact karate fighter who successfully competed and won under full-contact kickboxing and Muay Thai rules.
Those accomplishments remain a tremendous source of pride, and we proudly display those achievements throughout our academy.
- I coached him
- I stood in his corner.
- I supported his journey every step of the way.
But there was one decision I made long before he ever entered the ring.
I would not allow him to compete in full-contact striking sports until he was a fully grown adult.
Why?
Because adulthood brings the maturity to understand, evaluate, and willingly accept risk.
Childhood does not.
If I was unwilling to expose my own child to repeated blows to the head while his brain and body were still developing, I cannot, in good conscience, ask another parent’s child to do the same. That conviction continues to guide every decision we make regarding our youth program.
Why We Don’t Offer Youth Full-Contact Striking
Over the years, I have spent countless hours studying the medical literature surrounding repetitive head impacts, concussion, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
The growing body of research only reinforced what I had already come to believe through experience: children should not be conditioned to routinely give or receive repeated blows to the head when there are safer ways to develop confidence, discipline, athleticism, and effective self-defense.
Our decision is not based on fear.
It is based on responsibility.
Children have only one developing brain.
We believe protecting it should always come before preparing them for full-contact competition.
Why We Teach Traditional Karate
Our mission has never been to produce children who simply become tougher fighters.
Our mission is much greater than that.
We strive to help young people develop:
Control before aggression.
Respect before victory.
Character before competition.
Those lessons extend far beyond the dojo and remain valuable for a lifetime.
Over the years, I have spent countless hours studying the medical literature surrounding repetitive head impacts, concussion, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
The growing body of research only reinforced what I had already come to believe through experience: children should not be conditioned to routinely give or receive repeated blows to the head when there are safer ways to develop confidence, discipline, athleticism, and effective self-defense.
Our decision is not based on fear.
It is based on responsibility.
Children have only one developing brain.
We believe protecting it should always come before preparing them for full-contact competition.
Why We Teach Traditional Karate
Our mission has never been to produce children who simply become tougher fighters.
Our mission is much greater than that.
We strive to help young people develop:
- Confidence
- Discipline
- Respect
- Self-control
- Humility
- Leadership
- Physical fitness
- Coordination
- Balance
- Effective self-defense
- Lifelong healthy habits
Control before aggression.
Respect before victory.
Character before competition.
Those lessons extend far beyond the dojo and remain valuable for a lifetime.
Our Philosophy
Over nearly five decades, I have developed a clear philosophy regarding martial arts and combat sports.
A martial art should remain complete even if every tournament, referee, championship, and rulebook disappeared tomorrow. Its purpose is personal development, self-protection, discipline, and lifelong growth.
Combat sports are outstanding tests of courage, conditioning, athleticism, and competitive skill. I respect those pursuits and the people who dedicate themselves to them. My own family has lived that journey.
But I do not believe childhood should be centered around preparing to give and receive repeated blows to the head.
There is plenty of time for an informed adult to choose that path.
There is no need for a child to.
Why Parents Choose Claycomb Karate
Parents trust us with something priceless.
Their children.
That trust deserves more than exciting workouts and tournament medals.
~ It deserves wisdom.
~ It deserves restraint.
~ It deserves an instructor willing to put the long-term well-being of a child ahead of the excitement of full-contact competition.
Every decision we make is filtered through one simple question:
“Would I make this same decision for my own child?”
If the answer is no…
We won’t ask you to make it for yours.
Over nearly five decades, I have developed a clear philosophy regarding martial arts and combat sports.
A martial art should remain complete even if every tournament, referee, championship, and rulebook disappeared tomorrow. Its purpose is personal development, self-protection, discipline, and lifelong growth.
Combat sports are outstanding tests of courage, conditioning, athleticism, and competitive skill. I respect those pursuits and the people who dedicate themselves to them. My own family has lived that journey.
But I do not believe childhood should be centered around preparing to give and receive repeated blows to the head.
There is plenty of time for an informed adult to choose that path.
There is no need for a child to.
Why Parents Choose Claycomb Karate
Parents trust us with something priceless.
Their children.
That trust deserves more than exciting workouts and tournament medals.
~ It deserves wisdom.
~ It deserves restraint.
~ It deserves an instructor willing to put the long-term well-being of a child ahead of the excitement of full-contact competition.
Every decision we make is filtered through one simple question:
“Would I make this same decision for my own child?”
If the answer is no…
We won’t ask you to make it for yours.
Our Mission
At Claycomb Karate, we are not simply teaching punches and kicks.
We are building confident young people.
We are developing character before competition.
Discipline before aggression.
Respect before ego.
Confidence without unnecessary risk.
Because trophies collect dust.
Championships eventually fade.
But character, discipline, and integrity last a lifetime.
At Claycomb Karate, we are not simply teaching punches and kicks.
We are building confident young people.
We are developing character before competition.
Discipline before aggression.
Respect before ego.
Confidence without unnecessary risk.
Because trophies collect dust.
Championships eventually fade.
But character, discipline, and integrity last a lifetime.