Best martial arts for a 13-year-old?

It isn't a waste of time. You can always start training combat sports once you're a bit older.

placidbison20 said:It’s not a waste of time. You can always pick up combat sports once you're a bit older.

If you want to pull off those high kicks—which, let’s be honest, are great for impressing girls—you really need to start training early.

If you're looking to see results fast and actually make progress, I guess Muay Thai might be your best bet...

driftingseal54 said:why one would be better than the other
honestly, why would I waste my time on them?
It's just a Google question, not an invitation to fight.

Judo's a solid call. It demands actual conditioning and high-level technique—takes forever to nail, but it pays off. Plus, you need brains, strategy, and quick thinking. What’s cool about Judo is that you build this weird, specific kind of strength that puts those gym rats or even Muay Thai fighters to shame.
If I were you, I'd skip Taekwondo. It's basically just fancy leg stretching. Most of those kicks are useless in a real street fight. Great for girls, though.

driftingseal54 said:I'm 13, pretty tall, and really want to get into combat sports
so what would you guys recommend for someone my age?
thanks in advance!🙂

First off, most martial arts require a ton of flexibility. If you aren't super bendy, boxing might be your best bet, but if you are, maybe look into some semi-contact stuff like karate. Personally, I do Savate. It’s awesome because it works whether you're flexible or not. Honestly though, just go try a bunch of different classes and pick whatever feels right to you.

Michael Jackson96 said:First off, most combat sports demand serious flexibility. If you aren't flexible, you might want to stick to boxing. If you are, maybe try some semi-contact stuff like karate or whatever. Personally, I do Savate. It works regardless of whether you're flexible or not. But honestly? Just pick what looks cool, try everything out, and then decide.

True, flexibility matters, but it shouldn't stop you from starting. Early on, you’re mostly doing drills to build that flexibility, endurance, and strength anyway. You don't jump straight into full sparring. Even if you're stiff, just work harder than everyone else and you'll eventually pass them. When I switched from boxing to Jiu Jitsu, I had zero flexibility—couldn't even touch my toes. So, I started pole dancing alongside Jiu Jitsu. Between the dancing and some brutal stretching (pushing limits, not breaking them), I made massive progress in two months. Now, I just need another month or so to nail the splits and a few other moves that used to seem impossible.
Whatever you choose, it's all about the grind. Hard work, hard work, hard work. Nothing else gets you there. Just training and hitting the books. 👍

I guess it all comes down to how you actually approach your training sessions. If you spend 15 minutes stretching, throw in another 15 for a solid warm-up, and knock out three rounds of shadowboxing before you even start the heavy lifting, there’s no way you won't be flexible. Plus, I always think it's a good idea to put in at least another 15 minutes of stretching once you're finished.

Anthony Davis6 said:It all comes down to how you approach your training. If you drop 15 minutes on stretching, another 15 warming up, and knock out three rounds of shadowboxing before you even get started, you’re probably gonna be flexible enough. Plus, you gotta hit those stretches for at least 15 minutes after you're done.

Exactly. You build your workout around whatever goal you're actually chasing. Once you spot your weaknesses, just hammer them. If you actually have the willpower, the results show up pretty damn fast.

You might want to give Muay Thai a shot.
I’m 13 too, and I’ve been training Muay Thai—honestly, it’s awesome.
I spent six years doing Tae Kwon Do, but man, it’s not even close to Muay Thai. When you're training, the most important thing is having that drive. You need real motivation to fuel the hard work, because I know firsthand that if you aren't motivated, you aren't going to see any progress.

Hey, I'm new here! I'm also 13 and I've been training in Taekwondo—I think it's a great way for me to stay active.

Wow, that’s a lot of 13-year-olds all at once...😁

Anonymous said:You could try Muay Thai.
I'm 13 too, so I do Muay Thai and honestly, it's killer.
Did Tae Kwon Do for 6 years, but that’s nothing compared to Muay Thai. The main thing is just having the drive. You need that motivation to actually put in the work, because let's be real—without it, you aren't getting anywhere.

Respect the hustle. Muay Thai is brutal; it really tests your physical and mental limits. How'd you make the jump from TKD though? Those two sports are worlds apart.

Anonymous said:yo, I'm new here. I'm 13 too and doing Taekwondo. Figure it's good for me.

Whatever you're training, it's good for you and your body!

Paul Peterson8 said:Honestly, whatever you decide to train, it's going to be great for you and your body!

Exactly! I mean, totally!

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