Gone are the days when a punch bag was something just used in boxing gyms. Now you can purchase home exercise gear that includes punch bags — perfect for your children! Today, kids need more physical activity than ever before but with life's commitments and busy lifestyles it can be tough to find time to fit this in.
Punchbag workouts offer an effective, alternative form of recreational activity that your child can enjoy at home.
When choosing the right punch bag for your child’s needs there are several factors you should consider; size, type and price of course being some of the most important ones. In this blog post we list our top picks to get you started on what makes a great kid’s punching bag.
Let's motivate your kids to take a break from their consoles!
Gain confidence, coordination and self discipline
Probably the most common way to get any kind of fighter, be it beginner, amateur, or professional, into the ring is boxing using a punch bag. With kids, this provides good exercise in that it helps them practice the basic form of boxing, including techniques, combinations, and even strategies.
Continual practice and repetition assist children to enhance skills relatively fast and build up confidence.
Punching bags avail full control to children but in a safe way since they are specifically designed to take in the punches without chances of the child getting hurt.
It will further help the child to gain muscle strength in such a manner that, when need be against an opponent, he will be in a physical capability to do so. Boxing bags are an effective, safe tool for kids to improve their knowledge and general technique in the sport.
They are a great investment for any parent who wants to give their child a chance to improve their coordination, release some energy, or become the best at what they do. Mens Health talks in more depth about the benefits to boxing.
Choosing the right punching bag for your child
There are many different types of boxing punching bags available on the market, and it can be difficult to know which one is right for your child. Here is a quick guide to the different types of punching bags and the training they require:
Heavy bag: A heavy bag is a great choice for children who are just starting out in boxing. Heavy bags help to build strength and power, and they can be used for both striking and grappling training.
Speed bag: A speed bag is a great choice for children who are looking to improve their hand-eye coordination. Speed bags help to develop speed and accuracy, and they are also great for developing timing and rhythm.
Double-ended bag: A double-ended bag is a great choice for children who are looking to improve their footwork and movement. Double-ended bags help to develop balance and coordination, and they can also be used for striking and grappling training.
Free-standing bag: A free-standing bag is a great choice for children who are looking to improve their cardiovascular endurance. Free-standing bags help to develop stamina and endurance, and they can also be used for striking and grappling training.
Floor-to-ceiling ball: A floor-to-ceiling ball is a great choice for children who are looking to improve their agility and reflexes. Floor-to-ceiling balls help to develop quickness and agility, and they can also be used for striking and grappling training.
Choosing the right punching bag for your child will depend on their individual needs and goals.
If you are unsure which type of punching bag is right for your child, feel free to email us with any questions or queries!
Top 5 Kids' Punching Bags
1. Century Lil Dragon Wavemaster
With Century's Wavemaster collection, even the littlest martial artists can get in on the action! The Lil' Dragon Wavemaster was specially designed with them in mind - featuring a fun screen printed logo and colourful shapes and numbers to help little ones hone their precision.
Get ready for greatness with this perfect training partner just right for developing young minds and bodies!
This durable nylon-shelled training tool features a high impact foam interior, giving it four adjustable heights ranging from 37" to 52", plus an impressive weight of approximately 170lbs when filled. Unleash your inner warrior today – this punching bag is sure to bring out greatness in any aspiring martial artist. Motherslovebest also rank their choices with Century taking first.
Pros |
Cons |
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- Adjustable sizes to accommodate different skills and goals - Freestanding design allows for better storage and movement - Perfect for your childs boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai and other contact sports sessions! |
- With its limited space, filling the punch bag with sand can be a time consuming task |
2. Century Versus VSPAR1 Kids Punching Bag
The Versys V.SPAR.1 is the perfect way to get youth excited about physical activity!
Its unique size and weight features allow for daily conditioning, endurance building, speed training or practice of just about any technique - all while providing a large striking surface that's still convenient enough to carry around with ease.
Additionally, it serves as an amazing tool which can help young athletes develop coordination skills and explore new ways of expressing themselves through movement-based activities in a fun and healthy environment.
Pros |
Cons |
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- Training versatility: stand up sparring, take down, and ground workouts - Convenient to move and easy to store - Engineered for youth: unlike most freestanding bags, children have a limited reach when performing kicking drills due to the large base and overall size of most freestanding bags - Pre-filled base requires no additional water or sand filling |
- This punch bag is the perfect choice for practitioners who have already established some experience, and isn't as ideal for those just starting out |
3. Century Powerline Wavemaster Junior
Trying to find that perfect bag to help your junior martial artist develop skills in? The Powerline Wavemaster Jr. is just perfect! It means it's built to last, this heavy-hitting piece of gear with twice the amount of resilient foam and four separate height settings—37" to 52"—to carry them years into their journey.
Rounded base that can be filled with sand or water up to 170 lbs., and Plus will stay put wherever you choose to train, unlike some that seem to have legs!
Pros |
Cons |
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- Perfect for kids boxing, MMA, Muay Thai and other contact sports training! - Freestanding design allows for better storage and movement - Ideal for upper and lower body movements |
- Will need more space in order to circle around it - Smaller punching area than some youth punch bags |
4. Century Versys VSPAR2 Kids punching bag
At number 4 on our list of the best kids' punch bags, we have the Versys V.SPAR.2! Revolutionize the way youth martial arts training is held with this immersive innovation that no gym or club will ever be complete without.
Imagine a wrestling simulator that's basically a tripod with attitude—three sturdy legs and a pair of fancy arms that can help you mimic moves in the book, from slick takedowns to fancy throws, crafty sweeps, and those tricky locks.
It's like the ultimate sparring partner, ready to help young fighters climb their way to martial arts stardom without ever talking back. Perfect for anyone aiming to be the next big thing in the dojo!
Pros |
Cons |
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- Prefilled, requires no additional water or sand - Legs and arms are a soft and flexible structural core for full flexibility and natural rebounding to original position - One-year replacement warranty on all Versys Fight Simulators - Patented three leg structure is strategically weighted to stand upright |
- On the pricier side, however this is an investment worth making - More so for grappling than punching so it would be more tailored too MMA athletes |
5. Century BOB Junior
Who is Bob?
Meet Century BOB Freestanding Punch Bag: the perfect partner ever created for your effective workout of sparring techniques and target work.
The Junior BOB is crafted especially for kids!
This is the newest addition to the BOB family, featuring an incredibly lifelike body shape and enhanced materials for the most effective and realistic training experience.
Dont worry about setting it up, its a breeze, so you'll be ready to train without any hassle.
The Junior BOB, or Body Opponent Bag, is a fantastic tool for helping your child learn self-defence skills, striking skills or maybe just for a bit of fun and fitness.
Kids will love to hit him, safer than hitting Dad! A great exerciser, and energy zapper to get your kids off the Playstation.
Pros
- Kids will love to hit him, safer than hitting Dad!
- A great exerciser, and energy zapper to get your kids off the Playstation.
- Made from high strength plastol for durability. A great martial art realistic training partner that won't hit back!
- Two height adjustments from 4ft2 to 4ft7 kids punch bag.
- Cleans easily and comes with a one year guarantee.
Cons
- In the rare event that it tips over, it might be a bit heavy for your child to lift by themselves. However, with the right technique, this can serve as a good opportunity to strengthen their muscles.
IMPORTANT: Please look out for cheap copies of the BOB XL, BOB and BOB Junior. If it does not carry the Century logo then it is not an official BOB!
Quick Parent Tips: Different Combat Sport Punch Bags
Punch bags used with boxing and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) differ largely to accommodate the differences in the two sports. When it comes to grappling, which is prevalent in MMA but not boxing, using a traditional heavy bag isn’t ideal. It doesn’t provide much of a grappling opportunity since grappling requires body contact.
MMA fighters and Jiu Jitsu practitioners will thus use grappling dummies, which are more durable than regular punch bags. They also provide better balance for grappling manoeuvres as well supporting one's weight when lifting or moving the dummy around.
On the other hand, Boxers and Muay Thai fighters will mostly focus on honing punching skills and thus their punch bags concentrate on developing those fundamental striking movements. Unlike grappling dummies that are usually filled with other materials, these bags are typically filled with either water or air to allow greater movement and resistance when used.
As one can see, these different types of punch bags help serve the special needs of the fighters across both MMA and Boxing so they can always be ready for competition in their respective sports! Flo offers a variety of boxing workouts for beginners to follow.
Choosing the Ideal Punching Bag for Your Child
Size
To kids, the correct size boxing punch bag is important, more so because it will enable them to be in a position to train and improve by learning how to box.
Most punchbags are adjustable in height, but grappling dummies, of course, remain the same size. Look for full product descriptions in order to establish this before purchase.
So how do you know what size to choose?
It's all about proportions. Stand next to the bag and extend your arm straight out - if your hand reaches the middle of the bag, it's a solid fit for you. And remember, quality over quantity - don't just go for the biggest baddest bag on the market.
Here are some basic guidelines regarding various punching bag weights:
- 40 pounds - optimal for youth boxers and young beginners
- 70 pounds - generally used by teenagers and beginners
- 100 pounds - suitable for intermediate boxers
- 200 pounds - designed for heavyweight boxers
Cost
Cost is another important factor to bear in mind. You want to ensure that the experience of using their bag is pleasant and safe, whilst also having the necessary durability to withstand numerous strikes and falls.
Generally, more experienced fighters will require a more expensive punching bag with optimised materials that can stand the test of time.
It's also good to take into account that as your kid grows and experience progresses, it's likely that they'll need an upgraded bag down the line. For these reasons, when investing in a punching bag for children, it’s important to take into consideration both quality and cost.
Style
When it comes to purchasing boxing bags, style plays a critical role in the decision-making process. From colour and pattern to shape and material selection.
Choosing a colour combination that your child loves will draw them in and help maintain their focus over time as well as match their club colours.
Bag Type
For children engaging in boxing and martial arts, it is essential to have the right type of punch bag.
Hanging bags hanging from the ceiling or wall provide different benefits than their free standing counterparts. If hanging bags are used, children will be able to practice with increased intensity as they won't have to worry about adjusting their balance while throwing punches.
Free-standing bags are great for those wanting to focus on their stances and footwork, as the bags stay in place regardless of how powerful a punch may be thrown.
Tip: For those wishing to refine their timing and speediness, a speed bag is best suited for development.
Experience
Parents want the best for their children, and when it comes to boxing and martial arts, they want to ensure they are properly equipped. That's why it's so important for parents to consider the experience level of their child when purchasing a punch bag.
If a child is a beginner or has limited experience in combat sports, then getting them a heavy punch bag could actually be counter-productive; as weaker punches can increase risk of injury.
For experienced boxers, then equipment that can withstand longer bouts of use is highly recommended.
Final Thoughts
After taking a comprehensive look at the top 5 kids punching bags available, it's time to decide which one is the right choice for you and your child.
Given that no two individuals are alike, there is no single correct answer to this question; rather, the selection of a bag should depend on your child's current and eventual goal in using it.
If your youngster is just looking to have some fun and try out punch training, any of these bags should serve as an impressive piece of equipment. However, we suggest opting for a more cost-effective alternative.
On the other hand, if they are serious about their combat sport technique, then certain extras from the pricier models might pay off in terms of improved performance.
Parents should always monitor their children when they are using a punching bag and make sure that the child is following proper technique.
Kids should also never punch the bag too hard or for too long. Punching bags can be a great way for kids to get exercise and relieve stress, as long as they are used safely and responsibly.
Who knows, maybe they'll even become the next heavyweight champion!