A child can grow ten centimetres in a year. The gear does not. That is why martial arts for kids is a calculation that is as much about timing as about quality - and it is entirely possible to spend half as much without compromising on safety.
The key is knowing which items can be bought with room to grow, and which absolutely cannot.
The rule: what can have room to grow?
The question is always the same: what happens if the item is a little too big? If the answer is "nothing", you can size up. If the answer is "it protects less well", you cannot.
| Gear | Room to grow? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Uniform (gi, dobok) | Yes, one size up | Shrinks in the wash, and sleeves and legs can be rolled up. It is made for this. |
| Belt | Yes | It gets tied anyway. A little too long is better than a little too short. |
| Headgear | No | Headgear that slips protects worse than no headgear, because the child trusts it. |
| Mouthguard | No | Moulded to the teeth that are there now. Teeth change. |
| Groin guard | No | Has to fit snugly to protect at all. |
| Gloves | A little | Can be tightened with the Velcro, but the hand has to fill them. A glove that rotates on the hand is worthless. |
| Shin guards | A little | Adjustable straps give some leeway, but they have to cover the shin. |
Uniforms: size up, not down
A karategi and a dobok are the only garments where "a little too big" is actually the recommendation. They shrink in the wash, they are cut with room to spare, and sleeves and trouser legs can be rolled up for the first six months.
The rule we give parents is: measure the child and go one size up. Two sizes up is wrong - the child drowns in fabric, and the uniform restricts movement instead of allowing it.
We have a separate walkthrough of taekwondo uniform sizes for kids if you want to measure correctly.
Headgear: the one that has to fit
Headgear is where savings stop being savings. Headgear that is too big shifts on impact, covers the eyes when it does, and gives the child a sense of safety that does not match reality.
Test it like this: put it on, tighten the straps and have the child shake their head. If the headgear moves independently of the head, it is too big. If it is meant to fit next year as well - well, then it does not fit this year.
Gloves and protection
Kids' gloves come in their own sizes and lower weights, and they are not just shrunken adult gloves - the hand section is shorter relative to its width.
How to check the fit: the fist should fill the glove so the fingers reach the end of the padding, and the Velcro should tighten without leaving a flap of excess material around the wrist. If the glove rotates on the hand when the child punches, it is too big.
Shin guards are more forgiving, because the straps adjust. But they have to cover the shin from below the knee down towards the instep - a guard that sits too high leaves exactly the spot that gets hit exposed.
What can be handed down, and what never should be
- Can be handed down: Uniforms, belts, bags, shoes that are not worn out.
- Can be handed down with caution: Gloves and shin guards, if they have been aired and are not compressed. Feel the padding - if it is hard or flat, it is done.
- Never hand down: Mouthguards and groin guards. This is personal gear, and it is not a question of money - it is a question of hygiene.
Can headgear be handed down? Yes, if it fits and the foam is intact. No, if it has been through many seasons. Foam compresses over time even if the surface looks fine, and compressed headgear absorbs less than it appears to.
The order to buy in
- Nothing. For the first month, most clubs lend out what is needed. Let the child find out whether it is fun.
- Mouthguard. Personal, affordable, and the first thing required once sparring starts.
- Uniform, if the discipline requires one. One size up.
- Gloves and shin guards. When the club gear is no longer enough, or when the child is going to their first competition.
- Headgear. When sparring becomes regular - and then in the right size, not next year's.
The gear we recommend
First of all
129 kr. Boiled and moulded at home. Remould it if the child loses teeth - that is why it is cheap.
A step up
199 kr. Thicker and with a better fit. Worth the upgrade once the child starts sparring regularly.
Headgear
690 kr. Buy the one that fits now. The shake test is the whole answer.
Gloves, most affordable
390 kr. Good selection in stock now. The natural first pair.
Gloves
449 kr. Wide Velcro strap that lets you tighten it well around a narrow wrist.
Shin and instep
649 kr. Adjustable straps give a little leeway - but it still has to cover the shin.
Personal gear
249 kr. Should fit snugly, and should never be handed down.
Chest guard
399 kr. Try it on with the uniform over it, not on its own.
Frequently asked questions
How often do we need to change sizes?
Check at the start of every season and at every grading. During growth spurts it can be twice a year - and then it is usually the uniform and the headgear that need replacing first.
Can we buy second-hand?
Yes, for uniforms, belts and bags. Be careful with headgear and gloves when you do not know their history, and never buy a used mouthguard or groin guard.
Do children need their own gear to start?
No. Most clubs lend out what is needed for the first few weeks. See the packing list for the first training session.
What if the child quits after a few months?
It happens, and that is fine. That is exactly why we recommend buying little at the start - then the loss is a mouthguard, not a full set.
Are martial arts safe for children?
With the right gear, the right level and a club that takes children's sport seriously: yes. We have written about it in depth in a separate article for parents.
