Expert: Melanie Ley - 6/26/2009

Question
QUESTION: hows it going ?

i need help putting my 8 year old brother in something that can protect him on the street examples a 1 on 1 fight at school or someone trying to hit him for no reason we live in a screwed up neighborhood and everyone doing it these days. please recommend me soemthing thats avalable in edmonton, alberta, canada please ive been researching for 1 month now getting tired of it i want to put him in something like mabye muay thai i dont know how old he has to be but... but i heard muay thai kids turn older and start getting arthritis and problems with their shins and ect.or is that just a myth their is kickboxing but i don't think that useful in a fight since u don't have time to kick and fights end up on the ground but usually here its a fist fight if it goes on the ground then they get back up so please help its be soo greatfull thanxs please reply

ANSWER: Hi Simran - below are the amateur boxing clubs in Edmonton.  I don't know anything about Muay Thai or kickboxing but I would highly recommend putting your brother in amateur boxing.  

Edmonton Avenue Boxing  Roland Labbe 780-472-8253 478-6876 475-7520 cvcwest@telus.net

Edmonton Beverly Bronx Boxing Club Sheldon Hinton 780-756-0852  
    
Edmonton CNFC Thunderbirds
Camille Kootenay     278-1950   

Edmonton Cougar /
Westchester  Bingham Goodwin   780-428-0958 423-0958 kevin@cougarboxing.com  

Edmonton Legends Boxing Kevin McGillivray 780-990-0996 73-5477 719-2967 info@legendstrainingcentre.com  

Edmonton Main Event  David Moreau 780-471-2510 471-2510 448-5990 lbelair@shaw.ca  

Edmonton Panther Boxing  Benny Swanson 780-968-0066 424-7105 718-6161 benny@panthergym.com  

Edmonton South Side  Bill Brennan 780-469-9441 490-0564 434-2743   

Edmonton West Edmonton Knights Stuart McGrandle 780-486-5599   238-9361 smcgrandle.ca@shaw.ca  

Edmonton Wind Warriors  Barry Croucher 780-484-9820 484-6073 426-3065   


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QUESTION: thank you very much and 1 more question hes 8 years old isnt that a bit too young or perfect age i want him to be the best in boxing hes interested in it also ?? and will he get any illnesses from strting young such as bigger chances of brain damage ect. im starting at avenue i think ill put him thier also

Answer
In the U.S., boxers can start competing at 8 years old.  There is no medical reason for them not to.  You should check with the gyms in Edmonton and see what the youngest age is in Canada.  Brain damage is very, very rare in amateur boxers since the emphasis is on safety, unlike the pros. Boxing is a great sport.  It instills self-confidence, self-esteem, confidence and sportsmanship.  It sounds like just the sport for your brother.