Mental and Physical Benefits of Youth Boxing

Boxing for kids isn’t just a physical activity. This sport is a martial art and has many key benefits for children and young adults who are looking to develop physicality, become independent, and learn self-discipline. Whether your child wants to compete or simply learn a form of self-defense, boxing has this and more. Here are just a few benefits of boxing for kids.

Boxing Offers Many Health Benefits for Kids and Teens

Boxing has many key components to it. Students don’t just put on gloves and start hitting things – as a martial arts sport, boxing requires physical and mental discipline and skill. Done safely, boxing will unleash the athletic potential of any student and much more. Youth boxers gain life skills that will continue to motivate them throughout their lives.

Top 10 Benefits of Boxing for Kids 5-15

1.     Athletic Training and Conditioning

Boxing focuses on agility, speed, quickness, balance, and hand-eye coordination. Name a sport that doesn’t require these skills! Boxing is a great cross-training sport.

2.     Confidence Building

Boxing coaches teach children to believe in themselves and build this confidence through training proper technique and mental strategy. Once you get in the ring, you feel like you can accomplish anything in life. Being in diverse atmospheres lowers social anxiety while activities like punching the heavy bag drive out aggression and stress, while making athletes feel accomplished.

3.     Health and Proper Fitness

Being physically fit is critical at an early age. Most children who train in boxing tend to have lower, healthier Body Mass Index (BMI) levels than other kids. Obesity is unfortunately widespread in American youths. Boxing is a great solution to this. Boxers are known for their extreme endurance and power. This training is what keeps most boxers at a very low body fat content.

4.     Self-Defense

Knowing how to protect yourself is a critical skill for all boys and girls, especially at young ages. Youth boxing classes are great for developing the techniques needed for self-protection and the confidence to employ them when necessary. At Mad House we teach students how to avoid being hit while creating angles for punches during rounds to make themselves a smaller target. We also teach practical self-defense principals like knowing when to walk away or de-escalate a situation, and when self-defense is absolutely needed.

5.     Good Eating Habits

Positive eating habits come from staying in one weight class or having to make a weight class. Even non-competitive boxing encourages good habits of drinking water, which leads to a healthier lifestyle as an adult. At Mad House, our staff can also provide dietary and nutritional insight in training.

6.     Higher GPAs

Most boxing gyms, including Mad House, make sure each kid maintains a 3.0 GPA to be allowed to keep training at the gym. Homework must always be done before training. In addition to instilling self-discipline in the gym, boxing for kids encourages responsibility and dedication in all pursuits.

7.     Staying out of Trouble

Boxing is a passion and hobby for many kids and adults alike because of how it provides a constructive outlet to displace negative feelings and escape bad influences. This includes illegal activities like underage drinking and drug use. Many kids and teens turn away from these vices to embrace boxing and its emphasis on self-discipline.

8.     Humility and Patience

Boxing excellence doesn’t happen overnight. It takes practice, patience, and humility to grow skills. At Mad House, we emphasize confidence, not arrogance. We believe that instilling an attitude of humility and respect are crucial for developing ladies and gentlemen of strong character. Boxing also teaches kids to relax and worry less in order to advance in their training.

9.     Social Skills

Social skills are important for boxing, as students must communicate and show good sportsmanship. Cultural diversity is also prominent in boxing. Being a worldwide sport, boxing brings together people of all races and walks of life. Students meet individuals and gain friends from cities like Baltimore and D.C., and even rural and suburban areas like Eldersburg and Sykesville, MD. Boxers come to embrace diversity and learn respect for all people.

10.  A Positive Support System

Boxing for kids is very much about providing an uplifting environment where young athletes can decompress, learn, and have fun around peers and positive leaders. Boxing encourages individuality and self-worth in all students. Coaches provide positive support and training to help athletes achieve their potential.

Finding a Good Boxing Program for Kids

Make sure the coaches of your prospective gym are fully qualified in both boxing and physical training for your child’s age range. This ensures both quality training and your kid’s safety. Engage with your coaches to see their approach to developing athletes and what their youth boxing program involves. At Mad House, we provide a blend of physical conditioning with fundamental boxing instruction with both sport and defense concentrations for a well-rounded curriculum.

Wondering Is there boxing for kids near me?’ Visit us at Mad House Boxing, or check out our kids and adult class schedule online. Any additional questions? Please reach out to us here! Call us by clicking (443) 289-6835

Coach Jermaine

Meet Coach Jermaine Rouse


Specialty: B.S. in Exercise Science | NASM-CPT | NASM-YES (Youth Exercise Specialist) | NASM Nutrition Specialist | USA Boxing Certified Coach | USA Boxing Pathway Official

Location: Westminster

Jermaine Rouse is a certified personal trainer and respected leader in the boxing and fitness industry, with over 12 years of experience transforming individuals through a holistic approach to health, strength, and personal growth. Since entering the industry in 2013, Jermaine has made it his mission to help others discover and become the strongest version of themselves—mentally, physically, and spiritually.
As the founder and CEO of Mad House Boxing and Sports Performance Gym, with two thriving locations in Westminster and Eldersburg, Maryland, Jermaine has helped countless individuals build confidence, mobility, endurance, and resilience through the disciplines of boxing and weightlifting. His coaching philosophy extends beyond just physical transformation—he’s committed to developing mindset, character, and spiritual strength in everyone he works with.

In addition to fitness training, Jermaine is also an entrepreneurship coach, helping individuals scale their businesses, pursue their purpose, and grow into strong leaders. He is passionate about guiding others toward building stronger relationships with God and aligning their personal and professional goals with their faith in Jesus Christ.
Whether in the gym or the community, Jermaine is driven by one goal: to help others unlock their highest potential and live with purpose, power, and integrity.

Jermaine Rouse
Owner & CEO | Mad House Boxing and Sports Performance Gym
Westminster & Eldersburg, MD
Certifications & Education
B.S. in Exercise Science
NASM Certified Personal Trainer (CPT)
NASM Youth Exercise Specialist (YES)
NASM Nutrition Specialist
USA Boxing Certified Coach
USA Boxing Pathway Official

About Jermaine
With over 12 years of experience in the fitness and boxing industry, Jermaine Rouse has transformed hundreds of lives by helping individuals unlock their mental strength, physical power, and spiritual foundation. Since 2013, he’s been dedicated to building a movement of confident, disciplined, and purpose-driven athletes through boxing, strength training, and mentorship.

Coaching Philosophy
Jermaine believes transformation starts from within. At Mad House Boxing, his mission is to help every person—no matter their background—become the strongest version of themselves. His training programs don’t just build muscle and cardio; they build confidence, mobility, and resilience for real life.
But it doesn’t stop at physical training. Jermaine is also committed to helping individuals:
Grow spiritually through a stronger relationship with Jesus Christ
Develop winning mindsets and mental toughness
Build successful businesses through entrepreneurial coaching

Beyond the Gym
Jermaine works with business owners, athletes, youth, and everyday individuals who are ready to level up in life, leadership, and legacy. Whether it’s through boxing, weightlifting, or faith-based mentorship, his goal is simple:
To release the best version of you—body, mind, and soul.

Coach Jerome

Meet Coach Jerome Featherstone

Specialty: Wrestling, Boxing, and MMA Coach

Location: Westminster

Jerome began wrestling at the age of four, developing a lifelong passion for combat sports. His dedication and skill led him to a standout career, eventually becoming a Division I competitor at the University of Oklahoma.
After wrestling, Jerome transitioned into boxing, capturing the 2013 South Atlantic Amateur Golden Gloves Championship. He is now an undefeated professional boxer with a 3-0 record. Expanding his combat repertoire, Jerome entered the world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), where he currently holds a professional record of 4-2 and continues to pursue his dream of competing in the UFC.
Beyond his own competitive success, Jerome has been coaching wrestling for over 11 years, working with some of Maryland’s elite high schools and the Maryland Junior Wrestling League. He is also a certified personal trainer, specializing in strength, conditioning, and endurance training for clients both in and out of the ring.
Personal Mantra: Consistency is the key to success.
Training Style: Authentic and results-driven.
Why I Do This: “I love to see people grow. My mission is to guide and assist in every step of their transformation. My strength and spirit come from God—because with Him, all things are possible!”

Coach William

Meet Coach William Hoke

Specialty: Boxing Coach

Location: Eldersburg

My name is Will Hoke, and I have been a coach at Madhouse Boxing for the past two years. I bring over eight years of experience in combat sports and martial arts, with a deep background in Yin-Chuan Karate, in which I hold a 2nd-degree black belt and have trained for 16 years.
In addition to my martial arts expertise, I am a Certified USA Boxing Coach and have served ringside at multiple amateur events. I am also an ISSA Certified Personal Trainer, specializing in boxing and strength & conditioning programs tailored to each client’s needs.
Coaching is my passion—it brings me great joy to watch young athletes grow, both inside the gym and in competition. My mission is to ensure that every student, regardless of skill level, receives proper guidance in the art and discipline of boxing.

Coach Andrew

Meet Coach Andrew Hill Jr.

Specialty: Head Boxing Coach

Location: Eldersburg

My name is Andrew Hill Jr., and I am a Certified USA Boxing Coach with over 10 years of boxing experience. In addition, I am a Certified Personal Trainer, Strength & Conditioning Coach, and a Certified USA Boxing Official.

As the Head Boxing Coach at Madhouse Boxing in Eldersburg, MD, I teach the art of boxing to people of all ages and backgrounds. My coaching style is focused on building skill, discipline, and confidence—whether you’re a beginner looking to learn the fundamentals or an athlete striving for competition.

I currently coach several amateur boxers, and I am guiding them toward their goals of becoming professional fighters.