IMMAFA's exciting new Youth Development Program is the first of its kind, designed to take kids as young as eight years old right through to the age of eighteen under an Olympic based program. The program will be rolled out in IMMAFA member gyms and run only by IMMAF globally accredited coaches (courses will resume shortly).

It incorporates five key pillars:

Governance

Complete assurance for parents with only qualified and insured coaches, with the required ‘working with children’ authority able to run the program, also continued oversight and support from a dedicated team at IMMAFA.  

Monitored Progression

An Olympic-based Long Term Athlete Development program (LTAD) with set milestones to achieve in both technical MMA training and strength & conditioning, all age and gender-specific.  

Education

A structured, progressive syllabus created by the world governing body of mixed martial arts - IMMAF and taught under an Olympic system of coaching. They will also learn how their body works with the inclusion of a long-term athlete development strength and conditioning program, which is also age and gender-specific.  

Competition Pathway

The world governing body of MMA (IMMAF) has strict governance in place around competition within our sport for anyone under the age of 18, zero head contact being just one of them, something some other sports are starting to look at more. We will also be using a newly launched mat-based competition format in the first few stages of the program, enabling kids to gain confidence through competition in a safe and modular competition format.  

Mental Health  

Martial Arts is amazing for kids of all ages, it provides them with structure, self-confidence and helps them to improve their physical and mental health, as we know that children in today’s world are under increasing emotional pressure with teenage suicide levels the highest they have ever been. So, the ability to offer counselling for kids on the program for whatever reason, especially in their teenage years is something we feel very strongly about.  

Through this program and only when they are ready, we can provide kids with the best and safest competition pathway in the world of MMA. From complete blank canvases through to elite eighteen-year-old athletes, who have the opportunity to compete on the world stage from as early as twelve years old. But if the competition route isn't for them, the benefits this program brings are truly priceless.  

Team IMMAFA