The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport wants 2.5 million more adults and 1 million more children active by 2030, and it’s a challenge that sport is gladly taking by the horns. But outdated stigmas continue to block us from meeting this goal, nowhere more so than in combat sports.
That’s why Fight for Peace, a Sport England system partner, has created a resource to finally put these myths to rest. By challenging common misconceptions and instead flipping the narrative, we demonstrate how the extraordinary potential of boxing, martial arts, and combat sports can transform lives in the UK and across the globe. Supported by National Governing Bodies and partners across the sector, we are united in ensuring combat sports are no longer defined by fiction, but instead by reality.
What comes to mind when you hear the words boxing club? Raw aggression? A ring filled with fighters risking brain injury for a crowd? Or maybe you think martial arts are strictly for young men, designed only to teach people how to throw a punch?
Our resource proves the exact opposite.
The reality is that combat sports are exceptionally powerful tools for positive social change. Every single day at our Academy in east London, we see firsthand how boxing and martial arts build self-confidence, instil discipline, and boost mental and physical well-being. Beyond physical fitness, they equip young people with essential life skills to thrive in the gym, in their communities, in their careers, and within themselves.
To back this up, we haven’t just used our own data and experience in this resource; we’ve also pulled together research from leading global associations, such as the United Nations, and statistics from academics worldwide. The final piece is one that’s thoughtful, thorough and impossible to ignore.
Before launching, we put the resource in front of our Fight for Peace Alliance – a global network of grassroots organisations sharing knowledge and solidarity – and their feedback helped us sharpen its impact.
The result is a resource that’s grounded, practical, and accessible. Whether you’re a coach writing a funding bid, a local club owner driving community outreach, or a trainer reassuring a concerned parent, this resource gives you the information you need at your fingertips.
Together, this evidence dismantles four persistent misconceptions surrounding combat sports:
- Combat Sports Clubs Teach People To Be Violent And Aggressive
- Combat Sports Are Just For Men And Boys
- Combat Sports Are A Hazardous Form Of Sport
- Combat Sports Starts And Ends In The Ring
Tackling these misconceptions is exactly why sports leaders have backed the project. As UK Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Association CEO Izzy Carnwarth put it:
“We welcome Fight for Peace’s Breaking the Myths resource to counter common, negative misconceptions about martial arts and combat sports, which provide so many valuable life skills and possess an incredible power to transform lives. Through its work with young people, Fight for Peace can truly demonstrate the life-changing impacts of participation on individuals and the wider positive effects on communities.”
The wider sports sector has rallied behind it, too. The resource has officially earned support from England Boxing, British Wrestling, British Judo, and GB Taekwondo.
As Fight for Peace CEO Lee Hemmings reflected, “Receiving support from different disciplines across the combat sports sector is a testament to how we stand as a united front. Whether we’re throwing a jab or a shoulder throw, shooting a double leg, or spinning a roundhouse – the rules, techniques, and combinations couldn’t be more different, but our unity shows just how committed we are as a sport to see as many young people get active as possible.”
At the end of the day, combat sports aren’t about conflict. When paired with real support, they give young people the resilience, confidence, and community they need to thrive.
The proof is here. Now it’s time to spread the word. Will you join the conversation?
To read the full resource for free: click here
