Keeping It Clean

Why Hygiene Matters for Little Martial Artists

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Martial arts is a fantastic way for kids to build confidence, discipline, and physical skills—but it also involves close contact, shared equipment, and plenty of floor time on the mats. That’s why good hygiene is so important for young martial artists. A few simple habits can keep your child—and their classmates—healthy and safe, ensuring everyone can enjoy class without getting sidelined by illness or injury.

Keep Nails Short

Trimming fingernails and toenails may seem minor, but it’s one of the easiest ways to prevent accidental scratches. Long nails can also harbor dirt and germs, making injuries and infections more likely. A quick nail check before class is a simple way to protect everyone.

Check for Open Wounds

Minor cuts, scrapes, or rashes are common in active kids. Open wounds can sometimes lead to infections, which no one wants for our little ones. Before class, make sure any skin that isn’t fully healed is given time to recover. If your child has a wound that needs a bandaid, they should skip class until it’s fully healed, bandaids are not a good idea to wear on the mats as they can come off. This helps keep your child and their classmates healthy and maintains a clean training environment.

Clean Gear and Clothes

Dirty uniforms and clothes carry sweat, bacteria, and germs from one class to the next. Make sure your child comes to training in clean, dry clothing, and wash their gear regularly. This helps prevent bacteria from spreading and keeps the dojo fresh for everyone.

Arrive Clean

Your child should come to training reasonably clean. If they’ve been playing outside, running around, or rolling in the dirt, a quick wash or change of clothes helps reduce the spread of germs and keeps the mats healthier for everyone.

Respect the Mats

• The mats are where the training happens but they can also be a hotspot for germs if not treated carefully. Help by teaching your child to:

• Stay on the mats in their bare feet rather than running back and forth onto non-mat areas, which can bring dirt and germs onto the training surface from other areas. ALWAYS wear your shoes/sandals when stepping off the mats.

• Avoid sitting on off-mat areas while waiting for class. I know some dojos may not have large areas, but we don’t want the littles sitting on the floor where people walk and then getting on the mat to train. High-traffic floors carry germs that can be tracked back onto the mats.

• Keep the mats free of unnecessary items.

Final Thoughts

By following these simple hygiene habits, your little martial artist can train safely, stay healthy, and enjoy every class to the fullest. Martial arts is about learning, growing, and having fun and it’s hard to do that if your child or anyone in class is sidelined with an illness that could have been prevented

Remember: no shame, only learning. Every parent and child starts somewhere and now you know exactly what your little warrior should wear for class. As always, any questions, we're here to help best we can!