Martial arts for children in Malmö

Many sports under one name

Martial arts is an umbrella term. The Swedish Budo & Martial Arts Federation covers 28 sports and 19 sub-federations, and the sub-federations set their own competition and grading rules. Judo, karate, taekwondo, wrestling and boxing have their own federations within the Swedish Sports Confederation, and the Confederation urges each federation to adapt guidelines, courses and development models for children to its own sport. Rules, belts and ages for children can therefore differ between sports. Ask which federation the club belongs to. In the Budo & Martial Arts Federation's club register, you can see which clubs are members.

When can your child start?

The Budo & Martial Arts Federation has a sports school for children called Kampsportsskolan. It is built on play fighting, meaning games where children pull, push, chase, hold and wrestle in playful ways. The play requires consent and cooperation. The federation describes the school as a gentle way into training in a specific sport. The club decides how old a child must be, so look at the group's ages.

Questions to ask the club

Can your child try it? Ask whether your child can join a few sessions first. During trial sessions at a club in the Budo & Martial Arts Federation, the federation's accident insurance applies, even for non-members.

What does it cost, and what is included? Ask what the term costs, whether a membership fee is added, and whether the uniform, gradings and competitions cost extra.

How much contact is there? Ask what training looks like in the children's group and whether techniques to the head are used. In the federation's sports with techniques to the head, anyone who competes must hold a valid competition card.

What equipment is needed? Ask which uniform and protective gear your child needs, and when. Ask whether things can be borrowed at first.

Can you watch the gradings? Ask whether parents can watch training and belt gradings, and whether the club needs help when it hosts competitions.

What training do the coaches have? The Budo & Martial Arts Federation's coach education has three steps, and step 1 is open to all members. The federation prefers participants to be at least 16. Ask what training and grade the coaches have.

How are coaches checked? Since 2020, sports clubs must ask for a limited extract from the criminal records register for anyone with direct and regular contact with children. The Budo & Martial Arts Federation says the check should be repeated, for example once a year. Ask how the club does it. If something worries you, turn first to the club's board. If that is not possible, you can contact the federation, your RF-SISU district or the Sports Ombudsman.

Martial arts in Malmö

Kul i Malmö is the city's calendar of free activities for children and young people. When we read it in September 2026, it listed trial martial arts training for girls aged 11 to 15. The programme changes, so check the calendar.

At a martial arts club that has joined Fritidskortet, the national leisure card, you can pay the participation fee and membership fee with the card. Read more about Fritidskortet in Malmö

How Playsa helps

On Playsa you can see martial arts groups in Malmö with ages, district and times where the club has given them, and whether there is a trial session. Always ask the club whether there is a place.

Sources

Read on 17 September 2026. The sources are in Swedish.

• Svenska Budo & Kampsportsförbundet, "Underförbund"
• Riksidrottsförbundet, förteckning över specialidrottsförbund med engelsk översättning
• Svenska Budo & Kampsportsförbundet, "Frågor & svar"
• Svenska Budo & Kampsportsförbundet, "MotoriQ och fysisk litteracitet"
• Svenska Budo & Kampsportsförbundet, "Försäkring"
• Svenska Budo & Kampsportsförbundet, "Tävling"
• Svenska Budo & Kampsportsförbundet, "Utbildning"
• Svenska Budo & Kampsportsförbundet, "Trygg budo och kampsport"
• Malmö stad, "Om Kul i Malmö"
• Malmö stad, "Kul i Malmö", kalendern
• Fritidskortet, "Så använder du Fritidskortet"
• Riksidrottsförbundet, "Riktlinjer för barn- och ungdomsidrott"