Comments on: MMA for kids? You’ve got to be kidding me!

By: MarcusOrilius

MarcusOrilius — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:43:20 +0000

LOL – This whole issue is ridiculous… ANYBODY who thinks MMA for kids is evil, sick, wrong, etc. needs to get a grip. Like ANY contact or high-risk sport, MMA is definitely dangerous – so I hope all you “concerned” citizens have included ALL physically dangerous sports in your rantings? Rugby, football, wrestling, skateboarding, trampolines, hockey, skiing, etc. are ALL just as (if not more) dangerous than properly organized MMA. Do the research: http://www.headbraininjuries.com/brain-injuries-sports. I don’t see martial arts anywhere on there… and there are plenty of kids competing in various martial arts tournaments. MMA is just mixing various martial arts together. Are Karate or Judo tournaments evil as well?

How many of you outraged parents let your child ride a bike or would allow them to use a trampoline? LOL – What a bunch of HYPOCRITES! The fact is simple – if you REALLY cared for the safety of children, you would be focusing your rage on the activities that really contribute to the problem you care so much about. I am way more nervous when my kids climb on the tramp or go for a bike ride than when they compete in Muay Thai or BJJ – and yes, even MMA when available. BTW, in the three years of them doing these evil and irresponsible activities, there have been no concussions, broken bones or damaged souls. And if they preferred not to compete, that choice is always theirs – after all, we don’t all have the drive to be competitive.

Come on, just because you don’t get it or have no clue about the difference between “fighting” and a “sport”, doesn’t mean others don’t. I guess you think kids should “train” in rugby, skateboarding, riding a bike, etc without actually doing them? If so, please stay on the couch and play video games – leave the contact sports to those who are more physically inclined. Geez, no wonder the kids in the US are so fat and weak with such “responsible” parents like you…

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By: Leslie

Leslie — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:18:02 +0000

I feel that if your child has trained for several years and receives high academic achievements within his training, at a certain point there should be the opportunity for them to have VERY SUPERVISED fight. I have an 8-year-old son that trains every day in karate, muay-thai, ju-jitsu, and other types of MA. He goes to tournaments and fights there. He fights at his dojo’s. However, he respects what he has learned and never would he use what he has learned elsewhere. He watches the fights on PP view and wants nothing more than to be like those who fight MMA. He understands that he can seriously get hurt like the adults do. He knows that its not some ballot class, it real life and it can take you some where. Some people have said that parents live vicariously through their children. Not our case. I have never been into a fight in my life, nor do I ever want too. It scares me when my son fights at tournaments against people he/we dont know, but he wins. He does well. I feel that there are those who are weak and those who are strong. Sometimes people get hurt and sometimes they dont, either way everyone walks away with something. Also, I feel that I need to address the issue that someone brought up about people fighting dogs in comparison to children. That is the most ignorant thing that I have ever heard. For one thing, dog fighting is to the death. Most of the time the people involved are low-class, drug dealing, second class citizens gambling on who losses and who wins. The lossing dog is generally left behind or abandoned for their inability to win. I see it all the time in the Veterinary Emergency room that I work in. If juveniles are given the opportunity to participate in MMA fighting then it will be closesly monitored like any other sport, and not in an abandoned building somewhere far away from medical treatment in needed. So in short, I’m for it and would allow my son participate in it if HE so chooses to do so. Those who are adversarial to my opnions might question my cognitive ability, but I am well educated and traveled.

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By: Maurice

Maurice — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:28:38 +0000

I am 13, the video I saw was kind of sick to me, I practice mma just as training but I also hope there could be a small competition of it. When I say a competition I mean like the TKD ones or the judo a small open area, this guy put two kids on a cage and send them to fight like if they were animals in a show.

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By: F Obrien

F Obrien — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 04:20:32 +0000

I love the sport of MMA but this is “Child Abuse”.

It as sick as a dog fight. And I wonder why we protect dogs better than we protect children from ignorant parents that wish to live vicariously through their kids. So much for a kinder gentler nation. Martial Art is so health for a child. MMA is like the deformed Evil twin. Age cap Please or make the parents fight it out.

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By: david

david — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 14:05:23 +0000

Honestly this is completely outrageous and stupid,
As a parent I would never even consider MMA for kids. It promotes violence as well as agressivnes. If you want to show discipline and respect to a child the age of 4, MMA is not the way. I would honestly ban this sport for children and teens. Everything is fine and dandy until its your kid laying in a hospital table. PLEASE KEEP YOUR KIDS OUT OF THIS HORRIFIC SPORT

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By: MMA Chump

MMA Chump — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:32:39 +0000

Are you kidding? Why the fuss? My friend is a boxer and when he had amateur fights, the ages went all the way down to 10 or so. Where was the fuss then?

Now because it’s national?

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By: Matt

Matt — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 23:09:13 +0000

Once again, after almost 70 comments, has anyone looked up the actual numbers? Is there a trail of broken munchkins left in the wake of kids mma? Should they be doing things that are safe like cheerleading, gymnastics, Football, wrestling or hockey?

I actually did.

In general, the Journal of Science and Sport says”

“The findings of the present study do not provide evidence that combat sports have alarmingly high rates of injuries resulting in emergency department visits.”

and specifically,

“The lower knockout rates in MMA compared to boxing may help prevent brain injury in MMA events. ”

But the rest of the literature including Children’s Hospital Boston, the CDC, Consumer Reports, Pediatrics Journal, CTSafekids, and many others have plenty to say about the dangers of gymnastics, boxing, football, hockey, basketball, and other ’safe, traditional’ sports that people mindlessly recommend to kids on regular occasions.

I thought this was a poorly researched, knee-jerk reaction festival of jumping to conclusions. Maybe actual research might help. I’ve linked to many of the articles I mention at my blog, kempoinfo.com.

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By: Donn

Donn — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 03:57:59 +0000

Just want to give a nod to Mike Wolfe/Kelvin. The MMA community continues to steam roll its’ opposition with the bandwagon mentality. I believe kids should hold off(note that I said .kids. it should be the kids choice whether he likes the activity or not). A person should train and learn techniques, but not participate in actual full contact competition until atleast 16 if they decide they want to do it, given the obvious potential of damage(not just from head trauma as some of the crusaders are raving about, but other areas that are still growing that could potentially be damaged.). I would probably limit it to no strikes to the head competition, and remove the more damaging strikes such as knees/elbows as well. I don’t see the problem with light competitions/contests if the .kid. wants to do it, it’s properly supervised. The biggest risk here is damaging of joints/head trauma, so limit those areas, supervise it, and I could see light competitions, or if you don’t want to go that far, just light sparring.

But of course, I expect this post to go ablaze in at most an hour, as any opinion not popular with the mma majority is doomed to be razed. But I’ve already given my stance, just playing Devil’s Advocate.

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By: HexRei

HexRei — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:25:55 +0000

Rich:
“training submission grappling sans strikes while wearing headgear doesn’t make much sense”

i don’t remember touching on that..

i don’t think i mentioned having a submission match with headgear..

Well, you did say:

oh.. and i LOOOOVED how as soon as Dana said “these kids are wearing headgear” it showed the little black kid in the inverted triangle WITHOUT HEADGEAR!!!

maybe you were just pointing out the timing of white’s comment within the film then?

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By: Atom

Atom — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:51:04 +0000

This is a good debate. .

I think everyone has a good arguement, but most seem to be split between discussing the video clip above (past) and the rather different matter of how MMA training/competition should be for kids.

Im sure as fans / parents we like to see kids gain the skills and knowledge of BJJ, wrestling, kicks and punches.

Im sure not everyone here wants to see kids injured or want to pay to watch juniors MMA events.

#33 DocWagner nips it in the bud

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