The Responsibility Project^®. Exploring what it means to do the right thing

Cage Fighting for Kids

555 Comments

May 12, 2008 by Kathy McManus

When two dogs are in a cage to fight each other, it’s illegal. 

When two children are in a cage to fight each other, it’s part of the fastest growing sport in America: “ultimate fighting.” 

Also known as cage fighting or mixed martial arts, ultimate fighting is a no-holds-barred combo of wrestling, boxing, and martial arts that is increasingly popular, often bloody, and usually staged in a cage. 

Now, in the sport’s latest spin-off, kids as young as six are brawling in cages, using kicks, body blows, and choke holds in a contest of physical submission. 

Unlike adults who engage in ultimate fighting, kids wear padding and head gear. And also unlike adults, kids who cage-fight can only do so with the consent and support of their parents, who say the violent fighting is no more dangerous than wrestling and believe it teaches skills like discipline, respect, responsibility, and control. 

“It’s wonderful,” said a Missouri mother who encourages her 10 and 14 year old sons in ultimate fighting. “They build such good character and good friendships, and that’s what you need to further yourself in life.” 

But while some applaud, others are appalled. “I have parents who kind of scare me sometimes,” said the owner of a Massachusetts gym where kids train in ultimate fighting. “Moms and dads letting their kids choke them just for practice reasons. The days of Dad throwing a ball with little Billy are over.” 

Medical experts are also concerned about the pummeling kids endure in cage fighting, saying it can cause significant injuries to the neck and bones. 

There are no standardized laws governing children’s cage fighting matches in the U.S. Massachusetts and Missouri allow youth contests, while other states ban the practice or don’t regulate it at all. “I think it borders on child abuse,” said a Missouri legislator who has introduced a bill to ban ultimate fighting for children in that state. 

As a spectator sport, ultimate fighting continues to grow, its ever-larger TV audiences turning cage combat into a mega-millions fight club, with an increasingly younger face. “I daydream during school,” said one 14 year old ultimate fighter, “of me being in the cage with everybody watching me on TV.” 

 Tell us what you think: Is cage fighting for kids a responsible sport? Should anyone be responsible for regulating it—parents?...the government? Do viewers of ultimate fighting play a role in the sports increasing appeal to children?

555 Comments

What do you think? Leave a comment

• May 13, 2008 by Kina Barnum

  Let me get this straight...rooster fights, dog fights are illegal, umm...animal right's activists and organizations will breath down your neck if you even pull a piece of fur out of an animal. If you spank your child there's the potential of Social Services being at your door and taking your child away, and somehow this is an okay thing to do to our kids. That Missouri legislator is right, it does border on child abuse. There's a reason why some sports like wrestling are started at a certain age. Do they honestly want to see their child someday look like those men? I noticed one kid only concern was to be on TV someday, I wonder why he thinks it's so important to be on TV! I really feel bad for these kids, cause you know it's going to be taken out in the kindergarten play yard.

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  • May 14, 2008 by viktor

    The Roman empire crumbled, Greek, Persian, Babylonian all of them at the end of their glory became hungry for spectacles and received pleasure watching gladiators fight. Of nothing better to do people stand on their heads! Our Christian civilization is disintegration because we're not Christian anymore! When I see people embracing and petting their dogs like their children, and if asked, with a straight face will tell you that child-killing (abortion) is perfectly normal, it makes me sick. I like animals, and am for protecting them from cruelty, but a human being is infinitely more precious than an animal because our soul lives eternally. God made us with an indestructible, invisible part of our being = soul.

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    • May 22, 2008 by Lila DuPratt

      What of us who are not Christian? Are my morals less important? How about the separation of church and state?

    • June 5, 2008 by Kina Barnum

      I'm a follower of Jesus, however to state that we need to be a Christian society in order for it not to crumble is somewhat inaccurate. In the past even the civilizations that heeded Christ's teachings fell apart. It's just a part of life to make room for the new. And people who are not Christian do have morals as well they just don't use the excuse of a bible and God to proclaim their views which I tend to respect more than my own fellow Christians. But since this is off the topic now I'll try and bring us back on the main topic which is child too young to be fighting in cages not only is it sending the wrong message, basically that this sport is more important than academics, learning how to cope their own self-esteem, I mean using SPORTS as the only source to build self-esteem builds an unbalanced complex. There are so many other reasons but it's too many to post.

    • June 24, 2008 by Beth Prenot

      Victor, how is it you've come upon the conclusion that our soul's are infinitely more precious than a being who is not human, be it plant or animal? You speak of our soul, but consider that all living beings have a spirit. What if all living spirits are truly eternal once they are created? Have you ever set beside a different animal as it was dying and been there through the death stage. I have. "Something" always moves on at death and leaves the shell of a body behind. Beth

    • April 9, 2009 by Jim

      Why was it okay for small boys in the 1900s through World War II to engage in boxing matches with punches to the head allowed and no headgear (which didn't become mandatory until 1947), but it's not okay for them to engage in a sport that's mostly grappling and doesn't allow punches to the head? Just looking for a little logic, here. We were presumably Christian in the early part of the 20th century, so I'd like to know how a potentially more damaging sport was fine, but this isn't.

    • December 15, 2009 by Zach Lucas

      I'm a Mixed Martial Artist. I'm also a Christian! Gasp! How can that be?? Well, I believe that it is where your heart is. I love to compete and give glory to God. My heart is not out for blood when I fight. I'm testing my abilities, not trying to kill the other person. I don't see it as "dog fighting" because the people you see in the cage or ring are in there because they want to be there and train to be there. Too many people are looking at fighters as satan-worshipping heathens, when a majority of the competitors are the exact opposite. I don't want to get off on a rant, so I will leave it at this- Don't assume that there is no way that MMA can't be used to spread the gospel and give glory to God.

    • July 7, 2010 by Chandler Sandberg

      ok this is the kids choice not yours if they want to risk thier lives to have a little fun let them but i think you should show them what happens if they go too far in the fight. maybe they would change their mind and stop the fight and spread the word on how risky it could be expecially on the younger ones

  • June 28, 2008 by Andy Blanton

    If the kids want to do it, then so be it. You'll never be able to ban Ultimate Fighting, it’s far too big now, and you need to some serious research on the subject before you bash it. There are rules and regulations that are very strict. As long as these children want to do it, and then let them. Children will fight regardless of knowledge - its how people are. Martial Arts will teach them self-control and responsibility. Kids who don't know anything about fighting who fight on the "playground" just throw punches at the other kid until he feels like he's done. No, they don't teach that in martial arts. You won't be able to use the "it only teaches violence; they'll only use the knowledge to hurt other children" anymore. Like I said, do some research on it.

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  • July 6, 2008 by Jason Bahrt

    Rooster, dog, and other animal fights are illegal because they are being forced to fight. However there is no one standing behind the kids involved in ultimate fighting with a whip, you are also wrong about wrestling, there is no age. I am involved with former Olympic wrestler Ken Chertow's wrestling camp and there are kids as young as 5 and 6 there. You are also being hypocritical about stating that we don't want our kids looking like those men, so your implying that appearances mean a lot, and yet you are shaming a kid for wanting to be on television? And about your statement with kids taking it out on the playground, mixed martial arts training is not just teaching people how to incapacitate their opponents, it teaches them self respect, self dignity, self discipline and it also teaches them to respect their teammates and opponents. If you watch any UFC or WEC fight, at the end of 99% of the fights they give each other hugs, and hand shakes.

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    • October 9, 2009 by Nathan Gow

      Personally i dont agree with children at the age of five or six, even ten are ready for this sort of thing. There should be an age limit. At the very least 10 and under should be prohibited. A kid that young cant grasp the meaning behind martial arts. But i believe that those who are well behaved and not overly violent should be able to participate. I believe people are ridiculously biased when it comes to cage fighting. It has come a very long way from when it started and in comparing the injuries of cage fighting to boxing there is a big difference. there have been over 1000 deaths caused by boxing. over 1000. and how many have there been in cage fighting? From what i found there was no more than 10, most of which were caused by pre-existing medical problems. The number of knockouts comparitably is much lower also. knokouts can cause extreme brain trauma which can lead to brain damage. The facts are set. Im not biased though. i do love cage fighting but i havent always. i used to be against it, very much so. But what people need to do is look deeper into the sport, there are actually many rules to prevent serious injuries

  • March 2, 2009 by bill

    I say it is no different then teaching your children any sport such as kung-fu or football. there will always be people who think your child should stay at home an read a book, an no I am not against reading. there will always be people who think all contact sports should be outlawed.

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  • March 22, 2009 by Diego

    MMA is not as bad as some of you make it sound. Mixed martial arts teaches kids lots of things about themselves. Some qualities that are taught are courage, respect, control, honesty,ect... how are these bad things for our kids to learn? especially if they have to learn them through self-discovery!!! teaching our kids something from a book or to tell your kids something is great but watch them learning and thinking for themselves is priceless. How can a sport that teaches such things be bad. Yes at the professional level can be brutal but it is not like at amateur levels or for kids competition.

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  • July 6, 2009 by Jen Goodall

    Although many of you seem to feel that this is an outrage, my daughter participates in jiu jitsu and MMA training. She is 5 years old and we do not allow her to spar unless it is boxing or jiu jitsu and she has a worthy opponent. The only way for someone to become great at a sport is to practice; this is true of all sports and all things in life not just fighting. I won't sit here and say there isn't the potential for injury; there is. What I am saying is it is just as safe, in fact, potentially safer than other sports. Soccer has the leading concussion rate in sports, but no one is complaining about pushing our children into that. You need to make sure you have a good trainer in anything you do to keep you safe. As far as someone mentioning that this is bordering on child abuse and that there's a reason for age requirements for sports; There ARE age requirements for mixed martial arts and any martial art that your child enters into. There ARE age requirements for sparring and if you aren't comfortable with your 13 year old sparring than take him somewhere else or mandate how his training is carried out. BTW children start wrestling at age 7 in most states, younger sometimes depending on the place they find to train. Just a side note: I played soccer for many years and now suffer shin splints that cause severe pain as well as horrible knees that will need to be replaced and have had some wicked injuries from clashing into people. In practice at age 14, I flipped completely around in the air and landed on my side causing me to urinate blood and end up in the emergency room from an internal kidney injury. MMA isn't any worse than that.

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  • March 3, 2010 by Roy Wilkinson

    just look at the competions around your area for "martial arts" and go to one of them. tae kwon do competions puch and kick, but nobody is concern about them.

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  • March 29, 2010 by joe pandolph

    Life, in the real world has always been a street fight.This will never change. Im sorry if you dont see that, Im more sorry if you dont prepare yourself& your family.The number of people who`s envy,resentment & hate of our freedoms &life; style, our relative prosperity, who mask these base feelings behind political B.S., or a pernicious & at the command levels at the very least factitious & factious religious distortions. So, from the desperado,with his drug habit & his cheaply made knife, (undealt with by GOV. till after many tragedies, if at all.) to the conspirator for fun & profit or the greater glory of the God his actions in fact blaspheme.You may not want to except it but our enemies are legion.

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  • April 22, 2010 by Pat

    I disagree first and for most. How would a mixed martial arts sport for children be any different then allowing the youth to par-take in karate, boxing, school sanctioned wrestling, or even pee-wee football for that matter. It does not matter what your religion, your ethnicity, or culture, ever known civilization was founded by wars and fighting. There isn't a section in the bible that does not recollect upon a war. I would rather have one of my children fight in a cage then fighting at school trying to reinact what they saw on tv. However, I do agree that they shouldn't be doing it just to get on tv, majority of these contact sports involve discipline and respect. And lastly, these skills can help them protect themselves if they get into a situation where mommy or daddy, or the teacher can pull it apart for them. I have been doing mma since I was 8 years old. I don't have the disfigured ears, the twisted nose, or talk like a 5th grader. I train my kids little by little not pushing anything on them they don't want. My son is in karate and shows more respect for people and the art he is doing then those who just wake up each day to knock down something that they disagree with. If you haven't tried any of it or are to scared to then leave it alone. I do more for my family, my state, and my country on a daily basis then you could do in a month. I give my all to protect mouths like your and when I come across blogs like yours it makes me sick. If you don't want your children involved then don't let them, but don't try to stop others who enjoy and would like to participate.

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  • April 27, 2010 by Joe Anastasi

    I own one of the few MMA training centers that have a kids program. I certainly understand the concern of parents and the general public. It was not too long ago that the sport between adults was outlawed in most states-and still is in some. I have two young boys: one particpates in the program, the other dosn't.

    Parents should be careful when enrolling any child into such a program. What are the credentials of the teachers? What is the philosphy of the camp? Unlike, other martial arts ( with some exceptions) these kids will engage and learn how to really defend themselves. How they use and view thier skills often depend on their teachers and parents. We do our best to encourage them to use their skills only when necessary and we dismiss anyone we find doing otherwise.

    Aspirations of stardom come in many dreams: singing, acting, sports, WWE. MMA is no different, nor should it be. As far as the sport itself: it is just a combination of certain martial arts that have be accepted for childrenf for decades.

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  • May 21, 2010 by Shihan Scott A. Bean

    I am a master instructor in Coju-jitsu. I also teach MMA. My sons have been learning the arts since they were small children. I live in Washington State where mma actually started for the United States. Here there is a group of us instructors and coaches that are battling against fight promoters that do nothing but put kids in for personal gain. We are all quite upset that what we started over 20 years ago is taking a wrong turn. A few things I would like to address: The cage; the cage is not a structure designed to increase the danger of the sport, it is quite the opposite. It is for fighter safety. Wrestling throws are dangerous if done in a boxing ring. The cage is a safety feature not a side show prop. Other sports; kids have been competing in wrestling, boxing, kickboxing, taekwondo, judo and many other contact sports for many years. A kid or adult dies from boxing every single year. Injuries happen in wrestling every day, along with all the other sports mentioned. MMA is the same as all these other sports except for two things, there are less injuries and it is a combination of all of the above mentioned sports. Our kids are competing in the same things they always have, just MMA puts them all together at one time instead of one at a time. Kids in competition; I am a father. My oldest son has been studying martial arts since he was 2 years old. You will never see my son be disrespectful or bring dishonor to any other human being. He will not start a fight, and will find ways to walk away from one first. He gets good grades in school has a job at the age of 17 and is well on his way to being a great man. He is highly trained in a military special forces system of martial arts. He could survive in any environment you put him in with only the clothes on his back. I have trained him not only to be a deadly weapon but also how to temper that with compassion and wisdom. He is a cage fighter. At the age of 16 he ko'ed a 26 year old marine in 12 seconds. The difference between my son and those kids you have probably seen is that they do not have a responsible instructor. One that instills a sense of discipline and honor within their students, and believes that a kid should be well prepared before being allowed to compete. Normally we do not allow a junior athlete to compete against an adult, however my son is an obvious exception to the rule. All of our amateur fighters including adults wear protective gear. Ten is the youngest age of our competitors and (unless they are like my son) they are usually only doing submission grappling (no strikes allowed). Those that compete at the next level do not do so unless they are properly prepared. MMA fighters in general; There was talk of a lady who said that her sons get a lot of positive things out of MMA. That is because they probably belong to a traditional martial arts school that competes in MMA. A far cry different than just an MMA school who's sole purpose is to groom fighters. In a good school competition is secondary. A persons developement into a better person is always first and for most, in an appropriate school. You are walking down the street, you come to a darker area (one of the street lights is out). You pick up your pace, your a little scared, and you don't know this area of town too well. Someone moves in the shadows you turn and when you do someone else grabs you from behind. The numbing pain in your lips along with the taste of blood and gravel in your mouth, tell you that these guys aren't very nice. You feel someone rummaging through your pockets despite the haze that clouds your head. Suddenly you hear a deafening crack. The hands that were beginning to wrap around your throat let loose. You hear someones pained groans in the background while another series of thuds, cracks, and yells ring out. As your mind begins to collect itself and become aware. You glimpse a lone figure standing above you. His back is to you. You can see that he has put himself between you and your assailants. As you collect yourself and come to your feet you notice that the guys standing before you is nothing more than a teenage boy. You tell him thank you, and he simply smiles and says you don't need to thank me you are safe now. When you ask who he is he hands you a business card and says. I am John Smith I am a student at Any Name Karate School. I compete in MMA cagefighting. Is there anything I can do for you. Do you need any other assistants. If a school does not instill this in its students that please keep your children away. You are right the bad schools will cause problems on the playground. Don't restrict the kid from competing. Keep an eye on the coaches and instructors. Make them responsible and accountable for teaching properly and allowing competition only when students are ready both mentally and physically. Finally: Cagefighting and Religion; Not as tough as it sounds. I know a school in my area that is owned and operated by a christian man. He has pulled many kids off of the street and given them direction away from drug and gang activities. A lot of times at no charge to the parents. He is a licensed foster parent, and owns his own fitness center. He promotes cagefights. Some of his kids compete and some don't. Only those that are prepared. If he didn't promote he couldn't help anyone. It is because he does that he can provide the service to his community that is so desperately needed. Our future is being thrown to the way side by bad parenting and unwarranted interference by governments into families. I haven't decided which of the two is more detrimental, however that is a subject for another discussion. Some of these schools are our saving grace. In closing remember It is said that the meek shall inherit the earth. That is because those of us that are strong and wise will fight to save it then hand it over to those that will help to make it better. I would like to thank everyone for their time, and impart to you the words I give to every class before they leave. "Go in peace, Walk in balance"

    Sincerely,

    Shihan Scott A. Bean

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  • May 29, 2010 by tiffany

    hi

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  • September 1, 2010 by steph

    ok ppl fight all the time and sometimes they dnt even get in trouble so wat sup wit tht maybe there no fight i can tell yhu one thing i fight all the time how do i stop huh

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• May 15, 2008 by Liam Gwynn Sauer-Wooden

  Man will always find a way to brutalize himself & his fellows. The problem with letting children engage in intentionally violent sports (as opposed to those wherein violence might occur as side effect of the sport) is that it enforces the idea that violence solves all problems at a time in a child's life when he/she has insufficient real-world experience to evaluate that philosophy. The very rise of this sport in popularity indicates to me that it fulfills some need within our species, so appealing to humanity as a whole won't reduce the violence. Parents have shown that they will always have amongst themselves those who willingly abuse their children mentally, emotionally, and physically, so a laissez-faire approach to parental policing of this "sport" won't reduce the violence done by it to children. This leaves me with saying that only governmental regulation of the sport, crafted by compassionate minds, might be effective.

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  • June 24, 2008 by Beth Prenot

    Liam, do you really feel governmental regulation is a solution to moral dilemmas? Also, please consider that all human beings have a limit to their patience simply because they are humans. When even the best of parents have been stressed beyond their own limits they will act or do something which may be very cruel in the moment (perhaps violently grabbing their child's arm). The receiving child's brain, unable to process cruelty hides this in their muscles or unconscious. We all are more likely to have hidden pain no matter how kind our folks were. And we all base our everyday actions in great part on this hidden pain we know nothing about. For some there is a lot of "manure" they know nothing about which guides all or most of their interactions with others, including young children. Will regulating any type of violence dissolve someones inner pain or simply multiply it? Beth

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  • March 3, 2010 by Roy Wilkinson

    Man your are so out there, do you have a child? Have you been to any of the classes in your area? dont make commints on something you know nothing about.

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• May 19, 2008 by Mia

  WOW!! Adding on to KINA: the irony of kids fighting. The kids involved with the Jena 6 situation (both white and black) went through all kinds of stuff for a little school yard fight. Kids are suspended from school for fighting or even a threat to fight someone. A fight in public could land them in juvenile hall and/or with criminal charges. But make it inhumane by giving them tactical training in fighting, a cage, and a camera crew and call it OKAY? Kids do this same kind of fighting on the streets and then post it on youtube for a little fame and all the country has uproar. But stick 'em in a cage and call it disciplined entertainment? These people have outright LOST THEIR MINDS!! These sports isolated alone are not nearly as dangerous as the combination of them with the mentality "by any means necessary". Whatever happened to the good old days when you put your kid in soccer or football or simple karate for camaraderie? Ultimate fighting for adults is a blood sport not really even appropriate for adults let alone children. This needs to be banned or have an age limit of 18.

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• May 22, 2008 by Lila DuPratt

  While I do admit that 10 is a tad young for this type of fighting, I see no problem for a 14 year old. My Grandfather's best friend was a wonderful man by the name of Buck. When Buck died a few years ago, I went with my grandfather to his dear friend's funeral. He told a story that I have taken with me and I wish to share with you now. (I'm going to quote Gramps as best as I can.) "When I was 14, there was this boy in my homeroom class that I couldn't stand. I didn't know what it was about him, but he just grated on my nerves. One day, during gym class, this boy popped off with a smart aleck comment about one thing or another. Well, I'd had about enough of him and I socked him in the mouth. He hit me back and we tussled on the floor a bit. I gave him a fat lip and a bloody nose. He gave me a shiner that made me look like I got boot polish in my eye. When I got home, my father looked at me, and simply said, `What does the other boy look like?' I looked my dad square in the eye, a little afraid of what he might say, and said, `Well, pop. He's out on the back porch and you can take a look at him yourself. May I give Buck a Coke'cola?' My father laughed and grabbed three sodas from the ice box. My father told me later, that you can never really know the measure of a man until you've tusseled with him a bit and gained each others respect as fellow men.” I am at an age to be getting married and settling down, and I want to find someone like my father and my grandfather. A man, who works eight hours a day, teaches my sons to play baseball, who could throw a punch if needed if it would defend me against would be attackers, and can fix my brakes.

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  • May 23, 2008 by juan mendez

    My sentiment exactly, well except the part of finding a man to marry. I think if this sport wants to be viewed legitimetly, it needs to be regulated and an age cap has to be instilled. Considering the amount of contact that is involved, I think six is way too young. It's no different than boxing, martial arts or wrestling. Each carries a higher risk of injuries than traditional sports (i.e football, baseball, basketball, soccer-or football to the rest of the world-). Each is essentially just a competition to see who inflicts more damage. As for it being child abuse, well that is an issue at the heart of any sport, activity, or competition. Whether it is beauty pageants, sports, or academics, parents will always push their kids to succeed, sometimes to an extreme. Will there be instances where kids will be severely hurt, both physically and emotionally? Probably, but thats a burden that these parents will have to face. At the same time, there will be kids who benefit greatly from it.

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  • July 6, 2008 by Jason Bahrt

    I completely agree with your story and your grandfather sounds like a great man.

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  • April 23, 2009 by tom tom

    You're missing the point here. There is self defense and competitive fighting and extreme violence. You need to differentiate. Yes, one should know how to defend oneself. but by encouraging this extreme, you validate and justify pointless violence. At the very least, children should not be encouraged to be violent. When they mature mentally and physically closer to adult age, then it becomes more their choice.,as does everything else, but to encourage this cage violence, is simply stupid.

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• May 22, 2008 by James Allard

  While I understand that physical activities that can lead to violent behavior (like football) are condoned as healthy outlets, I think that putting children into a cage and letting them bash away at each other is mentally ill. I have no problem with children learning self defense, or joining into a sport that could lead to violence, but this particular situation just seems twisted and despicable

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  • March 21, 2010 by Mark Conway

    In the past sixteen years there have been over 110 recorded deaths in boxing. This number is astonishing. I can't believe there are still some people here that can not seem to get past the use of elbows, knees and kicks. Once they see this they seem to think that they are watching a no-rules fight to the death. However, the people that see the sport this way are much more likely to sit down and enjoy a nice boxing match. Although it would seem that MMA is a very violent sport, it is actually safer than boxing because in MMA there are rules that help hurt fighters, less rounds and brain damage and death are extremely rare. In a 12-round championship boxing match there are about 350-600 punches that land. Ninety percent of these are to the head. Even in training, boxers wear protective headgear to protect the soft tissue on their face. However, this headgear does not protect the shots to the brain. Every time a fighter is hit in the head, the brain suffers the impact. This is where the brain damage in boxing comes from. Kids start boxing as early as 5 years old, yet there are no out cries?

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• May 31, 2008 by tad davis

  I have a 17 year old son who is a cage fighter. He pretty much stays out of trouble and the normal fights most kids have to deal with in school, as i did. I also have a 2 yr old son we teach mma moves too, but there is no way I could see putting him in an actual fight at 10. Training at 10 fine, but not a fight. It sounds more like the parents are trying too hard, too fast and too soon.

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  • June 29, 2008 by Louis Bryson

    I agree Tad! As an X MMA competitor I know that is just to much stress and pressure on a maturing body. Around sixteen is a good time to start a amateur career, then turn pro between nineteen and twenty one if that is your goal. The training is good character and self-esteem building as well as respect and compassion for other competitors in the early years. But for a long prosperous career you need to go slow taking care of your body building wisdom through experience as your body and skills grow. Every fighter knows once you pass your prime you need another way to make a living. You're always gonna have those who only see violence and don't understand our love for the pure science and psychology involved.

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  • April 9, 2009 by Jim

    First sane comment I've read on here. I would say no competition until 12-13, minimum.

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• June 2, 2008 by Beth Prenot

  Venting anger may let off tension, may prove who is physically stronger and could possibly say who is more present to the greatest degree. Isn't harming or aiming to physically injure another simply providing an opportunity to lessen the tendency to discuss problems? Teasing or mentally attempting to injure another is in the same field. Both aim to place emphasis on ranking, recognizing, and even building levels of differentiation between people. Consider the strengthening of egos which results. Does our world really need stronger egos? Were similarities to be explored instead, our egos would weaken their holds on us and true communication might be more common. Peace then possible. Please consider all the ramifications both long term and short term of building and emphasizing our differences.

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  • April 23, 2009 by Travis J Johnson

    I don't want my child to be a violent maniac and he won’t be. However, I would be as equally horrified to see him turn into a spineless hippie and crawl into a ball on the floor when in a confrontation that might turn physical. MMA is a sport. You'd find out it’s actually a safer sport than football if you'd bother to do any research. I know everyone reading this wants to be a judge happy junior ethicist but one thing that's really nice to bring to the table of any debate are some facts.

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  • July 3, 2009 by CFTrojan

    So, children get into an octagon and engage in mixed martial arts? How is it different from sparring at your karate schools or tae kwon do academies? How is it any worse than letting them watch the news? Martial arts, in any form, can have a significant impact on a child's ability to focus. It also teaches children that despite having the ability, skill, or physical prowess. There is a place and time for aggression. Mixed martial arts, or "ultimate fighting" as the author calls it is not the cockfighting it used to be. It is not an underground sport anymore. T here are rules, sanctions, and governing agencies. The drug testing in MMA is stronger than pro baseball. The long-term effects of MMA are less significant than boxing. What does religion have to do with this at all Kina? Did you know that most of the MMA fighters, especially those from outside the USA are devout Christians? They may not look like the people you go to church with, but they pray before their fights and many wear the Word on their bodies. They are PROUD to be lions of God - they don't hide on some message board critiquing our gutless society from behind closed doors.

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    • July 4, 2009 by andrew

      There is no difference between letting kids spar in martial arts classes and letting them practice mixed martial arts. They're still using pads and head gear. As long as the child is not being forced into the sport and can stop when they want, this is just another sport which people should partake.

  • July 11, 2009 by Jake O

    You're assuming that mixed martial arts is about anger. You're suggesting that mixed martial arts teaches people to resolve disputes through violence. But mixed martial arts is a sport, and the fighters don't have any problems with each other. Fighting is, by definition violent, but mixed martial arts is not really different than wrestling or basketball: it is an attempt at mastery and domination through sport. Of course, there is bad sportsmanship (people who want to shame, humiliate, and inflict physical harm) and there is good sportsmanship (people who appreciate a challenge, hug after a hard battle, and respect the skills and common aspirations of their opponents). At the least, MMA is no worse than any other competition, the most mundane of which (chess, badminton) can too be bitter, ruthless, and replete with the crude expression of negativity. Mixed martial arts is no worse 'just because there's hitting'. A good fighter is looking for an outcome (position, points, a win) not to inflict harm. Almost every great athlete stops trying to merely "beat-up" their opponents years before they achieve the kind of self-driven mastery which people have admired for millenia. Incidentally, you suggest that competition emphasizes differences, but a quick look at mixed martial arts will reveal a phenomenal amount of ethnic, geographic, racial, lifestyle, and personality diversity. Perhaps more than ANY other sport (besides maybe soccer) mixed martial arts is a global enterprise which doesn't discriminate or give special advantages to wealthy, connected individuals (unlike in tennis, golf, lacrosse, and other sports which require a large investment in equipment). If anything, mixed martial arts is a sport much like soccer or basketball in its global appeal and accessibility to even the least wealthy individuals.' I am not really addressing your larger point--that competition is less useful that seeking common ground--but I don't think mixed martial arts is the bogeyman in that story.

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• June 23, 2008 by Daniel Molina

  Civilization is not crumbling and you,re wrong. Well, cage fighting is a sport no different than football. you take risks and have fun and go to win. Also with football you need parental consent under a certain age. It's fun. I do it and greatly enjoy it. If you don't like it then don't let YOUR kids do it, but don.t tangle with other peoples lives because its not your place or anyone else's.

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  • June 24, 2008 by Beth Prenot

    Hello, Daniel. While at a celebration lately two young children started wrestling. It was all for "fun" in the beginning but as the 4 and 5 year olds continued someone got pushed down and hit his head on a brick. They had moved away from the safer center of the lawn to the area near the flower bed. Moments later the other became a surprised victim and was sobbing because the "friend" had shoved his finger back real hard and held it there. Pain inflicted pain. Later while chatting with the two children as they downed some refreshingly cool water, one of them picked up a board game adults had brought to play. "Boxers and Briefs" I believe was the name of it. "What's this asked one young man to which his mom answered from the other room, "It's a game for adults." And someone else called out "and Beth won't play it even though she did once before." "How come?" asked one boy of me. You know what happened when you both got carried away wrestling, somebody got hurt. With this game somebody can get really hurt too, but the hurt in this game is inside. And inside hurts can't always be seen. It's just as wrong to hurt someone on the inside as it is on the outside. That was enough of an explanation for them. We can go further. When you win a game Daniel, how does it feel? When you loose, how does that feel? Every win and every loss strengthens our egos, the part of us that emphasizes our differences and sets us apart. But its recognizing our similarities that brings us together. Games are proposed as a way to have "fun" and perhaps were necessary at some time in our evolution as humans to help us survive. Now the world is so completely differentiated that our separateness creates constant war and turmoil around the globe. We must now shift and learn to recognize and emphasize our similarities if the world is going to continue to exist. Please, listen to your heart before you get involved in any game or activity and ask it if its really what the moment needs or if there is another way which would be fun for all involved. Beth

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• June 29, 2008 by Terry Maccarrone

  Cage fighting as it is called is not a sport, that exhibits skill, encourages cooperation, of permits betterment of its participants... Cage Fighting is Brutal, Violent, Adversarial...and generally harmful.. especially to those imitators that want to copy "whats in" today Having children involved only indicates how out of control we are as parents, and educators. There is absolutely NO redeeming value to putting children into a cage and have one emerge a victor. New York has not permitted these events...and some of those who are now trying to change that for "entertainment" need to be stopped. Martial Arts Academies are going too far in their quest to make money, misleading, that mixed martial arts lead to better discipline, more confidence, better self-image are just wrong. The true purpose about martial arts training is to teach you "not to resolve conflicts with fighting" that is Budo Japanese for "stop the spear" prevent conflict not encourage it. Parents, Karate Instructors, sport people...wake up. Stop children from fighting. Please Now.

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  • July 3, 2008 by Chris Eggleston

    Ha-ha, get in the ring with me and tell me that. These mixed martial artists have a huge bag of tricks and techniques, and the martial knowledge or "skill" to apply them on somebody who is fully resisting and trying to hurt them. This is a skill you can't learn from martial arts that don't allow and encourage sparring. As far as the statement "The true purpose about martial arts training is to teach you "not to resolve conflicts with fighting" goes... Are you new to the world or what? Just because that's what the karate and Tae Kwon Do schools are doing nowadays. Almost all martial arts and fighting systems were born or created because they needed to be created i.e. good people were being attacked and had no weapons to defend themselves, so they came up with techniques to turn their bodies into weapons. The martial arts that weren't created because of violence and bloodshed have been created recently. Ironically Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu which is the fundamental skill set for an MMA fighter was pieced together by the famous Gracie family. In reality the Gracie family was just a bunch of brothers and cousins that liked to wrestle with each other. That doesn't sound like a scary violent demon martial art to me! I also resent your statement about martial arts schools being money grubbers (be careful because there are some creepy martial arts cults out there though!) The schools aren't throwing the kids in the cage, it’s the parents.

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  • March 13, 2009 by Coach

    It is too bad that you have no idea what mixed martial arts is about. There is a lot of skill and training going on. There are also a lot of rules. I have seen more injuries in cheerleading and gymnastics then MMA. In addition, the children participating are not in a street brawl with each other. They become friends and are training partners. Also, for a lot of kids, they get to get aggression out in a controlled environment. The alternative, they fight in the streets or they try what they see on TV and really hurt someone. I am a Physical education teacher, a wrestling coach and participate in MMA and there is a lot of training and discipline. Find out more about the sport before you judge.

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• June 30, 2008 by Alexandra G.

  Where I live there are many fighting bars that some of my guy friends are fighting at. Some of them train and say that it teaches you self control, but I have a friend who has 3 counts of battery towards other guys. He thinks its OK to take the fight out of the ring. last year a 17 year old died at one of the fights. The bar was closed down and just reopened this week. This isn't anything like martial arts, its bloody and violent. there are barely any rules in the ring. Showing 6 year olds that violence can be "OK" at times isn't the best idea. How are they going to be able to tell what is self defense and what is a "battle"?

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• July 3, 2008 by Chris Eggleston

  I know that it's hard for you guys to truly understand a sport that you haven't been involved in, but please try as I will attempt to explain it to you. When two MMA practitioners step into a cage or ring and duke/grapple it out, they're not fighting out of hatred for each other. In reality they're fighting out of love, love for the sport, and love and respect for their fellow man/opponent. I'm making a generalization, there have been some hate/revenge fights over the years but nevertheless I've never seen an MMA fight that the combatants didn't shake hands and hug each other afterwards. There's no racism in MMA, no bigotry, and there never was. There are good fighters from all over the world, and MMA recognizes them for being the talented athletes that they are. A mixed martial artist learns to embrace so many different cultures and their martial arts, and you really start to respect other societies more. That being said, I actually kind of agree with you guys. I don't think young children should be having full on MMA fights. For high school aged kids I think it’s perfectly acceptable, but the young ones need to keep their striking and wrestling separate. If these fathers want their kids to get into martial arts and MMA, they should take their kids to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes (BJJ is all the wrestling aspects of MMA, no punches, no kicks, no strikes of any kind). Then when the kids are teenagers and mature enough to handle it, start teaching them striking arts like boxing, muay thai, or kempo. Then when they are young adults introduce them to mixed martial arts or "cage fighting" as you all like to call it. You never know, the kids might surprise you and not even be interested in MMA, because they like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu too much. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training is key for young kids. It is because there is no striking involved that they are highly unlikely to use it to lash out against another child violently, but because of the wrestling skills of BJJ the child will be able to defend himself if attacked by another child. This threat is very real, there's not a boy in the world that grows up without getting in a fight. I know that all you guys see is competitive violence, but there's so much more to it than that. And I've met so many of my good friends and positive influences in my life through my personal martial arts study. I strongly encourage parents to get their gets involved in some sort of martial arts study as it has made a huge positive impact on my life, and I want to share that with others.

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• July 7, 2008 by joshua scott

  This is sweet: kids fighting each other with protective gear on. You can't beat that it's not like they're really getting hurt. If you ask me they should start charging people to see them fight.

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