Fight Club Junior: Cage Fighting for Kids
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?
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Kids in MMA
I’m 16 years old and participate in ultimate fighting. It’s a great sport for keeping them healthy plus it builds muscle and it keeps kids out of trouble. It gives them a chance to stick with something yea the can get hurt just like any other sport. Personally, I’d rather get punched in the face than take a fast ball to the arm or head or getting tackled.
derek | 1 year, 7 months ago
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The truth
The submission aspects of this sport comes from the grappling arts of Judo and Sambo. NEITHER one of those sports allow children under the age of 13 to joint lock or choke one another. Yes, I am aware that so called “jiujutsu” events allow children to choke and arm lock; however, the vast body of research done in Japan and Russia proves it is dangerous to the young body to be choked or have the joints twisted. I have trained UFC champions and MMA fighters, as well as Judo and Sambo champions. So I understand the sports very well. I would never allow a child in one of these events.
Mark Tripp | 1 year, 7 months ago
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Ravenna
I am mixed about mixed MMA fighting with youths. I have taught for many years and what I teach really depends on the student. Their attitude, age, temperament etc. If they have Ranking teachers/Senseis’ from an accredited ART and padded like a Hockey player then why not? For my kids, no! Til they’re 18 and want to on their own. I know first hand that death can occur. Even if it’s one in a Billion. I will not take that chance with my kids. I had a student come in when he was seven years old. My best student yet. He is now 19 and fights with a record of 5-0 with one indecision. I love him as my own but he is grown and has my FULL SUPPORT. Thanks
Raymond Kelly McElhiney II | 1 year, 7 months ago
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this sport is regulated.
It is the parents that allow their child to fight in their backyards & without proper training that give the sport a bad name.Everyone should go to an organized event like NAGA to actually know what they are talking about. also JUDO has more accidents than almost every other sport but since its not graphic enough we don’t comment on it and it made it to the Olympics. MMA has its regulations and is an art form, hence Mixed Martial Arts. Its the people that don’t know what they are doing that are not taking it seriously — and its those of you who don’t understand it and are still commenting that actually are bringing more attention to the sport and making it so big;. so thanks. As a school owner and trainer we thank you. Hopefully the parents that have good communication with their children and know what they are doing or interested in, will take their child to a school to learn the proper ways of this art and not encourage them to fight outside the dojo.
sandra preston | 1 year, 7 months ago
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More truth
To claim Judo has more accidents than almost any other sport is simply not true. Back that up, site your source. If you are letting children under 13 (the only people we are talking about) choke or joint lock, it is you who are going against a great deal of research, and yes, I can quote the studies. Finally, MMA is regulated? Really? Who is the World Governing Body for MMA? What is the name of the National Governing Body that sets up the rules and trains the ref’s and insures everyone is safe? You know there is none. MMA is run by different groups all over the US, there is no national regulation, oh, and no liability insurance covering the players either. I know this first hand. I trained Dan Severn for UFC 5 (look for the “Tripp Academy” shirts), and went to events that had NO ONE there if a player got injured. This is all about money, and the latest martial art fad.
Adults, do what you want; Children under 13, NO WAY they should be in any “sport” where choking or joint twisting is allowed.
Mark Tripp | 1 year, 7 months ago
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I am my own source
I said I owned a school. MMA isn’t all we have. I also am a 2nd place open Judo champion and belong to both federations. I also teach kids.
Read any book on Judo and you will find after the first page a list of injuries and pictures of broken fingers, collar bones, ect. That comes with the sport. It’s just not graphic but there are injuries in almost all martial arts that are true. MMA has its regulations in tournaments. There are amateur rules and pro rules.
What happened to Dan anyway wasn’t he on WWE? He’s a nice guy too bad he wasn’t trained by ERIC PAULSON he could’ve gone farther! You sound angry and that is NOT a quality a good instructor should have so it’s a good think you don’t teach kids. You have your views and I still say that MMA like JKD has its place in martial arts and if children are old enough to know what’s wrong and what’s right they should learn it if they have a calling for it just like any other sport.
sandra preston | 1 year, 7 months ago
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You are your own source?
You are your own source? Translation: you have no source. As to Dan, he trained with us for one fight. He won it all that night so your point is just silly. Let’s try it this way, name ONE death in a Judo match from 1882 to present? MMA has at least three and likely more.
I can go on, but again, all I am speaking about is children doing this. They should not. I would hope parents would check that out before they allow their children to take the risks. However, sooner or later a child will get really injured, there will be a major law suit, and then all of this will come out in open court. Good luck with all that.
Mark Tripp | 1 year, 7 months ago
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1 death
Counted boxing deaths lately? How about crossing the street? 13+ for submissions sounds good.
Callen Pollick | 1 year, 7 months ago
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Save the drama
There is a difference between teaching a child in a safe environment how to reverse submissions ; how to get out of chokes; and, what to do on the ground if they are in a bad position without “bad intentions” as opposed to teaching an adult in his thirties to get ready for the UFC.
Judo and BJJ have chokes and a number of broken necks and deaths. If you are teaching at that level of intensity, there will be injuries in any martial arts you teach. We don’t train our kids for the UFC. We teach them positioning and how to think and look for openings. I still stick to my opinion that parents should find a school with a qualified, not hot tempered teacher that will teach your child how to defend themselves with MMA. I do not encourage street fights but know if they are in a controlled environment practicing they fight less outside the school.
I’ll tell Dan at the next Hall of Fame you said hello.
sandra preston | 1 year, 7 months ago
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A few comments...
Let’s start off by saying, yes there is no single governing body for MMA. However, they are slowly forming. Take the USKBA for instance. (visit uskba.com) they are the governing body for a few combat sports on the east coast – New Jersey, Connecticut, and I believe a few others. I didn’t check for the total I just said what I knew. Also going back to mark trip and the whole training Dan for UFC5M in no way can you compare modern MMA to UFC5. There is no tournament style anymore, plenty more rules to protect the fighters. Separate rules for amateurs than for professionals (except for Delaware that I know of – I can only speak for the east coast).
Sorry to get off topic about kids MMA I just felt the need to state those things. I do feel that kids should be able to compete, however there needs to be tons of rules for kids, I mean tons for there safety. But competing is like the formal test of knowledge and skill you have gained form training.
Shawn Phillips | 1 year, 7 months ago
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