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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Born Warriors
Relax and breathe deeply. The analogy of military graveyards and born warriors is just not cutting it. It is a circular argument. Wrestling teams are in almost every high school. There are rules governing the combat. A fight is called when there is trouble. In response to your military argument, we must be proactive in protecting our country. What would you do if someone came into your home and attacked your family? You would attack back! It is fight or flight and nothing in between. When soldiers are called into active duty, you better believe they know what they have gotten themselves into. Do not be so naive. I believe MMA does teach discipline and self-control. My 11 year old is a black belt and has LOVED every second of his experience.
Diane Fisher | 5 months ago
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MMA for kids is good
Look all you hyper liberal patsies, we’re not talking about kids doing something anything more than wrestling. I’ve been involved in Judo, Karate, Wrestling, Jiu Jitsu and MMA since I was 6 years old. I went on to law school, practiced law, and have 3 boys myself. They are all well adjusted kids, and are on the swim team, play baseball and soccer. Basic kids. They have all learned karate and jiu jitsu and love wrestling and MMA. So for those of you who have never even been involved in personal combat sports, you have no frame of reference arguing that its wrong and demented. Like football or any other physical sport, it teaches toughness and personal confidence. So, until you’ve tried MMA, don’t criticize it.
Jeff Sears | 4 months, 3 weeks ago
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just go for it! (with a little restriction)
in my opinion, i’d say that mixed martial arts should be one of the sports that kids can participate. however, there should be an age limit, or there should be an age brackets to be made with certain restrictions (ex. for age 14-17, there should be no hitting in the face or the back of the head, only wrestling moves are allowed, etc.).
and any kids under the age of 14 can be trained under strict supervision of the instructors, but no participation in the tournament. this way, kids will learn that mixed martial arts is simply a sports and not a street fighting lessons that can be used at school, out on the street, at park or any other public and private properties. therefore, mixed martial arts should be treated as any other sports in the world. so why are parents whining about this issue or even arguing about against it? i mean, come on! football is dangerous enough to play, even wearing a protective gear. hockey is just as dangerous, because whenever someone from the opposing team make a mistake, you can take it the wrong way and have all of your team beat the tar out of the opposing team with the hockey sticks.
so why is mixed martial art so different about it, apart from wrestling, boxing and traditional martial arts competition?
pete okuhira | 4 months, 3 weeks ago
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Safety First
You’ve got to remember that the cage is there for SAFETY. Starting with a traditional boxing ring, MMA fighters ended up falling through or under the ropes. There’s sort of a knee-jerk reaction to “locking them in a cage” – that’s not what it’s about at all.
As far as the age of the participants goes, traditional karate has been teaching 4-6 year olds for years, often with controlled contact events. Where’s the outcry from the public? Adding grappling to the mix INCREASES safety – would you rather wrestle or get kicked? Which is more controlled? Telling them to kick “lightly” is a good idea – until the adrenaline gets going!
Having said this, I believe that Mixed Martial Arts CAN be taught safely to kids of all ages – the lower limit is more about attention span and physical development than it is about safety. There are plenty of rules, plenty of safety equipment – and combined with diligent instruction and close observation, children CAN participate safely in MMA.
Full out, no holds barred matches? No – even the UFC limits groin kicks and eye gouges and certainly children need more rules than that! Smart instruction can open up a world that lets children get fantastic exercise, learn to respect their peers… and learn that SAFE fighting, at a good MMA school – not on the street or playground – is the only way to fight!
www.woodstockmma.com
Kurt Schulenburg | 4 months, 3 weeks ago
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the fighter
hi my name is xavier wright and im 18 yrs of age and i love to fight i just dont have the right people to challenge me i love mixed martial ats i know some my self i ve been tranning as long as i can remmber i just want the chance to fight in the cage and start my career as rhe new mixed martial arts fighter so please allow my wish to come true
xavier wright | 4 months, 1 week ago
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Fighting..
I honestly think it is a very good thing for kids to do. Its not like their doing it out of hatred. There just fighting, and at the end of the match, they shake hands, and their back to being friends. The kids even wear head gear, and it does teach discipline. It teaches the kids to respect each other, and to have self-respect.
Kolby Becket | 4 months, 1 week ago
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john
i want in this fight club its fun haha
john loob | 4 months ago
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Shihan of Kodo Kai Haya Aikiwaza
All martial arts and self-defence Instructors and teachers have the responsiblity to teach more then just the fighting techniques of martial arts, but they also have the responsiblity to teach their students the moral, the ethical, the spiritual, and the legal side of Martial arts and self-defence training. Failure to teach ones student the moral, ethical and spiritual elements of martial arts, may lead them in to all types of legal situations and problems that they had never dreamed of having. Children must be taught more then just fighting, that there is a time and place to fight. Teaching the children how to deal with negative situation with out fighting is far better and higher then showing them or permitting them to punch and kick the hell out each other. We must do better then this. There is far more to martial arts then this madness.
Rev. Dr. Karl Benson | 4 months ago
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OOHH-RaaH!!
I’m all for the lil rascals duking & grappling it out in the ring. Especially if they want to do it when they grow up, the sooner the better they’ll be!!
leadfist | 4 months ago
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yes, it helps
i do believe that kids cage fighting will help RESPONSIBLE children who can have self control. with the number of kids influenced by shows such as familt guy, the simpsins, etc., children need to be able to defend themselves
jacob | 4 months ago
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