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?
Add Comment Share This
Comments
oops!
i meant to put shingear not chingear sorry!
joshua thomas | 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
WELL! MELANIE SMOTHERS
well! melanie smothers wwf which is now wwe is also FAKE which means the blood is FAKE and comes out in FAKE amounts mma is REAL which means the blood is REAL and comes out with alot less because it is REAL
joshua thomas | 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
You have no idea what you are talking about!
#1 MMA is not NO HOLD BARRED! There are regulations as in any other sport.
#2 When children participate in MMA the rules are even more strict and they wear protective gear i.e. head-gear, shin guards, etc.
#3 The dynamics of MMA teach kids the same type of self-control and respect as you find in any other organized athletic endeavor. When they have an outlet, they tend to refrain from fighting in unsanctioned situations (like school).
#4 A study done by Johns Hopkins University School of Emergency Medicine determined that severe injury (concussion/fracture, etc.) rates in MMA are far less than those sustained in Cheerleading, Football, Basketball, Soccer, and Boxing.
I have trained MMA for 2 years, my husband is a professional fighter (he is also a youth counselor and educator), and you better believe I train my son and daughter! Incidentally neither of them have ever had a problem with bullies and have never instigated any confrontations…but rest assured, my daughter would be very effective in defending herself against anyone who would seek to harm her.
Both of them wrestle competitively and if they so desire, I will allow them to compete in MMA!
What’s more, MMA is providing an avenue for college/olympic wrestlers to persue a professional career in athletics whereas before, their glory would end upon their graduation from their respective institutions.
I suggest that in the future you do a little more unbiased research before you attack…a truly educated person knows the importance of cross-checking his/her references!
S.A. McLeod | 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
kids in cages
i dont see anything wrong with the cage fighting. it teaches the children to be tuff and not tobck down from hard situations in life. im actually looking to send my 10 yr old son my 5 yr old son and my two yr old daughter if th have one nearleesville la ifanyone knows of one plz let me know
chris | 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
sign up
i wold like to sign up
gabriel christian | 2 months, 2 weeks ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
Sensei, Yudansha Sandan
I am a police officer in Canada and the father of two boys, who are also students of Karate-jitsu, I would never permit my sons to be involued in such mixed martial arts tounaments, Both of my boys are good fighters but I gave them a spiritual and biblical foundation whereby they became above all else very good people. If they grow up and decide for themselves to compete in MMA tournaments, they would do so with my blessings, because I’ll know that they are very good people with a good strong spiritual foundation.
Curtis Williamson, Sensei | 2 months, 2 weeks ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
can i join
i wanna join can u send me info on how i can join
akeem | 2 months, 1 week ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
I have mma traineing .
I would let both my 7yr, & 5yr. try once. If they liked it I would push for it. They learn fast, to my skills!
Thomas Ramsey | 2 months, 1 week ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
I think its great
yea I know many people think its crazy for kids to be doing this hell im only 15 years old yea I no your thinking he’s just a kid him self but you know what I have bipoler im also manic depsint and I have a habbit of turning that sadness from that sickness something I have to live with my hole life I used to always get into fights in school out of sschool tossed in jail but you know what when I started boxing it helped me out a lot then I went into full on training being that I have bipoler and I can’t realy control my outrages I learend to take it out on the bag when I started traing in mma when I went in to train I was a beast angry upset n so on but when I left I feelt like a big relife was taken off my back I think if more moms and dads sapported there kid in this then it would make this world a better place to live in
think about it if every kid went and did this don’t you think there would be less gangs less stabing less fight on the streets and if your kid can’t keep the fighting in the ring then mabe they should have some control
peace
anthony parisella | 2 months, 1 week ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
It really does help
im a 17yr old and i started mma training when i was 15…it has truely helped me as a young child i was bullied and stayed away from confrontation and wud back down even if it wasnt physical but as i got older it turned from that to anger problems and constant fights…mma helped me deal with my anger and since i started training i havent been in a single fight whereas before fights were nearly a weekend hobby but since ive had an outlet ive learned that i dnt have to prove anything to anyone and that fighting should be a last resort..you have to pick and choose your fights..these kids are in a dangerous sport yes but no dangerous than football..as long as they are being taught well in the gym and at home these kids will grow to have great discipline and restraint
Josh | 2 months ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
« First < 44 45 46 47 48 > Last » (51 pages)