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Aug
23
Are we ready for kids’ MMA?
August 23, 2008 |
While flipping through channels I happened across ABC Nightline News and their piece on kids’ MMA. Before this, I had seen only one organized fight between kids and that was in Thailand. When I saw this piece I was shocked to see how many kids’ fights were posted on You Tube and similar sites. Seeing as how MMA has only grown as of late it was weird to see the trickle down effect happen so quickly.
The focus of the report was to make people aware of this growing trend. Unfortunately for professional MMA, these are the kinds of scenarios that often get parents groups stirred up enough to whine and complain until mixed martial arts is no longer sanctioned in the state because the are protecting the children. Okay, maybe I got a little bit off topic there but it is a slippery slope.
I do not want to write a review of the piece itself but, the basic question it brought up was: Should children be competing in MMA events?
I am going to have to say, based on what I have seen on You Tube, MMA is not child’s play. Even though the kids may not be going in there to harm one another, the end result is still the same. After watching some clips of knees to the body and liver punches with 9 and 10 years olds, I was immediately turned off to what is kids’ MMA as of now. Possibly with proper sanctioning and protective gear like shin and body guards, and don’t allow any strikes to the head. Either way I think an age limit would probably be a better idea, maybe like 16 just to be safe, and not get some 8-year-old kid killed or paralyzed for no real reason.
Sure that may be an extreme case; however it is the psychology that lies beneath the surface that is disturbing. Although martial arts are a positive outlet for children, engaging in full contact bouts is a different story. Why do we need to see kids fighting? Better yet, why would you want to watch kids fighting?
As a fan of the sport I want to see two skilled and trained professionals, who fully understand and accept the risk involved. Yes the fighting aspect of the sport brings the element of danger and thus brings the excitement. But I am never watching the fight wanting to see someone hurt. Injuries are part of the game but I never hope to see an arm bar over extended, or a joint dislocated, or a massive head injury. It is scary to think that we as a society would put our kids into a sport where professionals are admired for risking their lives to entertain us.
