VIDEO – ESPN OTL: Children in MMA
July 20, 2008 by Tony Baldwin
Filed under Sports Rumors
A controversial topic was the subject of this morning’s “Outside the Lines” on ESPN. Investigative reporter TJ Quinn’s piece guarantees to open your eyes, whether you approve or not of this new sport for kids.
What do you think? Is mixed martial arts too violent for children to participate in? Check out the video below for the report.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the topic.
“Child Abuse”. It as sick as a dog fight. And I wonder why we protect dogs better than we protect children from ignorant parents that wish to live vicariously through their kids. So much for a kinder gentler nation. Martial Art is so health for a child. MMA is like the deformed Evil twin. Age cap Please or make the parents fight it out.
I think that you Frank are misinformed about the whole sport of MMA. It teaches the practitioner discipline, and self defense techniques that children may use in the real word. A dojo, or gym leader will always teach the student to walk away from a fight, but protect yourself when necessary. I am 14 years old, and I fight every week, after the fight we always shake hands, hug and invite the others family to eat with us afterward, I have many friends now, and I extend my knowledge from doing so. I hope you learn a little more, but I’m pretty sure you think hunting and fishing is a sport right?
Brandon, I think you’re the one confused. MMA styles don’t teach self defense, that would be pointless! The idea is to beat someone into submission, and unlike other martial arts style it would be a bit hypocritical to harp on the point “you only fight when it’s necessary” because the whole idea is to fight in a tournament; it’s not defense it’s selling your skills. I don’t hate the idea of adults in MMA (though the term ‘art’ is pushed there, I would say) however, desensitizing children to violence and brutality in such a way is unacceptable. They are young, and aside from the potential for injury, there is also the fact that they are learning it’s ok to injure someone else if they gain something from it. MMA is different from fighting in a dojo.