To think Cage fighting for eight year olds

[Springyknickersohnovicars]

Should be illegal?

Children as young as six are taking up the controversial sport of "cage fighting", alarming medical experts and sports officials.

The violent sport, also known as "ultimate fighting" , combines martial arts, wrestling and boxing but with few rules often looks like little more than a brawl.

It has come over here from the states, parents are in a club, drinking, baying for the chldren to carry on fighting even when they've been hurt.

I know it is legal, and it shouldnt be IMO but what kind of "parents" want their children cage fighting? What chance have these children got in life? I wonder what should be done to protect these children?

Or do some think it's no worse than boxing?

You couldnt really ban MMA due to the fact it is lots of different martial arts combined so kids would just learn each one seperately and combine their skills.
What there needs to be is proper guidelines and regulation.
I still think that kids shouldnt be beating the crap out of each other in a social club and parents calling it MMA.
There should be as little contact as possible.

Not one single punch was thrown. Hardly beating the crap out of each other.

Were you there mayorquimby? Was it your social club?

That was a joke!

I dont know the details of what happened, I haven't watched the film because I dont want to see it.
If its going to continue, whether people agree with it or not, there does need to be some tighter rules and regulations imo

Nah I was down the horse&hound watching a dog-fight, much more
entertaining. nah I only know that not one punch was thrown because striking is not allowed at that age group. It was essentially a judo/ju jitsu match.

I think that a unified regulaotry body for the UK needs to be established to put down guidlines etc. as to what ages competitions can be held from, what venues are suitable, at what age striking can begin.
I think that the venue was a poor choice and the wrong atmosphere, however others seem to think that the sport itself is inherently wrong.
I also think that some people can't seem to see past the cage aspect, the reality being that due to the continuos nature of the bouts a wire mesh is actually safer as it stops injuries from fighters falling through the ropes of a traditional ring when grappling, however this was then jumped upon by the PR of the UFC etc. when promoting the sport to add to the gladitorial aspect and build upon it's previous incarnation as an underground sport with no rules or regulations.

*regulatory

I dont know the details of what happened, I haven't watched the film because I dont want to see it.

Surely it would be sensible to actually watch the footage to form a balanced opinion.

I've read all of the new reports and comments that have been made by parents etc and I've said all along that I think it is wrong - I dont think i need to see the kids crying as a result.

You may be right that I can only provide an informed opinion by watching the footage but I think I have a good grasp of what it was like. I may be wrong though

do you think the sport itself is wrong or the venue?
And if you think the sport is wrong do you equally object to other martial arts which incorporate a similar (and sometimes greater) degree of physical contact.

I have seen adult cage fighting, and having watched the footage in question, it is absolutely nothing whatsoever like adult cage fighting.

The boy was crying! He didn't want it to continue. He had no choice. That to me says it all

Nah I love MMA! As I said before my DH fight semi pro and we've been to events locally and two UFC's, even went to the expo and met some UFC fighter. Watch it every time its on the TV! I am not in any way agaisnt MMA, I think its a great sport that requires a level of fitness, commitment and skill that is outstanding.

I think unregulated fighting of 8 year olds, that it would seem were quite distressed wrong.

As a person who trains in Karate and MMA can i please clear up a few points?

The original poster stated:

"The violent sport, also known as "ultimate fighting" , combines martial arts, wrestling and boxing but with few rules often looks like little more than a brawl."

It is correct that MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) does indeed combine martial arts, wrestling and boxing.... amoung others. A good way to decribe MMA is a sport that combines 4 Olympic sports: Kicks from TaeKwonDo, Punches from Boxing, Submissions/Throws from Judo and Grappling/Wrestling from Wrestling. That's 4 Olympic Sports.

However, stating that there are very few rules is incorrect. There are infact many many rules regarding MMA. Granted.... very many years ago when the sport first appeared, it wasnt always pretty. But over the years and the great work from many of the organisations, MMA has become a very regulated and sanctioned sport across the globe. MMA is also considered to be far safer than Boxing due to the multiple way in which a fight can finish.

In the 14 years that MMA has become a sanctioned sport, there have in fact been very few serious injuries and there has never been a death in an officially sanctioned bout..... I cant say the same for Boxing, yet Boxing is more widely 'accepted' by the public..... makes you think. I am a fan of both MMA and Boxing, so i dont wish to get into a debate which sport is 'better'.

One reason that MMA may look 'barbaric' is possibly due to the viewers lack of understanding of the sport.... they see 2 people punching each other, then someone tackles the other to the ground and they pursue a ground fight. This is merely a fighter utilising the different aspects of the sport.... Striking to get close to the opponent (Boxing, Karate, TaeKwonDo), then 'shooting' for a takedown where they can engage the ground game (Judo, Ju-Jitsu, Wrestling).

Boxing looks clean, therefore possibly the reason for it being widely accepted. There is no kicking or grappling in boxing, so it is easier to follow what is happening in the fight. Also, boxing has been around and in the public domain for a very very long time, possibly longer than most of us have been alive, yet MMA is a 'new' sport..... and often new things scare or intimidate people. I am a firm believer that MMA, if taught, regulated and trained with respect and understanding (just the same as any other martial art - including Boxing), then MMA is indeed a safe and great sport to learn and train in.

I hope that has cleared up a few points about MMA in general.

Now, to the story.

The issue of 2 children aged 8 fighting in a sanctioned tourament doesnt trouble me at all..... I used to compete in Karate at that age and many children still do, in boxing, taekwondo etc etc

Children in a cage doesnt concern me either. In fact, I'd rather they were in a 'cage' than a ring or other raised platform, as the 'cage' is actually there as a safety measure. It prevents the athletes from falling out of the area and doing serious injury to themselves or the spectators.

At an adult event...... i'm on the fence. The cheering etc is the same that you would get at a school football match or athletics competition..... it's just parents cheering there children on....... saying that, I would rather see an event where Children are involved as a kids only event.

Having ring girls...... i have an issue with that. That's unnessessary were children are involved.

Please bear in mind, MMA is safe when regulated and treated with the respect it demands. There was a Referee at the event and it wasnt bare knuckle fighting. From the footage i saw, it looked as tho it was more of a grappling/judo match than anything else. I dont recall seeing any punches or kicks being thrown, but even if they were, why is that any different to a Karate Competition? If the Children were wearing Gi's (the 'uniforms' worn in Judo, Karate etc) and it was on a matted floor, i really dont think anyone would be raising this issue the way they have. Not understanding the sport of MMA scares people. The media doesn't help much either.

Finally, I hope i have been able to educate or inform you a little further about MMA. I respect all your opinions and if you dont like MMA, then that is your opinion. Please can i ask however, if you dont understand MMA, please seek out further information about the sport and dont just brand it as 'Barbaric' etc. It is a regulated and fully sanctioned sport and is also one of the fastest growing sports on the planet.

If you have an further questions, please feel free to ask and i shall try my best to answer.

Many Thanks,
Pete

i found it awful personally. i have 2 dcs and one dswho are totally into sport, footi, cricket, rugby swimming and they have done martial arts BUT on no occasion has it required me and dh to sit and watch them in a seedy pub, getting drunk, watching slags cavort around with few clothers on and bet who would win!!

think thats the difference here...

For gods sakes, it was a social club in a normal town, not a strip joint in Soho!

I do agree there was no need for the scantily dressed women parading around with round numbers, but then I dont see the need for that in any sport anyway.

I found it awful. Our family has children - cousins, siblings, nephews and nieces- who did tae kwon do and I have no problem with that, judo, karate etc. However, these children (were some as young as six?!!!) were in an arena where there was prize money (was there betting??!!! Yikes) and the whole thing seemed very distasteful - like they were being paraded or exhibited like a freakshow. If the families wanted the children to do sport, why not established contact sports like judo, karate and tae kwon do? - where there are quite strict rules about what kind of contact and what kind of punch is accepted, to prevent serious injury. With these martial arts, you don't get points or win because you've beaten up or knocked down the fellow competitor, you achieve that because you've displayed the correct moves. If they want the kids to earn money, well - the parent/parents should get another job, work longer hours. There is something grim and immoral about a child beating up another child to get money or a prize.
Not even going to get started on the issue of the scantily clad women.

If children grow up and want to do MMA or they are this sort of fighting or competition when they are 16, I have no issue with that. There's a huge difference between an 8 year old and a 16 year old.

It strikes me that the reason people are disgusted by this largely comes down to snobbery.

Adults? Beer? Betting???? Oh my it's a working men's club and there are poor innocent children fighting in it while people watch!

Seriously though. It's not my scene, but I didn't see anything going on in that video - a video of two minors, published online without the parents' consent, let's not forget - that's any more violent than you'd get at a school rugby game. It's a wrestling match. The rest is just mock horror at those ghastly proles and their ghastly drinking dens.

Dog fighting and cock fighting is illegal. Child fighting, also for the pleasure of adults, is not.

Haven't read all the posts, but in my opinion you would just have to be total scum to want to let your child do this. I think it is totally barbaric and I can not see any possible benefit to it.

kipperandtiger.... MMA is an established contact sport where there are very strict rules about what kind of contact and what kind of punch is accepted, to prevent serious injury.

I believe the issue is more with the way the event was conducted and less so about what the children were actually doing.

Might i also add.... this 'fight' looked no more than a regular judo/wrestling match. As stated before, if this was conducted in a Gi on a matted area instead of shorts and in a cage, i doubt it would even have hit the headlines. Sounds like the Media blowing this way out of proprtion yet again, then everyone else jumping on the bandwagon without knowing all the facts about the sport.

After watching the video (which I probably should have done before but i did sound distressing) I totally agree with Daxter78.

Daxter78 - I hear what you are saying......it is mainly the context, and the way the event was conducted which is the main problem. Of course, children can get seriously injured in other sports - riding, gymnastics, for example. But if gymnastics was conducted in this manner, I would have a serious objection too. Do participants really need a cage? - if they are going to throw themselves that far and injure spectators or themselves on spectators, doesn't that mean they need more space and mats that are shock absorbent and have some give - just like in judo, and not rely on a CAGE to protect (ie not protect) them. And the audience much, much further away. I like other forms of martial arts - wushu, taichi, jujitsu, even Krav Magra,etc.....though I am not an expert in any of them, but I think the governing committees of the sport need to take a firmer stance as to where and how their competitions are held so that the sport or martial art does not fall into disrepute.

I agree... the way the event was organised is the main issue.... at least it is with me.

I have no issue with a cage as it is there as a safety measure. Judo takes place on a mat, Boxing takes place in a ring, Tennis takes place on a court..... MMA takes place in a 'cage'.... although it's probably the word 'cage' that raises so many alarm bells.

Many MMA bouts also take place in a ring..... again, if all the elements of this fight remained the same, but it too place in a boxing ring, i doubt it would have such a negative impression on folk.

Competition where children are competing should be childrens events only. And no ring girls.

The fight itself and the age of the children really isnt an issue for me at all..... but then, i have a full understanding of the sport and what the regulations and rules are.