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Mixed Martial Arts for Children
Maybe it's just me.
In a favorite cartoon of mine, a school-aged child innocently asks his father: "Dad, when was it you realized you weren't studly any more?"
I am getting longer in the tooth and am decidedly not studly any more (let's leave aside the question: was I ever studly?). As I have gotten older, I've happily groused in this blog against many of the newer developments for today's youth: their music, social web sites, text messaging 24/7, early introduction to sex, drugs and rock and roll, etc.
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So, as I prepare to rant about yet another 21st century social "advancement" for kids, I really do wonder: Maybe it's me. Am I just getting old and out of it and reflexively intolerant of most things new, like my parents before me who were horrified as I wandered around barefoot listening to the Rolling Stones?
So do Dr. P a favor. Look at this and tell me what you think: Outside the Lines: MMA...For Kids
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"Mixed martial arts" (MMA) is one of the fastest growing "sports" in the U.S.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship - hugely popular on cable TV - defines MMA as "an intense and evolving combat sport in which competitors use interdisciplinary forms of fighting that include jiu jitsu, judo, karate, boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and others to their strategic and tactical advantage in a supervised match...with commission approved definitions and rules for striking (blows with the hands, feet, knees or elbows) and grappling (submission, choke holds, throws or take downs)."
The goal is as simple as it is primeval: to make the other guy (or gal) "tap out" because of pain or being successfully choked or temporarily disabled. Rules include: "No head butting or kicking to the downed opponent. No knees to the head of a downed opponent. No downward point of the elbow strikes. No strikes to the spine or the back of the head. No groin or throat strikes." (Well that's reassuring!)
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You can probably guess how I feel about this mayhem in the guise of sport. For the life of me I don't get why viewers plunk down so much money to watch humans brutally hurting one another. But that's me. I suppose if consenting adults want to watch and participate...
But when MMA is being taught to kids as young as 6 years old, that's a different ballgame and we have to ask ourselves: what is it really teaching and is this a good thing for kids?
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Frankly. every aspect of this sorry saga horrifies me, but none more than the sight of young children being encouraged and rewarded for punching, kicking, twisting the limbs, and otherwise physically attacking one another. Of course, the risk of significant injury is worrisome, but more so is what MMA might be teaching participating children:
- You must learn how to hurt and physically prevail in life.
- Guile, intelligence, strategy, mastery of fine motor skills, are not relevant to succeed in this "sport," (or in life); mostly it's just the greater will to beat up the other guy.
- Unlike other martial arts (like karate), the goal is to inflict pain on the other guy, rather than to master a discipline.
- By regularly physically hurting others, might not a child become more and more desensitized to doing so?
- It glorifies street fighting violence.
Of all the many things to teach your kids, this is among the top? Teach your kids to be bilingual, to play a musical instrument, to love science, to play a competitive sport, to participate in a cause. But teach them how to beat the stuffing out of another human...???
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You tell me: is this whole MMA thing another small step backward for civilization as we know it, or is Dr. P just too unstudly to get it?
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: mixed martial arts, MMA, Ultimate Fighting Championship, UFC, children, pediatrics
50 Comments:
When deaths result from this, the obvious legal precedent will be the Lionel Tate case.
I fail to see the purpose of teaching children a skill that has no obvious redeeming value, as other martial arts teach self-defense skills without the emphasis on causing maximum damage.
MMA among children strikes me as an activity that fills the gap when there is a lack of other activities available.
I think maybe you are a little out of it, Dr. P.
I love watching MMA. Why is it worse than boxing? I don't see any harm in kids learning self-esteem and to feel powerful by taking lessons in it, especially since it appears to be safe.
I can't believe you feel that way.
Perhaps beating up other kids does help "self-esteem" but if so, it's not the kind of self esteem kids need. Right on, Dr. P!
I agree with you Dr. P. It strikes me that this activity encourages agression as solution.
What liberal, left wing twaddle. What's wrong with teaching children how to defend themselves? It's a nasty world out there.
it's not just a self defense but a self esteem too.
My Mom was smart enough to put me in judo at a fairly young age, a sport (and art) she practiced herself. I will happily extol the self-defense aspects of judo, which while not as immediately deadly as "harder" forms (muay thai, etc.) can actually be applied without committing to maiming an opponent. Judo allowed me, as a kid, to walk away from fights I knew I could have won, and to fight back when there was no choice.
However, I think more important was the philosophy and discipline of judo, the ability to know your own limits and the limits of others, the virtues of respect, the opportunity to test your own strength in a safe environment, and the idea of being strong by being aware and able to be flexible.
I can't call myself an expert in MMA, but it does not appear to have encourage those virtues inherently--it is not part of the sport's tradition. That said, I've been to judo and jujitsu dojos that likewise emphasized effective damage over physical, emotional, and spiritual development.
I guess the take-away is to judge each dojo by its own merits. Why are the teachers teaching? What are their objectives? How do they measure success? How do the kids behave in and out of the ring/mat?
Oh, and send them to learn judo :).
I hav to say that you Dr. P and most guys are totally uninformed about this.
I like MMA. its not about violence and "beating up the other guy" . is about discipline, skills and talent. its not street fighting. as a matter of fact, most mma fans dislike "street fighting" for being unsportmanlike and not competitive.
mma its a very competitive sport with several olympics gold medallists and talented fighters in it that put tremendous amount of effort and dedication in the sport.
it helps kids to develop real confidence cause the moves work and you know you can apply it in real situations (unlike some useless martial arts). it helps you develop strength, body awareness, stamina, perseverance, will to win and all the advantages of sports in general.
obviously it also trains you to fight so in the case a guy that weighs 100lbs over you tries to hurt you u will know how to defend and win.
its quite safe, when its about kids there usually is more restricted and more moves are banned. (like not strikes in the ground)
by the way, sports like football, nascar, formula 1, motorcross, alpinism, rugby and boxing (just to name few) are more violent and dangerous than this one.
why must effeminate liberals strive so hard to impose their values on everyone? can't they just accept that all people do not share the same values and let be? america was built on unremitting violence,bloodshed is evolution at work. if every pantywaist democrat is allowed to survive and breed what will we have? oh nevermind we already have it NANCY PELOSI
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How did the valid question of whether it's a good idea for children to learn to beat the bejesus out of each other somehow become a liberal versus conservative issue?
Don't we all want what is best for our kids, regardless of our political stripes?
Shame on all of you who use any issue to yell about your narrow agendas, rather than talk about what is actually good for our children.
I train and compete in both MMA as well as BJJ/Judo tournaments at a recreational-level. My two boys (8yo and 6yo) do the same and have been very successful in doing so. The key as one poster suggested is moderation and you really can only judge that per dojo. I believe TKD and many forms of traditional martial arts (Judo excluded) give children a false sense of security that often amounts to getting beat-up on the playground because their techniques are ineffective in the real world. I boxed in Golden Gloves as a small kid and can tell you it did wonders for my confidence.
Perhaps, instead of fighting, learning to speak Spanish and joining the math club would have also done wonders for your self-esteem, plus helped you achieve higher goals as an adult.
What the heck? First of all...I don't know why this ignorant person put this blog up. "Its just me." Yeah, it is just you. Martial arts such as karate...u can't apply iy in real like. I took karate for 2 years when I was younger and when it came down to sparring...it did nothing. All the forms I learned was for nothing. Second of all...karate teaches you 2 hurt ppl 2, not just mma...why do u think its n mma 2? Man. Plus in my mma dojo...dartanian jiujitsu, there's a kids class where freakin 3 years olds are learning. Everyont is cool and very sportsman like. There's even a womens class. I take both womens and adults class. You excerise as well as learn how 2 protect yourself. Basically you're hitting two birds with one stone. I can even take down guys that are stronger man me. I know when I have kids they're not gonna sit around having their lives revolve around school. And also there r plenty of other freakin damn sports that are freakin danagerous as heelll. There r different aspects in life and I dnt want my kid enslaved in a pathetic poor education system. It stopped me from actually finding what my hobbies actually are it limits you into a box and then when they're older they dnt kno what do 2 out side that little box like me. I have no talents and I have 2 be a nurse just 2 make money. I used 2 be good at other things but my parents were like u ppl and took me out of music, sports, and video games. Plus aren't we supposed 2 have the liberty 2 do whatever the hell we want? Ur infinging our rights 2 decide what we can do. So ppl who say that mma is bad...I bet ur those moms that wanna ban resident evil or sum gay stuff like that. So dnt oppose ppl wit ur narrow minded crap. U should just keep it 2 urself but ill feel bad for ur kids.
I won't disagree that learning Spanish or gaining a better appreciation of math are bad things, but I think you are wrong in assuming that they are better for the development of a child than a martial art is. Martial arts tend to educate in a different form of thinking and a different form of strategy.
As a university professor, I found my time in the dojo to be important to developing my learning philosophy. Certainly, it shouldn't be pursued to the exclusion of other opportunities, but it can be very beneficial to the development of not just the mind, but the intersection of mind, body, spirit, and community.
May not be for everyone, and that is fine. But try to keep an open mind, and learn more about the martial arts before assuming that they are all about competition and violence. I don't think any child who doesn't want to be in martial arts should be there, and I don't think every martial artist is an appropriate teacher for kids, but the right kid in the right dojo can be a wonderful, enriching experience.
Oops. I meant I wouldn't disagree that they are *good* things...
With over 40 years in the martial arts and over 30 as a marriage, family and child counselor, IMHO, it isnt' the art that matters, its the teacher.
Many will safely instill both skills and discipline. Others will just take your money and hurt your children.
Do you homework and choose wisely.
Lynn Seiser PhD MFT
Sandan Tenshinkai Aikido
honestly, my mom put me in Tae Kwon Do when I was younger and it's not like all I was taught was to be aggressive and brutal. In all actuallity the main tenents of our training was based around self defense, confidence, self control, presvernece and integrity.
I suppose it all depends on who would be teaching MMA to children and if they would define a line between brutality and self defense
but I don't think this is just some horrible issue that will lead to a slippery slope of distruction or anything!
Dr. P, after reading your opinion about MMA I have found you to not be too "unstudly" but instead ignorant about Mixed Martial Arts in general.
"But when MMA is being taught to kids as young as 6 years old, that's a different ballgame and we have to ask ourselves: what is it really teaching and is this a good thing for kids?"
MMA and most full contact martial arts teach discipline and respect. I find MMA to be more practical and useful than other major sports, such as football or baseball, to teach real life skills and self-defense techniques.
"For the life of me I don't get why viewers plunk down so much money to watch humans brutally hurting one another."
Many people are "brutally hurt" in other professional and more popular sports than MMA. If anything MMA is made safe by the rules, regulations, and referee stoppages.
"Guile, intelligence, strategy, mastery of fine motor skills, are not relevant to succeed in this "sport," (or in life); mostly it's just the greater will to beat up the other guy."
This comment is where your blog truly loses its standing with me. Being a great martial artist requires "guile, intelligence, strategy" and most of all "mastery of fine motor skills" in order to succeed. Please watch a professional MMA fight between two skilled practitioners. Any of Fedor Emelianenko's bouts will show you the technical skills required to succeed in the sport.
First of all, good try but I don't think it worked, Trying to give the MMA a bad reputation.
The MMA is exactly what is says it is an Art. My son is a couple of months aways from being 5 years old and has been enrolled in MMA for the last year.
The difference between then and now are amazing. Discipline, Fitness, Respect, Honor, are just a few of adjectives that describe MMA. On that note compare your blog to other countries also? And recently he encouraged me to join and I did.
Honestly it all starts from home the parents must have a good concept of right from wrong which then they will translate to their child.
The reason you don't understand is because of the other local businesses, promoters, gyms, etc, locally that "offer classes" in MMA.(Hope you saw the quotes). All their trying to do is earn fast money and unfortunately it's working.
In short No it is not a bad idea.
IT'S THE NEXT GENERATION ! !
My original reaction to this blog was "what in the world? why would they allow children to do that?" I am one of the many that do not understand the allure of MMA and often turn the channel quickly. But after reading those that were intelligent enough to express their views and participation in MMA, I have a better understanding and respect for the sport. Thank you.
I do agree the teacher/coach does play an important role in the child's view of any sport, though more importantly the parents play the biggest role. Whether it is MMA, Karate or Football, some parents specifically target certain sports to enroll their child in so that they can always be the biggest and strongest and never picked on. The child learns the bully mentality very quickly and children with overbearing parents that have a twisted view of how to interact with those that come agaist you often pass those skewed preceptions on to their children.
I believe every teacher/coach that believes in the perfect sportmanship of any sport carries the responsibilty of weeding out and retraining those parents.
MMA defenders, I pray that the sport gains the same respect of other martial arts due to its stict adherence to the rules and to the respect of the individuals involved and not because of the amount of blood that can be spilled.
What most people do not realize is that mixed martial arts is as safe for a child to learn as any other sport. As many children grow up they want to try soccer, football, baseball, basketball, etc. Most parents will allow them to change sports to find what really brings out their natural talent. There is no difference in them learning different types of martial art forms. Each discipline focuses on a specific form, korean karate is different then tai chi; but both are forms of self defense. Yes professional m.m.a gets a bad rap from many because all most people seem to see is two men/women in a cage beating the crap out of one another. But the truth is this is a way to show the public that there are many athletes that spend most of their lives training to be the best they can at many forms of martial arts. I would rather all four of my sons follow in their fathers' footsteps and learn many forms of martial arts. Because it teaches them the importance of discipline and hard work. It may seem brutal to many but look at boxing, two opponents standing there round after round trying to knock the other out. With m.m.a. just like boxing the referee is always close to ensure no athlete gets hurt too badly.
Martial arts teaches self confidence and fitness. If someone does it to be able to hurt someone, then that's their problem not the result of mrtial arts. Again, it's all a perspective of how you choose to use your martial art skills. Part of the PARENTS job is to teach the child that this skill is for self defense only and not to hurt someone.
The danger of teaching kids martial arts of any kind, be it karate or street fighting, is the great temptation to use it.
As we all learned in the Spiderman trilogy, "With great power, comes great responsibility"
As a child, it is hard to distinguish when a confrontation with another child is self-defense or just bulling with the aid of martial arts. Personally, when I was in middle school, I took lessons in Taekwondo because I had been bullied before. As a result I beat a kid up within the secrecy of the boy's restroom. It wasn't aggravated bullying of a victim, but rather consenting to a duel with a kid who challenged me, to test my abilities. I wasn't using my training to defend myself, but rather to harm another person for the sake of prestige, which is fundamentally against the code of martial arts.
As children, we are still very ignorant about the ways of the world, and that some problems are solved better with words than fists. Some 'mother-bear' parents may put their kids through martial arts as a way to protect their children from ruffians and never-do-wells. The danger in this is letting their training go to their head and cause physical confrontation rather than prevent it.
Children who watch and participate in Mixed Martial Arts are more likely to use what they have learned and seen as appropriate means to engage in violence. The "Hey, I saw this on TV!" insight is encouraging them to hurt people. MMA may have referees, but where are the referees on the playground or in the backyard?
The bottom line is that MMA is primeval blood sport, which we as a civilization have carried with us from the ancient coliseum to satisfy our thirst for bloodshed and human suffering. When children learn this, they are walking time bombs to harm others for personal satisfaction and gain. Parents who let MMA teach their children how to resolve conflicts lack incredible responsibility and common sense and are dangers to our society as we know it.
Just when I had come to the conclusion that nothing this world throws out could surprise me, I turn on my television to see six year old kids engaging in MMA. I'm around kids all of the time, and I have never known one to want to be kicked, hit or choked. In my opinion(and I know many will feel differently) but putting your kids in MMA is just another form of child abuse. What type of thrill could you possible get out of watching 6 and 7 year olds beat the crap out of one another? One little incident could leave this kids seriously injured, paralyzed, or worse, dead. Its sad to say but I guess thats what its going to take to wake these people wake up. Its a shame when we give people prison time for fighting dogs, but then we allow our children, no encourage our children to fight like dogs, and its okay. Do we put more value on an animals life now days, than a human life? Sure seems like it.
I think a little clarification is in order here:
MMA competitions for kids are only allowed in a few states (California being one)and even then, there are modified rules. Headgear and over-sized gloves will protect the kids from head trauma (though anyone in the sport will tell you, kids don't generate enough power in their strikes to do serious damage). The grappling is no different than wrestling/judo (without a gi) and referees are on top of the submissions (literally)which are usually relegated to arm bars and chokes (no leg or ankle locks). Chokes can be defended by tucking your chin and when you don't I promise a child will tap as soon as it's uncomfortable, well before he goes out. An arm bar is completely monitored by the refs who will stop the submission before it is locked-out. So what exactly are we complaining about here? Personally, my boys compete in BJJ (Braz. JJ) tournaments as well as Judo and wrestling tournaments. My 8 yo has trained in Muay Thai but doesn't compete. I for one am not ready to see my kids get punched in the face but if a child enjoys the striking arts and wants to compete I have no problem with it. Again, I boxed competitively from 9-11 yo and really enjoyed the experience, maybe my boys will as well, maybe they won't, their choice (with my guidance). I coach two football teams and can tell you that the intensity and danger is much more prevalent in football where these kids are running full speed than you'd find in a grappling tournament/MMA (even with submissions). My 8 yo will attest that football is much "harder", yet you don't hear people crying about youth football being too violent. To be completely honest with you, I'm much more nervous watching my daughter who competes in cheer competitively as she's flying in the air or on top of a pyramid than I am watching my boys compete. Oh, and to the smart axx comment about spending time with math and Spanish, my 8 yo gets straight A's in Math and will take Spanish as soon as it's offered in Jr. High. Last I checked- physical sports and education are not mutually exclusive. In the end, it's our responsibility as parents to help our kids find "their thing", be it skateboarding, football, art or even MMA. As a youth coach I see way too many parents putting pressure on their kids to be the athlete/student that they never were, I say give them the latitude to try different interests and find out where they excel and enjoy themselves- that (along with moral guidance) is where true "self esteem" is born.
I am a middle aged woman and I have participated in classical martial arts for 17 years, including teaching children. Unfortunately I have to say that it has been my experience that most young children 5-10 years old do not choose something like mixed martial junk ( I cannot call what they do art)without outside pressure or encouragement. There is a mental health diagnosis for children who behave aggressively and treatment is encouraged to redirect that kind of behavior. Now parents want to pay someone to teach their children how to beat each other up for medals? I could give you an essay of reasons why this kind of training is not only unhealthy but can do serious damage to a young person psyche, his emotional stability and his confidence. For those of you who do not understand the difference there is a significant difference between ego and self-esteem. If you don't understand, take some time and learn about the differences. If you want to watch people fight, turn on the 6 O'clock news or just get on line. There is plenty of it all over the world.One of hte reasons we live in a more violent, agressive, an apatheic country is because activities like MMA are being encouraged as healthy entertainment. That is just plain crazy!
I am all for the discipline and self defense strategies of solid martial arts training. The term "Martial Arts' carried a very specific definition until it reached americans who then turned into whatever they wanted it to be so they could turn over a buck and win a medal. Oh and by the way, with all due respect, Tae kwon do is not a martial art either it is a martial sport and most of the "self-defense strategies" taught in the dojang would be useless in a fight against a classically trained martial artist. Do your homework folks. Please don't do this to our children. They are our future. Is this what we want for our future?!
I do not agree what so ever with children in MMA. My fiance does MMA and to see what these men and women are put through there is no way that I would let my child do MMA. MMA is a sport that involves skill and discipline. To me a child shouldn't be taught "how to fight." Teaching them Brazillian Jiu Jitsu would be suitable for 15+ year olds, but leave the sparring out until they are at least 18.
To each his own. As I've stated, if your a parent, the responsibility is yours to decide which, if any sports are appropriate for your child and in all honesty if your trying to make this decision based on a blog, I really fear "for our future". Go sit in a class or two with your child and then make an informed decision. I have two links, I'd like to include that you might interesting:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,408722,00.html- cheer is the most dangerous organized sport but we're not complaining about that...
http://mohlerjiu-jitsu.com/drake_dudley.html- great kid, know him personally, Honor role, extremely well mannered, gives his time to help others, scratch golfer and oh yeah, the future of MMA. You wanna know why he's such a great kid- he's got awesome, involved parents that helped him find his thing or two or three.... :)
To retort to a couple of the remarks recently posted. Martial Arts without sparring ceases to be a Martial Art. I implore you to sit in on a kids BJJ, Judo, Muay Thai or even MMA (which is simply a melding of: wrestling, grappling and striking)class and see for yourself the difference in which the kids are taught and the intensity involved vs. adults. There are exceptions but for the most part, Martial Arts Instructors, like any Youth Coach, love their kids and work within their abilities. As far as TKD, any Martial Art that gives a black belt to a 8 year old really needs examine themselves. So, in the end, settle down folks.
MMA seems to me to be a very dynamic, well-refereed sport that is much less violent than boxing or football. Certainly there is much less punching than boxing and without the big gloves of the boxer the person who punches cannot do so with impunity (broken hands). The violence of football speaks for itself. And how about the ACL problems that so many girls have thanks to soccer and basketball.
I don't see how it "encourages" aggression. With three little boys in my house I can assure you that just being awake encourages agression in a boy. I am a homeschooling Seattle liberal but I am considering getting my three boys involved in it because it seems like one of the most challenging and safe activities they have to choose from and it would be a great complement to the stricly intellectual Latin, Math, and Music they spend all day working on. What's the big deal if they get punched?
Save the rants for skiing, basketball, football, cycling, hiking, and other joint-destroying, ligament-tearing, bone-breaking, and in some cases life-threatening, activities.
As some of the response have indicated - it is definitely up to the parents and how they choose to raise their children. I am familar with martial arts but not an expert. I think those who are passionate about martial arts - any kind of martial arts or even sports teach our kids the vitures of the sport. It's not 100% of one or the other. Most of the responses have been from a parent's view point to defend or attack instead of an inquiry of what's to be learned. If we ourselves cannot find resolution and acceptance for each other's point of view, how do we teach our youth to do the same? If this was a perfect world, parents would raise their kids with the same values (i.e respect & tolerance). Instead because we are all so different as adults, our kids just learn to mimic our actions - both good or bad. So if you don't like how or why your kids act a certain way, look at yourself first and see where your actions lie. If you like MMA or martial arts, then you'll expose your kids to that. If you are more focused on education, you'll value activities that are educational related. Competition exists everywhere and there is no escaping that somewhere in the world someone is going to be beter than you at something. So what? You can teach your kids to deal with that or you can teach them to fight back...which might lead them to always having to "fight back". So it's up to you. The best part of being a parent is that it is up to you because kids do look up to their parents, even if you don't think they do or want them to. It's just their nature to do so.
#" Guile, intelligence, strategy, mastery of fine motor skills, are not relevant to succeed in this "sport," (or in life); mostly it's just the greater will to beat up the other guy."
You may want to do a bit more research on the sport before commenting. As an MMA practitioner, I can tell you that strategy, mastery of motor skills, and intelligence are some of the most paramount aspects of the sport. MMA is a physical chess match and requires much more than just being able wildly flail your arms about in order to strike the opponent.
Okay, I usually don't participate in blogs, and I'm guessing that few if any will read mine since I'm number 32; however, seeing some of what I consider misinformed posts on both sides of the argument here, I have to throw in my two cents worth.
To those who argue that MMA is pure violence with no talent, strategy, technique involved...you couldn't be farther from the truth.
For the previous blogger naming all of the classes you participate in as an alternative to the mainstream education (science, math, etc) which you cite as society's effort to paint everyone into its prescribed box.... Please, do yourself a favor and quit while you’re ahead...and do the rest of us who are in support of MMA a favor by not speaking for our side as you're making us all look bad.
I am a teacher with a Master's Degree in education. I dedicate my life to improving the lives of my students through educating, cultivating the skills and resources that education provides. My wife and I are both teachers. I can tell you without reservation that with the exception of the sharing of our Christian faith, there is nothing I want more for my daughter than for her to share my love for the Martial Arts, with its mental/ physical conditioning, respect, and character development.
Further, I consider one of my most inherent duties in life to protect my family in or out of the home. In the home, to insure by whatever weapons necessary that any threat is eliminated (as you can see I believe in the right of law abiding citizens to bear arms), and outside the home to be sure that my training and physical conditioning is such that I am always prepared to effectively fight to protect my loved ones. Anything less is cowardice.
To sum up, MMA is all about technique, skill, strategy, endurance, strength, conditioning, etc...and has absolutely nothing to do with pummeling or overpowering your opponent. Just as in any boxing gym, it only takes once for big Jim with no skills to get beat down by Slim with superior counter punching, and Big Jim never returns. Only those with perseverance, humility, and determination can last through the rigorous training. Any fan of MMA can tell you that as the sport has developed over the last few decades, only those with superior skills and conditioning are still in it, regardless of their age (case in point: Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell--look up some of the history before you make a blanket statement condemning the sport).
I began martial arts as a teenager during a time when I was confused about life (aren’t we all at that age) very angry, running with the wrong crowd, and getting in a lot of fights, legal trouble, etc. Prior to my first Martial Arts class I cannot recall exactly how many fights I had encountered, but there were many. Since then I have only been in one fight, and on that occasion alcohol and walking through a bad part of our neighborhood at 3 AM were the culprits (and I was jumped by no instigation of my own). Mind you that was almost twenty years ago.
So, if you're arguing that MMA is pure violence, you're simply wrong. I have never found a sport that incorporates all the skills from every sport I've ever enjoyed, challenged me to the limits of my capability, keeps me in shape, flexible, and cultivates a love for life. There's simply nothing more fun...and as long as I keep training I will always be able to keep up with my kids.
Finally, if you're concern is simply that you're no longer studly...I think if you're really honest, you'll admit with the rest of us that's a cop out, and the truth be told you've just been lazy.
"Guile, intelligence, strategy, mastery of fine motor skills, are not relevant to succeed in this "sport,"" MMA is the exact opposite of this statement, every punch or kick must be strategically planed, and once fights hit the ground it is basically a chess match where moves must be planed to avoid counters. You should be fired Dr. P for writing such an ignorant and biased article, it is more than obvious that all you have seen of MMA is an espn clip. I’ll guess this is because you’re a doctor and a white color worker like you would never want to watch something like MMA that’s for us “lower class” Americans. Perhaps if you had the guts or bravery to test your self physically rather than just mentally you would understand, but just keep criticizing things you don’t understand from behind a computer, that’s true bravery and intelligence.
By saying that no strategy or guile is involved in MMA shows you know nothing about the sport.
Wow, unbelievable. I did MMA for over 12 years and let me tell you, it really is nothing but pointless, violent crap. The people who like it, like it because they can beat up people legally and take their frustration out on people legally and enjoy watching people brutalize each other.
You mean to tell me you cant learn to defend yourself without stepping in a cage with someone else? You mean to tell me you cant learn philosophies without beating someone up? You mean to tell me you cant get fit without beating someone up?
This is a sport that most medical associations are opposed to, and many states have banned...FOR A REASON. They call it "fighting" and "fighters" for a REASON. Anyone who doesnt see that its nothing but violence, is pure blind and ignorant. Theyre just excited that they can choke someone legally and hurt someone legally.
Im not gonna tell a DOCTOR that hes out of it, every doctor ive ever asked says its not worth it, the long term effects are ridiculous. If it taught self control/respect/discipline, then YOU WOULDNT BE FIGHTING, now would you?! Every sport alive can teach focus, balance, concentration, coordination WITHOUT having to hurt someone else.
As a guy who did it for 12 years and instructed it, its a fake, pointless, violent sport and instructors try to brainwash people into thinking otherwise. They want to turn this world into one big human cockfight and they relate it to the gladiator days. Its barbaric and stupid. I have better things to do with my life than fight someone.
I for one will stop at nothing until this sport gets banned. If congress ever needs someone to speak against it, Ill gladly do it. I laugh so hard at the people who try to make it seem like its NOT about fighting and violence, they are obviously blind and cant see what goes on inside those cages and rings.
I think if you read most of these comments, you'll see exactly what MMA teaches. Everyone who supports MMA is completely harassing the writer of this post, bashing him and making fun of him. Now wait, I thought MMA taught discipline, respect and self-control???? Even though everyone I know who takes it, takes it because "i want to beat up people, i can beat up people legally".
Whenever I ask an MMA person, "what is the point of kicking someone? What is the point of choking someone? What is the point of hitting someone so hard it knocks them out?"...they can never give me a straight answer. Seriously, WHAT IS THE POINT?! You mean to tell me you cant POSSIBLY teach confidence, concentration, discipline ANY OTHER WAY?!?!?!?! What sad people you all are.
I know self defense, and you dont need to learn all types of techniques to defend yourself from being attacked. if u want to learn self defense, you SIMPLY take "self defense classes", they usually last an hour. People who take mma, dont take it for self defense. If u want to learn fitness, u go to a gym. Discipline, LMAO...people these days are not capable of learning discipline. People get more and more dumber and violent and angry by the day. Oh yes, this sport will rise because people enjoy watching 2 people beat each other up...thats the kind of entertainment people enjoy!
But when many states ban it, when it WONT be shown on national tv, when congress is trying to ban it completely, when most doctors are opposed to it, and when most medical associations are opposed to it...that speaks a thousand words.
Seriously people, what is the point of pounding someone in the face multiple times? What kind of discipline do u learn from that?! What kind of discipline and fitness do u learn from choking someone, or or pounding someone whos already down? What kind of balance and focus do u learn from kneeing someone in their liver?
Its unbelievable how ignorant and blind people are. Im a true devote christian, and the God i praise, does not approve of two people beating up each other. "Bless these hands for battle", which was written in the bible, has nothing to do with 2 "fighters" getting in a cage and "fighting".
Lastly, if its not about fighting...why do they call it "fighting? Why do they call them "fighters"? Why do they it "fights"? Why is it called Ultimate FIGHTING Championship? Why do they stare each other down before a fight? In all sports, when a player is down and hurt, the whole crowd and sidelines usually gets on their knees and hopes the guy is okay....whereas in MMA, everyone cheers. Thats so sick.
MMA supporters, the truth hurts, I know. I laugh at how defensive and moody these people get everytime someone bashes their sport. Ya, I can tell you learn discipline and respect!
"Save the rants for skiing, basketball, football, cycling, hiking, and other joint-destroying, ligament-tearing, bone-breaking, and in some cases life-threatening, activities."
...ahh yes, because in MMA, people dont break your arms/feet/and ligaments, right? In MMA, people dont end up in a hospital or passed out afterwards, right?
unbelievable how ignorant people are these days.
I am coming into this blog rather late however I feel the need to express my comments to those who oppose MMA. Someone anonymously before me said those that practice MMA are bashing others, but it seems your message was just the same; but with a different point of view. Realize MMA is exactly what it says, mixed martial arts. It is learning to defend yourselves no matter what position you may find yourself unfortunately in. As a youth I was in a lot of street fights. I was very short (still am) and I was picked on quite a bit, but my temper was that of a 6'-6" man. When I started martial arts as I got older the light bulb went off for me in several areas. First, you never know what someone will do to you in a street fight, i.e. knife, gun, bat, or what ever weapon of choice; so as a parent I reinforce with my children that a street fight is not something you really want to be involved in. Secondly, I personally found it quite relaxing and lost the need to prove myself. I would have no problem walking away from a confrontation based on the two aforemention comments assuming that my life or my family is not in danger. I reinforce to my children that this is a sport, although they do not do MMA. They are involved with Kempo Karate and BJJ both of which are trying to defeat an oppenent just as a one-on-one tennis match. The will to want to win is not a bad thing. Getting punched is not a bad thing if you appraoch it as a sport, and that is why there are referee's to ensure safety. Once it occurs out of the ring it is no longer sport and that is unacceptable in my family. Most of the instructors I have met are very humble people. My last comment and I'll go away. If you have ever been a victum of a violent crime you must be aware that the criminal has the edge. They have the edge of fear and they no this, and they come at there victums with an agression that most can't understand. Most martial art's teacher do not train students to deal with this type of aggresion. When it is the first time you have every seen it you can freeze up very quickly. MMA teaches aggression to adults that take the training further, as does football or rugby; but it also teaches when to turn those emotions off. I have not seen aggession being taught in kids MMA classes. Even watching the professionals on TV they talk up a mean game because they must put there minds into that mindset (for a lack of better words) and immediately following the fight/event they are typically hugging and shaking hands. That is controlling your emotions.
Holy cow, it seems people are confusing REAL martial arts with fake, wannabe martial arts. Im an instructor, I teach tai-chi, tang soo do and some karate and tae kwon do. But mixed martial arts, brazilian jiu jitsu (UFC style), is not martial arts....its mindless, senseless, violence. Cage fighting is NOT martial arts, nor is ufc and all of that. The stuff I teach is harmless to my students, its little or no-contact and its safe and fun. I always show a video to my students of ufc and pride fighting, and tell them to stay away from it, its NOT martial arts.
Perhaps people here are confusing this Doctor's article...I believe he is right, but he isnt talking about tai-chi or tang soo do. He is speaking of UFC style, and MMA type fighting. And hes right, they are stupid.
what about little girls doing MMA??? Is that worse than boys?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlwEdx4BjGw
I find this to be absolutly appualing.. boys are one thing girls!! Now you have crossed the line.
Hello Dr.
I myself am an amateur mixed martial artist, and have been training for over three years. I can understand your concern for children training at such a young age. However, my reasoning is slightly different.
Techniques incorporated into mixed martial arts are very dangerous and can cause serious injury, or worse, death. I believe that these children do not have the level of maturity and temperance that is needed to use proper discretion while training or in a shoveabout on the playground. I agree with you that MMA in its entirety is far too dangerous and violent for such young child.
If you think MMA is bad then why not stop kids from learning Wrestling, Judo, Boxing or Karate since they are all a part of MMA. My son is learning Judo and Wrestling and getting guitar lessons. I let him know what he is learning should not be used to play with his cousins or kids in school. I also tell him to walk away from a fight. That being said I also tell him if there is no way out you sometimes are forced to defend yourself. Before we blast kids MMA compare there injuries to peewee football or Little league.
I have two of my boys 6 & 10 training in MMA as well as BJJ ....there is no full blown sparing involved .......kids at that age are not training for fights. They are simply taught techniques and conditioning. Most of these post just show how ignorant people are .....you might want to stop reading this and make sure your kids haven't finished off the bag of potatoes chips while sitting on the couch all day watching cartoons, mean while waiting for you to take them to McDonalds for HAPPY MEALS. Kids will occur more injuries riding there bikes, skate boards, playing football and even baseball or soccer, then training in a professional controlled environment. Stop being judgmental keep your opinions to yourself and maybe try to be opened minded to new ideas. Checkout www.combatathletix.com
MMA is a great sport you don't know what you are talking about until you actually participate in it.
MMA might require skill... but it sure as hell has no traditions, spirituality or philosophy to it. I have trained in aikido, and karate and now i train in MMA just to keep my skills alive due to there being nothing else available near me. I don't consider boxing a martial art and "cagefighting" is right out. You might have turned your life around after taking up MMA... but correlation does not imply causation.
It is true that most fighting styles teach and promote essentials such as discipline, respect, self-control, and self defense. But, you have to look at it like this: MMA is a COMINATION OF DIFFFERENT/ALL JUTSU. This means that it takes more than just these different aspects such as the ones listed above. It takes maturity and a differentiation of the mind, something younglings do not have. For example, if a child knows a defensive style such as hapkido and something that is offensive such as kara te and something that incorporates both like jiujitsu, where is the discernment that a child has to know between these three areas of fighting? Kids (ages6-12) do not have the advanced type of knowledge to discern between which jutsu's to use and which jutsu's counter each other. being an adequate, and i stress adequate meaning that i have lost or not gained much knowledge, master in jiu-jitsu, tae kwon do, hapki do, boxing, and "Destructive Arts" and "Tiger Arts" and soon to be Iron Palm (btw, im 17), being able to execute, discern, and ascertain these types of jutsu's is very advanced skill. in my opinion, i would not teach kids this young ALL OF THESE JUTSU'S AT ONE TIME like MMA does. i understand that 8 and 7 year olds can start in tae kwon do and kara te and indeed that's when i started. but when MMA combines these martial arts into one, you cannot be sure that the child will fully understand the fundamental principles of jutsu and martial arts.
at the same time, other than psychological, there are health issues. but by all means, i endorse sending kids to dojo's to learn the martial art of fighting don't get me wrong there. but when incorporating more than 3 fighting styles in the sense of how MMA does it, it is very dettrimental to children because these are CHILDREN!!!! they are still growing in these stages and shouldn't be doing things this rough. i say this because MMA can stunt growth, burnout growth spurts, and prevent adequate growth when they becoe teenagers. at the same time, they are not yet mature to learn MMA in my opinion. i am not a liberal but when it comes down to kids, i cannot allow kids to participate in something as violent as MMA. i myself am in MMA and it is NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.
plus, i know that there are teachers out there who are teaching kids dangerous techniques, knowing that they should not know that kind of knowledge. there are even masters who are teaching kids as young as 6 years old the "Iron Palm" techniques. This will literally break the hands of these kids. even with proper training, you CANNOT teach kids this, which is sometimes required in MMA to do hand strengthening techniques. but in the subject of dangerous techniques, i do not have the authorization to give yo uthe name but i can...."beat around teh bush". i myself know many different ways to kill you thru pressure points, support points, and the life and death pionts. i DO know masters who teach these to children who have no business in this.
i suggest that the gov. tighten down on regulation with MMA and children. there needs to be an age limit, especially when i heard that 3 YEAR OLDS ARE DOING THIS
Mas Oyama said it best; "Fighting without philosophy is violence. Fighting with philosophy is the martial way."
MMA when taught, like any other form of combative martial art or sport, can be positive if combined with a strong philosophy of hard work, discipline, and setting goals.
If you teach anyone how to fight for the sake of fighting you miss the overall benefit of martial arts.
MMA is no different then any other combat sport. The goal is to learn how to take someone out as effectively as possible. Along the way you can learn quite a bit about yourself or not. MMA, Karate, Etc... can all be beneficial or go horribly wrong.
Don't single out MMA. Look at the trainers not the arts.
martial arts weather it is mixed martial arts or a traditional dicipline are the same in the effect that all classes follow a code. There is always a code of conduct and the instructor forms a bond with his student where it is clearly understood what is acceptable behavior in the training hall and outside the traing hall. They promote self dicipline and respect for your elders and authority figures. The students also conect with each other as they try to problem solve techniques and philosophies. I've watched MMA classes for children and have noticed that a large chunk of the time is spent on helping the kids with issues of respect for your self and your partners, self dicipline, recognizing and listening to authority and building there bodies through cardio excercise. Cardio-very good for the mind too. You are not going to find a training hall where kids are taught to bully or pummel other kids. It wont happen because kids would get hurt in the class and outside of class. It would be extremely irresponsible of the teacher and the parent to create that kind of environment. MMA gets a bad wrap because of the cage fighting phenom and also because people dont under stand the nature of it. MMA is not a slug fest program. In MMA you will find Karate, Jujitsu, Judo, Boxing, Wrestling, Muay Thai, and other amalgamated martial arts that dicipline, diligence and intelligence to learn. I think you needed to dig a lot deeper Dr.P.
I have taken and taught Tae kwon do for years, and found that it is difficult to use in a real fight. When 95% of all fights end up going to the ground. Children need to have some type of self defense that is practical in a real life situation. Some of the parents in this world would refuse to believe that their child could be in a fight. Think about how many children are bullied in school each day. If your child came home with a black eye, or other body parts hurt, you will have had your real dose of reality. The truth is, the more you learn in MMA the more you don't want to fight. You begin to understand what you can do to others. There was a movie called HERO, with Jet Li, in it. It explains the true art of combat.
Brutal fighting is apart of life. Do you want your child, girl or boy, to be on the losing side? Or to have some type of contol in the situation. Taken your child to the library, and reading about fighting is one thing, but to really do it in a contoled invironment makes a difference for them. If not, I guess you'll be visiting this site again to find ways for a cure for your child with no teeth.
To see the confidence of children increase with every skill that is learned is something to be viewed. They begin to understand that they can not only read a book, but they can also protect themselves.
Some of the parents need to wake up.
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