Kids Battle In Cage Fights

[Sister Iroz]

http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo35/Special2bme/Story.jpg



KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Adult mixed martial arts emerged in the United States in 1993. Once called “human cockfighting,” during the last decade the sport shed its "no holds barred" brand, added rules and exploded into mainstream America. Now children in Missouri are getting a piece of the action.

The fights are fierce. Grown men unleash a mixture of martial arts in a cage.

"Now for people to compete there're competitions going on every weekend. It has grown that drastically that quickly," explained Rudy Lindsey.

Fueled by brutal brawls, featured in the Ultimate Fighting Championship featured on television, the once underground sport is breeding a new generation of fighters. Two children wrapped in protective gear, with open fingered gloves hugging their little hands, fight. They utilize a mixture of martial arts, punching, wrestling and grappling. It’s called The Garage Boy's Fight Crew in Carthage, two and a half hours south of Kansas City. Boys and even a couple of girls, aged 6 to 16, compete in mixed martial arts.

"They think we're just out there putting each other (together) and fighting, cockfighting, but it's no where close to that," explained Hayden Swinehart.

Hayden is 10. He along with his sister and older brother are honor roll students. They're also cage fighters. Each has competed in youth mixed martial arts for three years.

"Most people ask me what's it's done for you. I tell them self respect they think that's silly," said 14 year old Larry Swinehart, Jr.

http://www.nbcactionnews.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=2decf8c8-55db-4b63-8572-d15eb63d1d47

[Kitty]

I watched something very similar to this on NatGeo: They have kids as young as 3 years old fighting til knockout -- totally creepy.



http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/taboo/3605/facts#tab-facts

[Morticia]

This is just too weird. Why in the world would anyone support this as a parent? I do not know about how it could teach respect, put them in Karate!

Yes, little Joey let's go beat the shit out of that kid today after you do your homework!

[SplitBreast]

I watched something very similar to this on NatGeo: They have kids as young as 3 years old fighting til knockout -- totally creepy.



http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/taboo/3605/facts#tab-facts

I'm not sure where the fighting till ko at 3 comes from. While it is true they start training in Thailand at a very young age they aren't allowed to fight until certain height/weight/age restrictions are met.

According to rule 8, section 2, the minimum weight to compete is 100 pounds (45 kg) and the minumum age is 15.

Children that are younger than that are allowed to spar in a controlled enviroment. They have head gear, oversized gloves, shin pads, and mouth guards on. I train in a gym that allows children to spar, 8 and over, and have never seen so much as a bloody nose.

In Thailand Muay Thai is the only way for many people to make a living above (if barely) the poverty line. The bulk of the country trains in it at one time in their lives but many poor children are sent to camps at a young age and live there and become a part of the camp even changing their last names to the camps name. This is the only way they and their families can survive.

[SplitBreast]

This is just too weird. Why in the world would anyone support this as a parent? I do not know about how it could teach respect, put them in Karate!

Yes, little Joey let's go beat the shit out of that kid today after you do your homework!

You can go beat someone up just as easily after a Karate lesson. Or a Tae Kwon Do lesson.

Did you not see the part about the kids involved being honor roll students and being very well adjusted?

MMA will teach you the same self respect and discipline as those. It is the failure of the parent if the kid is a bully. Not the sport.

I have been training for years and don't go attack random people because of it. It actually helped me to learn to control my anger problems.



EDIT: Go take a look at the rate of injuries in childhood football and soccer before you judge this.

[Athena]

If I have kids and something popped up like this in my neck of the woods, I'd totally put them into it if they showed interest. These kids are trained, use lots of protective gear...It IS like karate, only better, because the techniques are more practical and well-rounded. MMA stands for Mixed Martial Arts - the kids are still learning the respect and confidence taught in other Martial Arts disciplines. In fact, lots of MMA schools will kick you out for fighting outside of the gym or dojo.

[SplitBreast]

If I have kids and something popped up like this in my neck of the woods, I'd totally put them into it if they showed interest. These kids are trained, use lots of protective gear...It IS like karate, only better, because the techniques are more practical and well-rounded. MMA stands for Mixed Martial Arts - the kids are still learning the respect and confidence taught in other Martial Arts disciplines. In fact, lots of MMA schools will kick you out for fighting outside of the gym or dojo.

Our school does and you have to keep up your grades. If i have kids I would allow and encourage this for them.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

What sport does not have potential for injury? In MMA and all sports, if all safety and rules are followed, I don't see a problem with it.

It's not like they are putting a couple of 4oz gloves on them and saying "have at it" the day they walk in the door. There is skill and technique involved. That is why they are training.

One of my sons got a busted arm during a Tae Kwon Do competition. My daughter broke her foot in basketball. My brother shattered his elbow in wrestling. My niece cut her hand in hockey. I regularily get stabbed by knitting needles. Poop Occurs.

[Kitty]

I'm not sure where the fighting till ko at 3 comes from. While it is true they start training in Thailand at a very young age they aren't allowed to fight until certain height/weight/age restrictions are met.

According to rule 8, section 2, the minimum weight to compete is 100 pounds (45 kg) and the minumum age is 15.

Children that are younger than that are allowed to spar in a controlled enviroment. They have head gear, oversized gloves, shin pads, and mouth guards on. I train in a gym that allows children to spar, 8 and over, and have never seen so much as a bloody nose.

In Thailand Muay Thai is the only way for many people to make a living above (if barely) the poverty line The bulk of the country trains in it at one time in their lives but many poor children are sent to camps at a young age and live there and become a part of the camp even changing their last names to the camps name. This is the only way they and their families can survive.



The Nat Geo Taboo (Extreme Children) show I watched had children as young as 3 years old in the ring fighting for money. The champion they spotlighted was a 6 year old girl, wearing gloves but no other protective gear, and her earnings were her family's only support. I've not been able to find anymore info on it other than what I linked previously.
Direct link to the video: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/taboo/3605/facts#tab-Videos/05604_00

[Dakota Valkyrie]

The Nat Geo Taboo (Extreme Children) show I watched had children as young as 3 years old in the ring fighting for money. The champion they spotlighted was a 6 year old girl, wearing gloves but no other protective gear, and her earnings were her family's only support. I've not been able to find anymore info on it other than what I linked previously.
Direct link to the video: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/taboo/3605/facts#tab-Videos/05604_00

That video:

"Young children fight in a kickboxing match in Thailand."They also have child prostitutes in Thailand so I wouldn't judge things by that.

I think USA rules and standards are much higher... even in adult sports.

[SplitBreast]

The Nat Geo Taboo (Extreme Children) show I watched had children as young as 3 years old in the ring fighting for money. The champion they spotlighted was a 6 year old girl, wearing gloves but no other protective gear, and her earnings were her family's only support. I've not been able to find anymore info on it other than what I linked previously.
Direct link to the video: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/taboo/3605/facts#tab-Videos/05604_00

I can assure you that is not the norm. That is one scumbag promoter making money off of poor people who don't know any better. That's fucking disgusting.

[DarkPrincess]

If my son really wanted to get into that I would let him, but... There's just something that doesn't feel right to me. Kinda like child beauty pageants. There's a creep factor about children doing some pretty grown up things. I don't know. I'm rambling. lol