Comments on: Ultimate Fighting Wins Kid Converts

Kids As Young As Six Are Participating In Pugilistic Sport With Their Parents' Approval

[Devans0]

When I was young, I started learning TaeKwonDo. I had a ball, got fit and learned a sport that enjoyed. Now, the popular thing is MMA. It combines wrestling, judo, juijutsu, karate, Thai boxing and western boxing into one sport with many components. I still work out, though I am way past competing age. I also see youngsters learn this sport. Except for some wrestling, it is very similar to TaeKwonDo as that is taught all over the world. If you read the original article, notice that one parent with the daughter and son who are enrolled, works as a police officer. Does anyone think that he is trying to teach his children to be thugs! Get perspective.

[howdeedoo]

ok i think this is a sport good as long as they have strict rules, and accepting peoples limits go for it! i do understand the emotional problems and bad influences there are at stake but that is for the childs parent to consider.

[therealbd]

I think most of you are right... I mean why you would want your young child out releasing some stored up energy, learning about self discipline, self confidence, self defense, getting exercise, making new friends and have an activity they look forward to?
You really should just keep you youngsters at home right under your wing so they won''t get hurt (because YOU can protect them from ever getting hurt and getting hurt will never happen to them during there life). Instead, when they are running around the house, all filled with energy, take them to the doctor IMMEDIATLEY! There they will prescribe some Ritalin, force these pill down there through, put them back in there plastic bubble, have them sit in front of the TV and watch all that youthful energy (which we all wish we still had) evaporate into nothing. Just think, in just a few short years of this, there bellies will grow to be as big as mommy and daddies. That%u2019s much much safer and so much healthier...
I cannot believe that we''ve gotten so soft that we make a huge issue out of little boy rough housing with one another under expert supervision.

[timdgrim]

Coming soon to the ALL NEW SPIKE JR. CHANNEL!

[excoachken]

Do these kids really have parents? How moronic!

[mjvw2]

I didn''t know George Bush had such an effect on children.

[xraytwonine]

it is only human nature; let those who seek blood gets it.

[andrew0120]

USBrit, I agree with you on your concerns over the age of these kids and their level of development. I do however, feel that with proper supervision, rules and safety equipment, this can be a safe and fun activity for these youngsters. The article makes this sound like they are in someones basement and that these kids are just rolling around cranking on eachothers'' arms. I think it is a little more organized than that. You do raise some reasonable concerns.

[nycsense]

I really don''t know how letting 6 year olds fight in all out brawls has any remote connection to a politition picking up prostitutes. I don''t know how a subject about children engaging in high levels of violence has any bearing on who anyone did or will vote for. What we are talking about has nothing do do with politics! In the Ultimate Fighting Championship matches, these are adults who trained in some form of martial arts and go to these compititions. They are ADULTS, who are fully aware of the consequences. Does a child really know how hurt they can get? I also understand that some of you THINK that this all-out, bare-knuckle brawl is a safe sport. But let me remind you that boxing and football may be rough sports too, but Mohamed Ali didn''t get Parkinson''s from picking daisies. Also, most old football players are plagued with chronic pain for the rest of thier lives years after playing football. Now imagine the injuries from getting kicked in the head repeatedly, with no padding. Does anyone still think this is good for their child? If you do, that says alot more about you than your child, and maybe you need to get kicked in the head repeatedly to knock some sense into you.

[usbrit-2009]

OK Andrew - maybe I was a little judgemental - what you say about brain injury does sound reasonable. I still don''t think it''s a good idea to put 6-year-olds in. England doesn''t start teaching any sport until 8 or 9 because 6-year old bones are not ready to take the torques involved in soccer (or even cricket for that matter) - so I don''t see how this can be safe for ones that young. They''re also susceptible at that age to fatherly "encouragement" so more damage could be done on account of trying to please dad.