Should Kids Fight in MMA Bouts?
Written by Mike Adams | Friday, April 11 2008
Here's one kid who won't be worried about bullies at school...
Following the atrociously-inaccurate story published by the Associated Press about children being involved in MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fights, there has been a lot of talk about MMA and children's health in the mainstream media. But like the mainstream news coverage on many topics (including nutrition and vitamins), virtually every single story about Mixed Martial Arts (or "Ultimate Fighting") in the mainstream media has been written by people who are absolutely clueless about what MMA really is, what the rules are, and what the impact of participation might be upon children.
First off, let me air some of the factually incorrect statements and labels that have been used by the mainstream media in describing MMA competitions. The Associated Press and other news organizations have called the sport human cockfighting, cage fighting, no-holds-barred fighting, bare-knuckle brawls and televised street fights. Not a single one of these descriptions is accurate. Then again, since when did the Associated Press give a darn about being accurate anyway?
I do not personally participate in MMA fighting, but I'm at least informed enough to be familiar with the rules: All fighters wear padded gloves, all are extremely well trained in various arts such as wrestling or kickboxing, all MMA bouts are managed by an on-the-floor referee whose primary job is to protect the competitors, an on-site doctor can also stop the fight for a medical reason (to protect the athletes), competitors may "tap out" and stop the fight at any moment by either physically or verbally "tapping out," all participants wear mouth pieces and protective cups, the floor of such events are padded, and so on. Top MMA competitors are elite athletes, displaying the coordination, endurance and dexterity of top gymnasts. Don't believe me? Watch George St. Pierre compete, and you'll see for yourself.
I find it curious that none of these facts about MMA -- and the UFC in particular -- are ever mentioned in the mainstream media. Instead, the MSM has already pre-judged the sport, deciding in advance that it's "too violent" and therefore must be dangerous for children.
Too violent? Who are they kidding? Professional football is far more dangerous than mixed martial arts. Even pro basketball produces at least as many injuries per participant as mixed martial arts. And hockey, of course, is far more violent. Hockey players are issued sticks!
Is Mixed Martial Arts dangerous for children?
The idea that mixed martial arts training is "dangerous for children" as just as ludicrous. You know what the real danger to children's health is these days? Sitting on the couch playing with your game console, drinking soda, gaining weight and getting diabetes. It is the inactive kids who are at the highest risk of obesity, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, low self esteem, low bone density, poor cardiovascular health, behavioral disorders and so on.
You want to know who the healthy kids are? They're the kids that actively participate in sports. It hardly matters what sport, actually: Track and field, football, baseball, soccer, wrestling, and yes, MMA. Kids that train in MMA are engaging in a health-enhancing, confidence-boosting activity that burns calories, builds physical strength, teaches personal responsibility and demands rigorous training discipline. It's like learning a formal martial art (like Tai Kwon Do), except that MMA is actually useful and doesn't waste time with silly demonstration forms or pretty colored belts. A kid that learns MMA is not only healthy; he's also more capable of taking care of himself at school, on the street and when traveling.
In fact, a lot of studios around the country that teach MMA to kids also teach self-defense classes for kids based on Krav Maga, the Israeli-developed combat system. Kids are taught how to escape an attacker, freeing themselves from wrist holds and strangleholds, and then flee while attracting attention. These skills can save kids' lives.
The mainstream media (MSM), of course, isn't interested in the factual benefits of teaching such skills to children; they're more interested in the tabloid sensationalism invoked through the use of terms like "human cockfighting" and "bare-knuckle brawls!"
Of course, it's easy to attack a sport where people sometimes bleed quite visibly. All the "scary" photos or video clips of MMA events selectively show participants bleeding profusely. What they don't explain is that virtually all the bleeding comes from previous scar tissue on the forehead and ears (usually), and that even very tiny cuts bleed a lot during fights due to the heavy pumping of the heart. The actual amount of blood lost is far less than what a person would give at a blood donation center, by the way, and the on-site doctor stops any fight that runs the risk of endangering the athletes.
Personally, I'm very impressed with the athleticism, professionalism and humility of many top UFC fighters. Randy Couture, one of the most highly-regarded athletes in the sport, even pursues a nutritionally-dense diet, consuming green superfoods on a regular basis to keep him in top physical shape. George St. Pierre is a true professional, acting with great humility and professionalism no matter what challenges he faces. Former light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell is practically a superhero in the eyes of many MMA fans today. I recently interviewed Chuck in person about his new line of nutritional supplements (www.IceManRx.com) and will be posting that interview on this website shortly.
What about the violence?
Is MMA violent? Sure it is. Most men are, by nature, somewhat violent. They enjoy fighting and watching fighting. MMA is a way for men to "blow off some steam" and enjoy watching two guys beat the crap out of each other. (Yes, most men actually enjoy this.) I dare say that if men could not participate in staged fights with safety gear, rules and referees, they'd be out in the back alley back pounding the crap out of each other anyway, and that would be a whole lot more dangerous.
Interestingly, however, even the competitive street fights you see on YouTube today still follow rules. Check out the YouTube videos of Kimbo Slice and you'll find that even in these bare-knuckle fights, they still have "street" rules (such as allowing the opponent to stay on the ground and catch their breath until they're ready for more), and when the fight is over, they shake hands and walk away.
Personally, I'm a very non-violent individual. I've never started a fight, and I've never had to try to end one. I'm a huge believer in natural health and in protecting the health of the human body. Even so, I openly support the participation of children and teens in any sport where safety standards exist, including MMA. If Mixed Martial Arts is an activity that a child will enjoy while training their mind and body, then the very small risk of bodily injury is inconsequential compared to the risk of getting obese, diabetic and overmedicated from sitting in the couch, playing with your Wii or otherwise avoiding physical activity altogether.
The bottom line in all this? Children experience tremendous benefits from participation in any sport, including MMA. Kids who train in martial arts, wrestling, kickboxing or other so-called "violent" sports are actually learning valuable skills, discipline and self-esteem. They're staying healthy and active, and they greatly reduce their risk for typical couch-potato diseases like diabetes, depression, osteoporosis and obesity. The real risk to kids' health today is the risk of diseases caused by a LACK of exercise!
Final thoughts: Nutrition in the MMA
As a side note to all of this, if there's anyone engaged in MMA competition who wants to learn some serious nutritional secrets for greatly reducing injury, enhancing the oxygen-carrying capacity of your blood, greatly increasing reaction speed, and boosting hand-eye coordination using little-known plant-based extracts and medicines, give me a call at 520-232-9300.
I've been looking for an opportunity to provide nutritional coaching for some professional athletes for a while, and I thought I might hook up with a professional football team at some point with this information, but I now realize that MMA athletes stand to benefit the most from these nutritional secrets. Most MMA athletes don't know much about nutrition, and as a result, they are missing out on the performance enhancements that come from pursuing really superior nutrition.
Article originally appeared at Natural News- visit their website and thank them for doing a good job debunking all of the media scare stories.
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