Ryduce

I would rather have my son doing something constructive like this than sitting at home playing video games and watching cartoons.Not to mention it's probably safer than other activities because it is being supervised.When I played youth football when I was like 11 someone died on the field from an asthma attack,and I suffered the worst injury of my life playing little league basball(broke my leg in 3 places).So every sport your child participates in he or she runs the risk of being hurt,but that's part of youth.So if your uncomfortable with you child doing that then don't let them,but I personally think it's good for them.

So I don't think it's disturbing at all.

Sevensinsproject

strikes to the face included, I just don't agree that it's wrong at all,
my son is not old enough yet but as soon as he is were thinking about putting him in at least one class,
I would say these kids fighting are the least likely to get in trouble in school,

This surge of interest is exactlly what our obese nation needs, i saw all sorts of injuries in football, and wrestling even.

subgenius

I agree with you, and the post just before yours. And, any MA instructor or MMA instructor worth their salt will be teaching these kids discipline, respect, and even responsibility. I was taught that the best use of my martial arts skills would be to never have to use them in anger or spite. It was that I am always supposed to protect myself, but to do so without causing great harm or harm that is undue. In other words, I was taught to never use undue force in anger or with true violent intent.

I used to love Chinese martial arts films, and clearly I idolize Bruce Lee. BUT, it is also true that I studied what Bruce Lee (and other MA stars) had to say by way of philosophy. It was a part of what my MA instructor insisted upon. It taught me to think as well as to do. To think about what I am doing. And, to do only that which was necessary. That was outside of the dojo and outside of my MA instructor's influence, and outside of any competitions. My instructor made sure he did not train a bully that would cause harm. He wanted smart kids that wanted to help people and to defend themselves correctly.

Open competition is a sport. No matter what level, it is a sport. MMA is an especially important form of fighting in our day. We are on the verge of a new world, and these MMA skills transcend what we lived through in the 20th century. It is a great time. IMO, it is like when Kung-Fu was first discovered, mastered, and opened up to the world. It is like the Greeks discovering wrestling and pankration. What becomes of it is what we (and the professionals) will make of it. And, the next generation will be superior in MMA to what we had before now, and better than what we see today.

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BJ Penn stole my SHOE!!!

imdahman

Dang yo, that was a crazy video.

I'm a little bit on the fence as to my personal reaction to the film. I'm not quite sure exactly where my 'moral and ethical' compass is pointing. On the one hand, yeah he's very young - but on the other, these were all sanctioned, supervised competitions with a refereee close by to immediately break them up. While the slams in the wrestling looked painful, that's probably just the excess stimula beefing it up.

The kid did have MAD skills in submissions. I was especially impressed when he turtled and rolled into a kneebar - that was awesome!

Just FYI: In Thailand, kids as young as six years old compete fullout in Muay Thai in sanctioned Muay Thai fights. They have Muay Thai schools where the students live at the house and train all day... it's pretty crazy and thought it was worth mentioning.

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- Imdahman

We've all been raised on television to believe that
one day we'd all be millionaires and movie gods and
rock stars - but we won't. And we're slowly learning
that fact; and we're very, very pissed off.
-Fight Club

lvsuspect

This is my second comment. I have to say that I understand and agree with both sides. If these kids do pound on each other with out head gear or heavily padded gloves and actually apply pressure to the submissions, then I think it is out of line. Although I don't think that is what is going on.

I agree with what someone earlier said about respect and honor. It sounds wierd, but it is like teaching a dog. If you teach them when they are you they will remember for the rest of their lives (I know from experience).

I don't remember then (when I was young), but now when I train I am very laid back. I don't get angry and I usually don't have bad days. Also I have never picked a fight.

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Jeremy

tonster

I just hope they don't "practice" with their friends at home unsupervised. I would not want my kid to be the one with the dislocated arm or such. If I really want my kid to get some exercise, I would go ball with him or something. I'm not talking about the young kids who observe the true ways of a martial artist, I'm just worried for those kids who have no clue or without proper guidance. Seeing a video like that, they will no doubt try stuff like that at home with their friends not realizing the danger of MMA without the proper training. I mean, the main goal of MMA is to whoop your opponent's ass, simply put.

Krakatau

^^A great reason to get them in a class, so they understand what they are doing.

Is that not how differences of opinion are commonly addressed? Right vs. Wrong? I mean, we can get into the grey scale of setting up different scenarios which would make a young competetor okay or not okay in your eyes.... but why? I'm not saying that I can't see where you are coming from, I just disagree. Just like you disagree with me. I'm fine with that. And yeah, I think I am right. That is why I hold the opinion I have. If we are looking at things in completely black and white terms, that doesn't leave a whole lot of descriptive words other than 'wrong' for me to use, you know?

Of course there is a difference. One is younger than the other. But as Subgenius rightly mentioned, any reputable instructor will be teaching a wealth of other skills (respect, honor, restraint) to temper the skills the student is learning.

Why don't you get into the specifics of what you find so distasteful about it? Really, I have no problem with it, think the kid is very skilled and that is all there really is to discuss on my end. So go ahead and throw out your reasoning. I am curious.

angryjonny

No it's not commonly adressed that way. Agree or disagree is common. Telling someone that their opinion is wrong is completely different. It doesn't leave a whole lot of words to use? Look I don't think it's that big of a deal but I don't see what's wrong with just using 'disagree' because telling someone they are wrong to me sounds like you are belittling them.

Yes that is a point there. One is older than the other. And sure any reputable instructor will be teaching that. What does that matter though? We are starting to talk like we know this kid and his instructor personally. Unless you do then go ahead and talk I have nothing to say about that. I sure hope that any kid that does receive training from all the Mc Dojo's that are showing up and more in the future will receive proper training. But to say that a kid is going to have the same physical and mental state of mind as someone almost as old as me...are you serious about this because I don't know how to respond to that.

Why don't you read my post that you quoted and you could realize that you spent all this time here for nothing since I never said I find anything "so distasteful" about it. I guess I'll say it again as long as these kids aren't hitting eachother in the face (and with closed fists I'll add) then it is fine. I can understand why someone would not be cool with watching this. And I wouldn't say they are wrong for thinking differently.

So go ahead and throw out a response if you want but I'll go ahead and say that I've wasted enough time here and won't bother since I never really disagreed with anyone here except you saying someone's opinion is wrong makes you sound arrogant.

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GSPALLTHEWAY

that video really bothered me.... wayyyy too young to be doing that. TKD or karate or something is fine for dicipline, but thats over the top. its also very dangerous to be messing with their bodies at that age... i really dont think anyone under 16 should be able to do that. just IMO

Krakatau

This is ridiculous. Look, I am sorry you were offended by your misinterpretation of my intent when I used the word 'wrong'. I would like to point out that I used the word 'disagree' multiple times, and given the context, view the two terms as relatively synonymous. But, you are welcome to think I am arrogant, I think you are overbearingly PC and given to semantics when arguing. Now we can walk away from that topic, friends as always.

Also, my mistake, I re-read the thread, and had assumed that you were on the 'this is just wrong' side of the fence based on the way you engaged me. My fault. So disregard the question of what you find distasteful. Or, you are welcome to address why you believe face strikes shouldn't be allowed while everything else is acceptable. At least then we could remain on topic and not discuss grammar and word choices.

Aaannnnddd...... I never said that a kid would be in the same physical and mental developmental stages as an adult, just another case of you reading too far into something I wrote. I said I don't think there is a problem with them comepeting, strikes included, whether they are a kid, teen, or adult.

Nimmy

sorry man my bad, i meant to put this in another thread, thought id edited this one, but obiously not.

that kid is really impressive man.

angryjonny

You are right this is ridiculous. Let's drop it because we're going nowhere. I don't need you telling me how you think I am. We had the discussion in private about the words you think are okay to use and I don't. There is no reason to bring this out in public. Like I told you, just because you think they are commonly accepted does not mean they are. It's not even about that. I'm telling you that someone's opinion is not wrong. That is common sense to anyone.

From my point of view if I had my son in training. I'd say no punching to the face. Punching to the face leads to cuts, cuts lead to scar tissue, scar tissue leads to getting cut more easily and getting the Rizzo-effect before he is even 20.

From the point of view of people who already think MMA is barbaric. Do I even need to explain that? Think about when the anti-MMA types get a hold of this and then Dana has to start defending that too because everyone now associates anything MMA with "Ultimate Fighting"

I did not read too far into it. Maybe I wasn't clear enough and that's what you did but I explained my case in the previous paragraph.

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GSPALLTHEWAY

does anyone really think its ok for 8 year olds to do full contact mma?

angryjonny

I definitely don't. Wrestling, TKD and BJJ etc. are perfectly fine. I would never let my son do full contact MMA at that age.

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Krakatau

Really gotta have the last word, don't you? Me too.
Yeah, you did read too far into it. I said that a young student will be getting the proper tools of restraint from an instructor. You took that to mean that I think "that a kid is going to have the same physical and mental state of mind as someone almost as old as me". Where the ____ you got that I have no idea.

It is my opinion that opinions in general can be wrong. You disagree. Based on the fact that you think I am wrong, I would assume. Or at least that my opinion is wrong. Or are you just disagreeing to split hairs, because that is really what it seems you are doing. As far as the public aspect of things, you are the one who started all of this. You could have PM'd me this nonsense, but you stuck it in here. Honestly, I can understand the 'retard' or 'gay' issue, but man, for the record, you are the only person I have EVER had take issue with an individual's use of the word 'wrong' in reference to another's opinion. EVER. So in my experience, the words I have chosen are commonly accepted. Literally everyone other than yourself has had no problems what so ever. You are also the only person in the thread who seems to have felt that I was belittling them when I said that. Really, man, are you just like a huge exposed literary nerve connected to a keyboard? I have never come across someone so sensitive to word choice.
Alright, let's go into the (somewhat) hypothetical: Jeffery Dahmer held the opinion that it was alright to kill and eat young men. But he was not wrong in that opinion, that is common sense to anyone.
I don't need you telling me how you think I am, either, but you took it upon yourself to do so. Ball is rolling on account of your actions, bud.
I can understand where you are coming from regarding the cuts and scar tissue. I just really don't see a great amount of damage coming from an eight year old's punch once pads are entered into the equation.

Hmmmmm. I would have to just say that all the people who think MMA is barbaric are wrong in their opinion. (OH SNAP!)

Now be the bigger man and just drop it. Because I will keep responding as long as you do.

angryjonny

I will respond to this since the rest before it is really pointless. That is what I was referring to "dropping it" You are trying way too hard there and it has nothing to do with the thread anymore.

But how do you know that kids aren't able to cut eachother with strikes? If they are receiving good training they will learn how to do the most damage possible with accurate strikes. Maybe they don't have enough power to do so yet. But neither one of us can really say for sure. But I'll have to go with the most logical choice that when someone gets punched enough in the same spot that area of skin is naturally going to break open.

You win. You are the keyboard champion. I just can't keep up with your cleverness. Seriously though let's keep it on topic and forget about the semantics now. But like I said before we had the discussion of what you should not say and you know what is not cool here. If you want to use ignorance go to another forum where that kind of stuff is tolerated. Call me too sensitive or too PC if you want. That doesn't hurt my feelings. Just watch what you say. Funny to think that this all started because I asked you how someone's opinion can be wrong. I said it wasn't a big deal but you are making it so dramatic. So again, YOU WIN!!! Hooray!

Feel free to respond as much as you want. This is why we are here right? To discuss. Not say something then tell the other to drop it.

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marnold

It's cool. Maybe this kid deserves two posts.

Krakatau

My friend, I am not trying at all, this is just what I am like. Please stop trying to bury the hatchet and then dropping these passive agressive implications about my character. Calling someone 'wrong' is not using ignorance, it is disagreement. I just wasn't speaking as lightly as you would prefer. And it was off topic as soon as you started this.
I also love how you were only going to reply to topic relevant things in my last post (according to the first paragraph).... and then the largest part of your post is off topic tit for tat BS that we seem to enjoy so much.

Alright, kid may or may not be cut as a result of strikes. Given the 'mixed' aspect of MMA, I would have argued that cuts are a garauntee due to elbows and knees. But that is just how I would have argued it.
So let's just walk the middle of the path- provided proper safety measures and supervision are available to less funded, small organizations where these youngins would be competing, I think anyone of any age (within reason) should be allowed to compete in MMA.

Bald Bull

This angers me almost as much as Baseball Coaches who try to develop a 9 yr olds Curve Ball.

These kids are...kids! Thier bones are still growing, muscles are still developing, a MMA injury to a child could destroy him for life. There is a lot more at stake here than just children doing MMA.

Teaching them Karate or Jui Jitsu is one thing, full contact fighting at this young age is rediculous. This coming from a parent of 2. I couldn't stand to see my child in there harming or getting harmed by another child.

edit

The kid is obviously a stud at what he does, I just couldn't stop cringing at this video. I couldn't wrap my head around it.