Ultimate Fighting at Age 6?

[SonofBone]

I'm sure this will stir up a lot of controversy among parents...

FOX Sports on MSN - Boxing - MMA or Little League? Ultimate fighting attracts kids

CARTHAGE, Mo. (AP) - Ultimate fighting was once the sole domain of burly men who beat each other bloody in anything-goes brawls on pay-per-view TV.

But the sport often derided as "human cockfighting" is branching out.
The bare-knuckle fights are now attracting competitors as young as 6 whose parents treat the sport as casually as wrestling, Little League or soccer.

The changes were evident on a recent evening in southwest Missouri, where a team of several young boys and one girl grappled on gym mats in a converted garage.

Two members of the group called the "Garage Boys Fight Crew" touched their thin martial-arts gloves in a flash of sportsmanship before beginning a relentless exchange of sucker punches, body blows and swift kicks.

No blood was shed. And both competitors wore protective gear. But the bout reflected the decidedly younger face of ultimate fighting. The trend alarms medical experts and sports officials who worry that young bodies can't withstand the pounding.

Tommy Bloomer, father of two of the "Garage Boys," doesn't understand the fuss.

"We're not training them for dog fighting," said Bloomer, a 34-year-old construction contractor. "As a parent, I'd much rather have my kids here learning how to defend themselves and getting positive reinforcement than out on the streets."

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[alwaysgrowing]

its like taking kung fu. just more painful. but teaches discipline all the same

[alwaysgrowing]

one more thing, football is just as bad. as long as the child wants to do it, and not being forced by the paretns, who cares.

now if the parents were assholes, they would put a runt in there, and then bet against them.

[NewbieChris]

I don't agree that children of the age 6 should be learning MMA. The principle behind many MMA's is that you use them for self defense. Karate, Kung Fu, and many others are meant to be taught with the idea that restraint and self control are of the utmost importance. These are two qualities that, in this country, we lack. Having an crowd of 6 year olds that know how to 'Ultimate Fight' is nothing but trouble. Oh, and the idea that these kids are beating the shit out of each other in a developing body bothers me. Stunted Growth much?

[curtus e flush]

Originally Posted by alwaysgrowing

its like taking kung fu. just more painful. but teaches discipline all the same

agree

[Mr incredible]

I'm sorry but the thought of some little kiddie getting punched because their parents put them into it and trying to make their parents proud makes me sad and upset. There is no way kids should be punching other kids at that age.

I can understand wrestling under strict control, rugby, american football etc and yes hitting bags but not each other, its a sad case of kids doing what their parents tell them and the parents not being decent IMO

[Shibby]

I have seen kids doing Karate and point sparing for decades. No one says anything about that and there are plenty of strikes throughout the body. The only difference I see is that Karate restarts after every point and no one is getting held to the ground and pounded.

[ROCKETW19]

No kid under the age of 12 should be punching each other and at 12 they should only use real boxing gloves not MMA gloves. Grapling is fine submissions I dont agree with some one can get hurt to easy and kids are to fragile! Over all I say hell no!

[Turbo3000]

Originally Posted by ROCKETW19

No kid under the age of 12 should be punching each other and at 12 they should only use real boxing gloves not MMA gloves. Grapling is fine submissions I dont agree with some one can get hurt to easy and kids are to fragile! Over all I say hell no!

Agree....way too young for MMA. Learn martial arts, just no MMA.