MMA Blog

Okay so I can’t help weighing in on this subject. I have waited and read all the articles on the subject to see if they would change my mind. They haven’t!  From the UFC President, Dana White, asking “What do you think kids are doing when they play Pop Warner football?” to MMA Stars like Randy Couture seeming to endorse the idea, I have time and time again been surprised that this is even a question. Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised considering that this is the same world where parents fight in the stands over little league games and little girls are started on their beauty pageant careers by the age of three. For the record I think kids should NOT be competing in Mixed Martial Arts.

Now let me clarify that. I am a father of FIVE kids from ages 17 down to a pair of 18 month old twin boys. I train in MMA as often as I can and I am a HUGE fan of the sport. I encourage (and even insist) that my kids are active and that they do some kind of athletic pursuit. I do offer and introduce all of my kids to Martial Arts including Kickboxing, Ju Jitsu, Wrestling and Kung Fu. Even “Mixed” Martial Arts as a whole with understanding that it is in fact “training”. I am very supportive of all children being athletic and I even think competing in Martial Arts is a great avenue for this. I think the more active they are the stronger, healthier and happier they will be.

I have trained in martial arts for most of my life including Tae Kwon Do, Judo and now the arts I mentioned above. Although I had injuries before it wasn’t until I started training MMA that I noticed how absolutely damaging to your body it can be. Add to this the serious injuries that can occur to your body and it’s joints. There are accumulative concussions that your brain receives as well as the obvious kidney, liver and other organ trauma that is just inherent in MMA. Looking past the violence of the sport I still can’t help but say “This is not for kids”.

I mean isn’t that exactly why we like the sport so much? The modern day gladiators that step into the cage today are our heroes in every day real life. They do the things we can’t do! They take all the punishment and push their bodies beyond the limit of what is normal and still thrive! This is not like football or baseball or soccer. The object of THIS sport is to beat up your opponent or make him give up due to imminent serious injury. We count on the fact that the fighters are either well trained professionals or at least consenting adults! I don’t care how much a parent consents or how much the kids want to compete this just isn’t a stage for children.

At my gym we do have tournaments in kickboxing, Ju Jitsu, Pankration and Submission grappling. Kids are encouraged to participate however the rules are modified greatly and extra safety gear is worn. They are not even allowed to train in MMA until the age of 12. As a parent I feel safe with these limits and safety precautions. I want my children to be strong and athletic, just not crippled with “old sports injuries” at the ripe old age of 15. Don’t we have enough of that to look forward to in our 30’s?

Filed under: Randy Couture, general, ufc