ESPN's Outside the Lines Debates Kids and MMA

OTL Debate: Is MMA Too Violent for Children to Participate?

How young is too young? How much contact, when? What attitude toward physical violence is being formed? What do you think?

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TaiChi, your link that you posted is not working. I assume you are asking what age is appropriate to start learning MMA. I feel that around 14 is a good age to start learning MMA. For traditional arts I think any time after 6 is a good age to start. The reason I say 14 is because the child is a little mit more mature and should be able to understand the principles and concepts of the techniques being taught such as leverage, knowing how far to bend the arm or ankle before it breaks, etc.... With MMA the techniques are a little bit more complicated to execute than in TMA. For example, it takes a little bit of knowledge and technical know how to set up someone for a kimura or a triangle choke or a helicopter arm bar verses executing a side kick or a reverse punch in TMA. This is why I say that a child should be a little older for MMA. As far as being to violent, I don't think its any more violent than what we see on the evening news. The news reports casualties that happen in war, it shows missile being shot off in testing, it shows soldiers beuing beaten and tortured by insurgents, etc....

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Mark

Dang! I think the link works now.

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Its working now.

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Mark

I did notice that the little kids in the vid weren't using head punches...
Only real problem i see besides the obvious safety precautions that hold true for any childrens athletics(soft skull, weak epiphysis etc.) are the soccer moms and armchair-quarterback dads getting into it too much...

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"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." T. Geisel

“	How young is too young? How much contact, when? What attitude toward physical violence is being formed? What do you think?	”

I think that it can be amazing for kids. The most important thing, is that you teach them very early on, to understand that whatever they do to someone, they are going to get it done back to them. If you don't respect your opponent, he is not going to respect you. This is a very important lesson for children. When they get this, you will find they will regulate the contact pretty well for themselves ( of course, with your observation ). they must feel the feeling of "brotherhood".

This whole dynamic will, in turn, teach the kids how to behave in a large group. This is a very important life skill.

MMA will also develop the body really well and keep the kids healthy and fit.

Of course, if you scream "kill kill kill" at them while they spar, and you make them think that losing is not an option, and you foster the "bully" inside them, then of course your are going to have problems. MA classes should always have smiles and laughter, even when the training is serious and tough. Especially when teaching kids, you have to make more allowances for mistakes, and always remember above all, let them be kids. They aren't hardened adult fighters aching for the octagon, they are kids who want to have fun. MMA can be a LOT of fun.

When my opponent lands a hard shot, I often laugh or smile ( after a brief recovery of my senses. lol ), because my attitude is right, I don't get that anger building at all.

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