criticism of kids doing MMA

Tusky

Has there been any criticism of Irish kids (6/7/8) starting MMA? Looking to speak to someone who holds this view - whether they be a doctor or a karate instructor etc

Could someone point me in the right direction?

cowzerp

Tusky wrote: »

Has there been any criticism of Irish kids (6/7/8) starting MMA? Looking to speak to someone who holds this view - whether they be a doctor or a karate instructor etc

Could someone point me in the right direction?

Kids doing MMA at that age in my club dont spar at all and start at 7 with the emphasis on fundamental techniques and fun, they wrestle and do punch bags etc-the fighting age in Ireland that is generally accepted in MMA is way older than that too so there only learning skills at this age

So been honest there has not been any criticism and if your looking for someone to criticise anything it's easy to find as people generally like to give out about what they are ignorant towards.

What is your aim in trying to find someone who holds that view?
And why a karate instructor? as there knowledge of MMA would be non existant, maybe ask them why 7 year olds should not do karate.

Killme00

Might be a Joe Duffyesque topic.

What's your take on it?

Personally, i don't see a problem with children training in the core elements that make up MMA ie grappling and striking. It's similar to a kid learning Judo and Boxing.

Sid_Justice

Tusky wrote: »

Has there been any criticism of Irish kids (6/7/8) starting MMA? Looking to speak to someone who holds this view - whether they be a doctor or a karate instructor etc

why?

Tusky

cowzerp wrote: »

Kids doing MMA at that age in my club dont spar at all and start at 7 with the emphasis on fundamental techniques and fun, they wrestle and do punch bags etc-the fighting age in Ireland that is generally accepted in MMA is way older than that too so there only learning skills at this age

So been honest there has not been any criticism and if your looking for someone to criticise anything it's easy to find as people generally like to give out about what they are ignorant towards.

What is your aim in trying to find someone who holds that view?
And why a karate instructor? as there knowledge of MMA would be non existant, maybe ask them why 7 year olds should not do karate.

Because I've heard of martial arts instructors speaking out against kids practicing MMA before, saying they wont teach it until they are 12 or 13 etc.

I've also heard medical experts speak out against it due to the fact that kids bones are still developing. And also there are questions about the psychological effect of starting such a violent sport at such a young age.

I don't necessarily hold the above views - just trying to play devils advocate.

Sid_Justice

Tusky wrote: »

Because I've heard of martial arts instructors speaking out against kids practicing MMA before, saying they wont teach it until they are 12 or 13 etc.

I don't want to sound ultra-defensive or aggressive or anything but can you actually substantiate this? Who are these 'martial arts instructors' that have spoken out about 14 year olds participating in mixed martial arts. Anyone with any common sense would understand that it's a ridiculous notion, how can one activity (boxing, wrestling, judo, kickboxing, grappling) be ok for kids aged 6-13 under correct supervision but not a combination of them.

Tusky wrote: »

I've also heard medical experts speak out against it due to the fact that kids bones are still developing.

I am going to be slightly more to the point here, I haven't, and I've read widely on the topic of Mixed Martial arts and medical supervision. Please provide a source to a 'medical expert' speaking specifically about children participating in MMA. If you can't provide a source I presume you're making stuff up.

I wouldn't be in a position to speak from a qualified point of view about the 'dangers' of high density physical activity prior to the closing of epiphyseal plate in children but everything i've read with regard to weight training and children has debunked almost all the myths people have (growth stunting or otherwise unhealthy).

Tusky wrote: »

And also there are questions about the psychological effect of starting such a violent sport at such a young age.

Are there? by whom? The same people that question the psychological effects of computer games and soccer trials? MMA isn't violent, if you don't understand what the word violent means then don't use it.

Can you provide anything else other than hearsay and appeals to anonymous authorities?

Raze_them_all

Soccer is much more violent, many a limb got groken, I've dislocated knee caps in soccer on purpose to stop a goal back when i was younger.

Ban kids from soccer, much more dangerous.

Logical Fallacy

Tusky wrote: »

I've also heard medical experts speak out against it due to the fact that kids bones are still developing. And also there are questions about the psychological effect of starting such a violent sport at such a young age.

This is kind of odd, because kids as young as 7 and 8 begin wrestling in school in America.

With regard to epiphyseal fusion, i haven't seen any kind of consensus reached by the scientific or medical communities with regard to this. It's normally thrown around as a reason kids shouldn't do weight training too young...but when you consider kids will start to play many sports from soccer to American Football at a very young age the real issue becomes are these medical experts really looking at the sport and comparing the types of loads and stresses placed on the body with known parallels in other sports or are they simply having a reactive moment.

No sport in and off itself is violent. Boxing isn't, MMA isn't, rugby isn't. Can the sport when played at a competitive level be violent? Why of course it can...this does not mean the training itself, or the attitude of those training in it is one that would foster a violent mentality in a young person engaged in the sport.

Tusky

I didn't come here to argue the point and as I said, I do not necessarily hold those views. But there are plenty of people who do. I was trying to get in touch with them although maybe this is the wrong place to look.

Sid_Justice

Tusky wrote: »

But there are plenty of people who do. I was trying to get in touch with them although maybe this is the wrong place to look.

no there aren't. maybe in the small cohort of joe duffy listeners and jeremy kyle watchers but wouldn't say many. you still haven't explained your motivation? are you writing something for a paper or other media source?

cowzerp

Tusky wrote: »

I didn't come here to argue the point and as I said, I do not necessarily hold those views. But there are plenty of people who do. I was trying to get in touch with them although maybe this is the wrong place to look.

Why? Seriously

You obviously want to get someone to tell you that it's awful etc, Joe Duffy's phone number is 08944733577534 I'm sure you'll get tons of ignoramuses to tell you what you want to here there.

SDTimeout

I've been training a little over a year now and the one thing I've been pushing my parents towards to sending my 10 year old Sister to classes. I couldn't care what the classes are in because I know that no instructor worth their salt would have young kids practicing MMA the same way adults / late teens do.

These days everyone could say they are practicing MMA. Define an MMA class. Some could call it a wrestling class, others might call it a BJJ class as they may not be doing striking that class.

So if there were kids MMA classes I would say with fair confidence that all they are being taught is fun drills and activities for fitness with some core fundamentals which will stand to them if they choose to take the sport up at a higher intensity when they are older. i.e Shrimping drills, take downs.

cowzerp

Just to clear things up, kids would not train anything like adults in mma, mine basically train takedowns/pins and hit pads, nothing not seen in judo or kickboxing. No hitting each other at that age, no submissions and it's fun and discipline mainly..

MrStuffins

"Dat cage fytin' stuff Joe dat's wharrit is!! It's terrible Joe! My kids aren't learning that it's terrible!"

Ok Margaret, so what sport does your child do?

"Karate Joe! He loves it!"

Barry.Oglesby

SDTimeout

Barry.Oglesby wrote: »

I started to laugh earlier when someone said Devils Advocate because that episode was on tonight!!

Hanley

Say you do find someone who thinks MMA is dangerous or bad for kids, chances are their position will be from a mixture of ignorance and misunderstanding - two things logic and reason won't overcome in most people. Especially on the internet. The whole premise of trying to convince someone MMA for kids isn't violent, when they think it is, is pretty redundant.

Martin Walker

Tusky wrote: »

Has there been any criticism of Irish kids (6/7/8) starting MMA?

Ive never heard of anyone criticising teaching kids MMA. But then again ive never seen a child of that age learn it either. Maybe one of the parts that make up MMA but not full MMA.

Tusky wrote: »

Could someone point me in the right direction?

If you looking for someone that dosnt understand MMA and has a ignorent view of the sport a good place to start would be 1998. Altho you can still find people that think is no holes barred.

I personally think its good to have children learning Martial arts. It teachess them respect and discipline. Something they seem to forget about in schools now.

Raze_them_all

Martin Walker wrote: »

Ive never heard of anyone criticising teaching kids MMA. But then again ive never seen a child of that age learn it either. Maybe one of the parts that make up MMA but not full MMA.



If you looking for someone that dosnt understand MMA and has a ignorent view of the sport a good place to start would be 1998. Altho you can still find people that think is no holes barred.

I personally think its good to have children learning Martial arts. It teachess them respect and discipline. Something they seem to forget about in schools now.

Pretty sure all holes were barred, holds are a different story:pac:


(I'm being petty cos you're in Oz and I'm Jealous)

Martin Walker

Raze_them_all wrote: »

Pretty sure all holes were barred, holds are a different story:pac:

I genuinely thought no-one would pick that up. And thats kinda my point. You know the game and arnt completley ignorant of it. Holes or no.....:)

Raze_them_all wrote: »

(I'm being petty cos you're in Oz and I'm Jealous)

You dont need to be Jealous Ray Its far too hot, far too sunny, i get paid far too much and the women are far too cracker........ um........ yeah.

BobbyOLeary

Sid_Justice wrote: »

I wouldn't be in a position to speak from a qualified point of view about the 'dangers' of high density physical activity prior to the closing of epiphyseal plate in children but everything i've read with regard to weight training and children has debunked almost all the myths people have (growth stunting or otherwise unhealthy).

I was chatting to an Ortho surgeon a few months back about this actually. We were discussing rugby school kids doing weights and whether or not he had seen an increase in injuries owing to weight training. The response was interesing enough, basically it boiled down to that he had never seen or heard of a child needing orthopedic care owing to training but he had seen plenty of kids who had problems after being smashed by a bigger child who had been training.

So training does cause injuries albeit indirectly. It's not a reason to stop your kid doing a sport, rather a reason to make sure he/she is training at a reputable club who takes care of the children properly. Obvious really.