The Future of MMA

**...bigdog...** · 02-24-10, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by Toker

Originally Posted by Xavsnipe

My point is, I don't think that learning how to fight will automatically make you wanna pick fights.

I took taekwondo, karate, boxing, and a little hapkido. They all aided in teaching me restraint when I normally would have just gone for a sucker punch to the nose. Kids who just wanna pick fights have problems at home and it's not a direct result of their training.

As have many of us, and we all agree.

Still, doesn't change the fact that, grooming kids at this age with the purpose of being MMA ninjas is grooming them to be beaten, and at risk for other issues (crime, drugs, steroids) moreso than other "professions".

Keep in mind, the first page of this topic, and my response, was about how these kids are going to be destined to be MMA stars. And I think that's a horrible, abusive way to raise a kid.

Is it any more abusive than raising your kids to me golf stars, or football stars, or tennis stars? Ask the williams sisters how their childhood was. Ask the jackson 5 how their childhood was, being groomed to be superstars.

What about the kids? the kiiiiids?

**Jester(TA)** · 02-24-10, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by Muqtar SGT_Clintok

My drive is to ensure that my son has the capabilities to stand up for himself, as young men sniff out the timid and pick on them/abuse them. Should that time come, I want Max being able to win.

My idea was the enroll him in some kind of Martial arts for the discipline aspect of it, and straight up boxing for the ability to stike aspect. IMO being able to strike through boxing increases the ability to come out on top much more than martial arts. My comments about people with only boxing training being involved in trouble with the law because they had the ability to inflict punishment without the restraint to keep it to themselves unless needed are based on my experiences around Gaithersburg Md and may not port to everyone's locale.

Jason's point on head injuries is an excellent one, and bears serious consideration in the debate about whether or not one should involve children in sports like this.

Maybe whimpy old soccer is a better solution, as he can just run away from conflict.

Yea,maybe teach your son to learn how to shoot a gun also ,so when he does get his ass kicked,he can go get dads gun and shoot the the bully that wipped him.

**Rawr** · 02-24-10, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by Jester(TA)

Bullshit. You must not have had friends then.And if you did,they were all girls. You get a group of boys together and they rough house,plane and simple.

Yes, because obviously not rough housing every chance I get means I have no friends. We used our free time to go play various games at the park, baseball, soccer, basketball, etc. When it was cold we played video games and went sleigh riding. There were times were we played roughly, but it still doesn't mean that I used any martial arts to attack my friends. I understood the difference between playing around and being in a fight, mostly thanks to my parents, which prevented me from trying to round house kick a friend in the face.

**Xavsnipe** · 02-24-10, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by Muqtar SGT_Clintok

My drive is to ensure that my son has the capabilities to stand up for himself, as young men sniff out the timid and pick on them/abuse them. Should that time come, I want Max being able to win.

My idea was the enroll him in some kind of Martial arts for the discipline aspect of it, and straight up boxing for the ability to stike aspect. IMO being able to strike through boxing increases the ability to come out on top much more than martial arts. My comments about people with only boxing training being involved in trouble with the law because they had the ability to inflict punishment without the restraint to keep it to themselves unless needed are based on my experiences around Gaithersburg Md and may not port to everyone's locale.

Jason's point on head injuries is an excellent one, and bears serious consideration in the debate about whether or not one should involve children in sports like this.

Maybe whimpy old soccer is a better solution, as he can just run away from conflict.

Well MMA is not martial arts minus boxing....boxing is essential in MMA. So you have a boxing coach (hands), and a grappling coach (ground game/submission), and a muay thai coach (elbows, knees, clinch) and a wrestling/judo coach (throws/takedowns).

And about punching each other in the face...you don't put your kid in full contact competitions and you won't get your kid punched in the head or face.

**CivilWars** · 02-24-10, 10:50 AM

My kids have tried many different things. My daughter played soccer and tennis, and took dance and gymnastics. Now she takes art classes, and wants to be the next food network star. My older son played soccer and t-ball, and took karate. Now he plays flag football. my youngest son plays indoor soccer. Give them variety, and let them figure out what they love.

**Jester(TA)** · 02-24-10, 10:53 AM

Like Civil said.LET THEM BE KIDS. I would never even think about letting my kids watch boxing or cage fighting and say to them,You should start training to do this.Its just not right.

**Rawr** · 02-24-10, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by CivilWars

My kids have tried many different things. My daughter played soccer and tennis, and took dance and gymnastics. Now she takes art classes, and wants to be the next food network star. My older son played soccer and t-ball, and took karate. Now he plays flag football. my youngest son plays indoor soccer. Give them variety, and let them figure out what they love.

Yeah, encouragement is best, but as big dog said, I do not agree with grooming your child to be a superstar just because that's what you want for your child. If my kid loves soccer and want's to be the best, well I'd try my hardest to train, and provide whatever I can towards that goal. If they change their mind, so be it.

**BigHub** · 02-24-10, 10:57 AM

Like the beauty pageants where all the little girls are screaming and yelling at their moms because they don't want to do it... but mommy thinks otherwise. She thinks her angel is going to be the next best thing.

Makes me sick.

**Veovis** · 02-24-10, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by ...bigdog...

What about the kids? the kiiiiids?

I believe this is the image you're looking for.

And I'm not sure if you're right or wrong about the stats, but I agree I would never want to raise a child to think that fistfights are cool.

**~~hawgballs~~** · 02-24-10, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by BigHub

Like the beauty pageants where all the little girls are screaming and yelling at their moms because they don't want to do it... but mommy thinks otherwise. She thinks her angel is going to be the next best thing.

Makes me sick.

Yeah, but here's the rub. These kids want to do MMA. It is considered a punishment to not be able to go train, for reasons like bad grades in school. I don't see this as child abuse, not when the kids want to do it. Like Xav said, feeding your kid happy meals and making him entertain himself by watching tv or playing on the computer is sounds a lot more like child abuse than their being physically physically/mentally fit and disciplined.