Ultimate Fighting
Fri Apr 04, 2008 at 12:45:18 PM PDT
According to Wikipedia, ultimate fighting is described as follows:
The UFC was started as a tournament to find the world's best fighters irrespective of their style, and was based upon Brazilian vale tudo fighting or No Holds Barred. Although there were a few limited number of rules at UFC 1, the UFC was initially known as no holds barred fighting, and contests were often violent and brutal. Early UFC fights were less sport than spectacle, which led to accusations of brutality and "human cock fighting" by opponents.
"Human cock fighting"...yeah, doesn't appeal to me AT ALL. But, according to this article, this sport is branching out...and attracting competitors as young as six.
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.
Hmmm...did YOU find comfort in the fact that "no blood was shed"?? I know I didn't!
So, on one end we have supporters of the sport who insist that the competitions have plenty of safety rules.
"It looks violent until you realize this teaches discipline. One of the first rules they learn is that this is not for aggressive behavior outside (the ring)," said Larry Swinehart, a Joplin police officer and father of two boys and the lone girl in the garage group.
On the other end, we have opposers of the sport who state that there is too much potential for damage to growing joints.
Joe Miller, administrator of the Oklahoma Professional Boxing Commission, said youth fights are banned in his state, and he wants it to stay that way.
Miller said mixed martial arts uses a lot of arm and leg twisting to force opponents into submission. Those moves, he said, pressure joints in a way not found in sanctioned sports like youth boxing or wrestling.
Ok...I'm all for organized sports, but this sounds WAY TOO dangerous! And personally, I wouldn't want my kids to participate in any barbaric "sport", where they have the very real possibility of seriously hurting their still growing bodies.
...besides, Cristian is more a lover than a fighter. He's the kid that sits next to me as I watch Dancing with the Stars, and asks for ballroom dance lessons. And if you ask me, I think dancing teaches just as much discipline as ultimate fighting does.
What do you think? Would you let your child/ren participate in this sport?
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