Child Cage Fighting Sparks Outrage
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September 23, 2011 TheFreshOutlook  |
Rhys Pycroft is an MMA fight promoter in South Wales who trains alongside some of the UK’s up and coming talent. With recent newspaper articles shining a negative light on the sport following an arranged bout using eight-year-old fighters in front of a paying adult audience in Preston, he gives us an insider’s perspective on the sport and discusses whether the incident was morally right.
This recent event has sparked controversy nationwide with most people taking a negative stance, which is very understandable at first glance of this story, as most papers/news reports have just said: ‘Eight and nine-year-old children in cage fight!’
Yet if the headline was: ‘Two young athletes competing in a martial arts contest,’ would that have sparked so much instant outrage?
It was not, as most people are led to believe, a ‘cage-fight’. It was a wrestling/grappling match held in an octagon.
I have been an avid fan of MMA for over 20 years and watched it change from the brutal combat it was at the beginning in to the ultimate stage of martial arts and combat sports it is today. The professional MMA athletes of the world are some of the most dedicated and respected athletes who make daily sacrifices to keep at the top of their game.
If it was the same two children competing in a wrestling bout in a ring or on mats then would everyone’s views be the same? Just because it was in a cage, why does this change it?
We never see this outrage at judo, karate or taekwondo events. Yet there is more of a health risk with these due to strikes also being involved. For any combat/martial arts events involving minors the highest safety measures should be taken with appropriate medical and officiating staff, and also made sure that all competitors have all the safety/protective clothing and equipment needed.
Due to the young age of the competitors I don’t think these bouts should be held on “adult” cards that may involve alcohol consumption and scantily clad ring-girls etc. But as it was only a wrestling match it is not MMA, just one of the components of it. I have spoken to various people regarding this incident and once I explained the full nature of the event (with it just being a wrestling bout) all of their views were exactly the same as mine.
I know a lot of parents who really want their children to get involved in MMA but due to the negativity surrounding it there are not enough reputable MMA gyms around the country to accommodate their needs. The country has got all these youths screaming out for a place to belong and if we’re not willing to help them and give them these places then they will stay on the streets.
I myself am a fight promoter and firmly believe prevention is better than cure. But before there is an accident - and someone to blame - the official sporting bodies need to establish rules and guidelines that will be adhered to nationwide and worldwide. This is the best way to offer the competitors the health and safety they deserve.
MMA is only going to continue growing. We need to accept this and forget all the negativity and look at ways to improve it for the benefit of all those involved.
[Image courtesy of Ben Woodford]
It seems the people making a big fuss over this are not really clued up on the sport and how its progressed over the years to how it is today.The term “cage fighting” and the stigma attached has been hard to shake off as those not in the know keep refering to it as that, when in fact its a sport on the rise with so many more people takin it up, learning mixed martial arts which is what it is known as by people who do know what there talkin about and have knowledge regarding it.
When I saw this ” child cage fight” story the first thing I noticed was that there was no striking taking place. Immediately I new it had been blown up out of proportion !it’s nice to hear some some clarity on the subject as it’s over elaborate stories like this that give MMA an unfair reputation .I think it’s the term cage fight that the media jump all over and exaggerate !!! They are rubbish!!!!!
Totally agree Rhys the sport is completely safe when kids are involved as u said it is alot different 2 the adult version, people just love 2 complain and wrap kids up in cotton wool these are the kind of people who let their kids sit in front of an x box then go out and get drunk and cause trouble. Any sport when taken seriously should be incluraged these days as kids who are in sport seem have more respect for others .