It’s a story that has sent shockwaves through parents across the UK, and the biggest shock of all is that police have said there are no issues for them to pursue.
Two boys – without padding or head gear – took part in a cage fighting match at the Greenlands Labour Club in Preston, Lancashire in front of 250 paying adults on 10 September. A video of 10-minute bout, which appeared on YouTube and has since been removed, showed the young boys rolling on the floor, flailing at each other and one putting his head down and pushing into the other’s chest.
At one stage, one of the boys starts to cry and paramedics are brought in to check him over. The boys wrestle, kick, box and use repeated headlocks to try to win. The sport is known as ‘mixed martial arts’ and has very few rules (no eye-gouging, no biting) and a great many adult fans.
After concerns over the children’s safety were raised, a spokesman for Lancashire Police said: the force had “looked into this matter fully and there are no issues for us to pursue”.
There have been many experts weighing in on the issues of certain moves – how they affect growing bones and the risk of head injury – all very important. But the authorities focus on health and safety demonstrates a breathtaking display of myopia. Beyond the issue of safety equipment and whether or not there’s a trained First Aid expert present, there’s of course a much bigger issue: encouraging brutality among children.
The adults involved insist that there aren’t blows landed. Well, that makes it better, right? So it’s more like a schoolyard fight with messy grapping and shoving, with the adults egging them on rather than breaking it up. It instills the notion that being tough, apeing the mannerisms of boxers and other adult contact sportsman is what’s valuable. And it has none of the rules of karate, tae kwon do or wrestling. In those sports it’s about scoring points, not hurting your opponent.
Michelle Anderson , the owner of the Labour Club who argued that it was fine as the parents were there – said: “Would people rather these kids were out on the streets with guns and knives?” As if the only choice was between fighting for a amusement of a roomful of cheering adults (a creepy image in itself) and taking up a life of crime.
One wonders why the adults involved don’t spend as much time organising and overseeing, say, a football or basketball league if they’re so concerned about sporting activities for the youth. We suppose the answer is that child cage fighting is less about developmental and social benefits for the kids involved, and more about something else altogether.
About Holly Seddon
Holly Seddon is a writer, editor and community consultant and helped launched the community for Adoption UK, which won charity website of the year just 9 months later. She also writes a music blog.
Jennifer Howze
Tuesday 27th of September 2011
Sharon, I agree that all sports carry a risk of injury. You hit the nail on the head with the comment about the right environment - one that connotes respect, confidence, sportsmanship and safety.
Sharon
Saturday 24th of September 2011
I think the real problem here is the environment in which the fight took place. I completely agree that a group of alcohol fuelled adults cheering two children who are wrestling is wrong. However, if the You Tube video had shown two boys in gi's on the mats at one of the hundreds of leisure centres across the country then no one would have batted an eyelid. I did not see the full video but the reason they weren't wearing any protection is that this was a contest in which no punching or kicking was allowed. Grappling (which forms a big part of the martial arts system Ju Jitsu) is a skill and not, as you comment, 'messy'. All martial arts, including those you mention in your post, carry a risk of injury as does every other sport available to our children. But taught in the right environment with a good instructor it teaches children discipline, respect, confidence, how to win & lose with grace and maybe, as the streets become an increasingly dangerous place for our children to be, it will give them skills that may save their lives.
Crystal Jigsaw
Friday 23rd of September 2011
Well to think some people assume the choice is fighting under adult supervision or fighting in the streets, is pretty sad in itself. I'm not going to comment on my thoughts because I don't want to judge anyone. But all I will say is I'm appalled when we are supposed to live in a civilised society and this is going on.
Potty Mummy
Friday 23rd of September 2011
God, that's really shocking. I might expect to hear of it here, but in the UK???