Comments on Five Chinese Crackers: Won't somebody think of the cage fighting children...

I saw the video on breakfast TV this morning and s...

2011-09-23T18:09:45.086+01:00

I saw the video on breakfast TV this morning and straight away concluded that it was a big fuss about nothing. Even though this was only wrestling, I can imagine that any kid who can claim to be involved with cage fighting is not going to get much grief from the school bully.

I was involved in karate for about twelve years in the eighties and early nineties and I reckon that a video of one our junior competitions would horrify these people as well. The thing is that, although it looks rough and dangerous it is very cleverly controlled fighting and I can honestly say that I never witnessed a single serious injury at the junior level. Some injuries occurred at the senior level but these were pretty rare.

"No we shouldn't. Getting hurt is an esse...

2011-09-23T02:37:51.812+01:00

"No we shouldn't. Getting hurt is an essential part of being a kid. We don't want them brain damaged or anything, don't get me wrong. But a few shiners or even the odd broken bone or two is fine. They'll heal and they'll learn, and be all the better for it."

It's not the kid who gets hurt I'd worry about so much as the kid who does the hurting. Accidentally breaking someone else's arm is a hefty guilt issue to deal with when you're twelve.

"and we should do our utmost to ensure that a...

2011-09-22T23:49:35.599+01:00

"and we should do our utmost to ensure that any children who train in any of the martial arts or combat sports can do so without getting hurt. "

No we shouldn't. Getting hurt is an essential part of being a kid. We don't want them brain damaged or anything, don't get me wrong. But a few shiners or even the odd broken bone or two is fine. They'll heal and they'll learn, and be all the better for it.