| The vision of Little Johnny straddling Little Jimmy and | | | | students through needless injury - and the reputation |
| beating the Cheerios out of him is certainly an image | | | | for carelessness that follows. |
| that conjures bullies from the 70's - but is this where | | | | The Pro-Star Mixed Martial Arts system addresses |
| MMA Kids Classes are heading? No. Emphatically NO! | | | | safety concerns by it's very design. The 3 year |
| MMA at the professional level has transformed itself | | | | program starts students with kickboxing and Muay |
| from the no holds barred brawls of the early 90's into | | | | Thai skills with contact between students strictly |
| a submission fighting challenge that has weight classes, | | | | controlled with Limited Sparring Drills. In Year 2, |
| safety equipment, plenty of rules and good referees to | | | | grappling and ground fighting skills are introduced and |
| enforce them. The participants have transformed from | | | | again, Limited Grappling Drills are at the core of the |
| uncouth street scrappers to sophisticated combatants | | | | curriculum. In Year 3, students are allowed more |
| with a healthy respect for conditioning, diet, safety - | | | | opportunities for sparring. Both standup skills and |
| and their fellow fighters. | | | | grappling skills are employed, but the majority of this |
| And that's what MMA for kids is all about: Safely and | | | | sparring utilizes sophisticated combinations that are |
| effectively learning the skills of standup kickboxing as | | | | drilled with students learning both offensive and |
| well as the takedowns and submission holds of | | | | appropriate defensive techniques. |
| grappling. | | | | Padded equipment protects against unwanted contact |
| Unfortunately, due to the nature of one-on-one | | | | for both students - a fighter's knuckles need protection |
| contests from Boxing to Pro-wrestling, there is always | | | | as much as his partner's ribs. Proper gloves are |
| the "testosterone factor", the name calling and baiting | | | | required - both MMA style grappling gloves and the |
| that television producers have latched onto as an | | | | more padded Kickboxing style gloves should be utilized |
| integral part of the sport. Grudge Matches are played | | | | depending on the situation. Shin guards and foot |
| up, nasty language abounds and the audience is | | | | protection are also a must as are mouth guards and |
| convinced that the fighters are full of hatred and | | | | helmets. Good schools offer rib guards as well, |
| vengeance. It's part of the excitement of the contest - | | | | particularly with knee drills. |
| but the reality is often far from the hype. All fighters | | | | Mixed Martial Arts is a potentially devastating blend of |
| have a lot of respect for their opponents despite what | | | | fighting styles from around the world and has quickly |
| they may say. Fighting professionally is a career, a | | | | become the top draw for Pay-Per-View audiences, |
| potentially lucrative career that can be cut short by | | | | cable viewers and even network television sports |
| injury. Every fighter is concerned with safety - no | | | | fans. And, despite the pre-fight posturing, it's a rare |
| matter what the rhetoric. | | | | fight that doesn't end in a handshake or hug, with an |
| This concern for safety has to start with kids. Good | | | | amazing outpouring of respect for fellow fighters. |
| MMA classes are based on safety - the best make it | | | | Should kids be a part of all of this? With the right |
| a part of every class. If nothing else, a school | | | | school, the right teachers and a healthy dose of safety |
| unconcerned with safety will shortly lose all of it's | | | | and respect, my answer is YES! |