TobinDunn717

Mixed Winnipeg Martial Arts is the fastest growing sport in North America at this time. It's on TV, it's on peoples clothes, it's on the gaming consoles and the action figures are in the toy section at the department store.

Now once the topic of Kids doing MMA comes up, it is common that lots of people cringe only a little, and rightly so. The only thing a lot of people know of this sport is the very top level of professional athletes and the rules used at that level, which can be definitely not something children must be doing.

But the truth is, almost all people learning MMA are never likely to fight in a professional match. The majority of adults which can be entering competitions will never compete under those rules. Like other martial arts that involve striking there is a wide range of rule sets from amateur as much as professional.

What's "safe" for kids to do in the martial arts has been more developed over several years. Young ones doing Martial Arts Winnipeg don't do anything that hasn't been getting done in Karate, Judo and Wrestling classes for a long time. In fact, they often times do less of the riskier aspects. They don't kick to the head plus they don't get extra points for high impact throws and takedowns.

Most of the bad reputation MMA gets is really a not enough experience with it, particularly at amateur levels with what actually happens in class. MMA classes are fun, they're safe, and they're a very intense work out. The last thing any gym owner wants is injuries, and after more then 10 years of teaching I have yet to see a young child with any such thing close to a critical injury.

Taken in a similar context consider our national sport. Players skate around on ice with blades on the feet slamming one another into each other, the boards, swinging sticks around and stepping into bare knuckle fist fights in almost every game. If whatever you knew of hockey was seeing a few professional games, you might easily come away with a very negative perception, and cringe quite hard at the considered young ones playing the game. But just about everyone has played the game at a amateur level in some form, even though it was just through gym class in school. We all know that what goes on on t.v. is not exactly like what happens in a game played by 8-year olds.

But are not we just teaching kids to hurt one another?

Absolutely not. We have been teaching them the exact opposite, how to not hurt one another, and how to keep themselves from getting hurt.

Kids training in MMA are training with friends, under close supervision. Safety and self-control are always top priorities. Deliberately causing injury just isn't tolerated in training and competition. Athletes aren't only in charge of their very own, but also their opponents safety. They are necessary to remain calm and act intelligently constantly. Anger and attempts to hurt others do not lead to victory in this sport, they result in defeat. Alternatively athletes must develop the capability to remain calm under pressure, to be patient and to act intelligently and strategically and to show good sportsmanship in victory and defeat.

As they progress they learn leadership skills, helping younger and less experienced children with techniques and strategy. Young children helping others beat them in training is just a amazing thing to see, and a great show of humility and respect. Yet every child that trains will do it while they gain experience. They will learn to value helping new students and younger students succeed is more valuable then "easy wins".

To top all of it off Martial Arts demands a very high standard of physical fitness. Every muscle can be used, out of every position and in every direction possible. The workout is intense and in a time of declining conditioning being involved in fitness program is very important for healthy living.