Sick Britain: Baby Fight Club

What do you think about parents forcing kids aged 5 to fight?

READ: Baby Fight Club

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Comments

[tracie monaghan]

children and thai boxing don't go together?? so not true my DAUGHTER has been taking part in thai boxing since she was 5 and is now 9 and totally loves it!!! i have been to inter club fights with her (which she also loves taking part in) and it is nothing like what was shown on channel 4. i am not a parent who forces my daughter into doing anything let alone a sport like this. my daughter takes part in thai boxing because SHE wants to not her parents wanting her to.Every inter club and club training is totally safe with instructors and protective gear being worn at no point in the years she has been doing this sport has she been hurt!! the only time she has been hurt was falling off her bike not at thai boxing!!!

[Jim]

I have my reservations on this whole thing. A child will inevitably do whatever they can to please their parents - be that fight in a ring with padding on, or go to thailand to kick other kids in the face. The parents are the people whom the children look up to and trust, and invariably follow. I don't believe that it is an independent and individual decision of the childs to get involved in this sport, and more importantly am seriously concerned regarding the long term health implications of children being involved in fighting of this sort. The childs body is not designed to take such abuse, regardless of head contact or not. I see this more as an oppourtunity for parents to prove something or attempt to achieve a goal they are unable to achieve themselves. Very shocking.

[steve from manchester]

hi Thank you to itv and Lorraine Kelly for giving people a chance to put their side across as these parents stated it is a great discipline for kids and adults. Teaches all kinds of fitness ,the children get an inside interest in diet and the importance of eating correctly.
As Lorraine Kelly states anything that get kids out of the house and off computers and watching tele is a great thing
all bad comments are from people who do not know the sport all of you should give the sport a chance and go to their local gym just to take a look the kids are disciplined not mindless thugs, or lots of pushy parents

well done itv hope this positive feedback will help to promote the sport

[Sheryl]

Please don't condemn our sport because of a few bad parents.I have been training for two years and have been to a few shows.The kids have always had protective gear on at these shows and are there of their own Accord,our head instructor wouldn't allow a child who doesn't want to be there fight.A few kids who used to hang about causing bother in my area have joined our club and are now keeping their noses clean,it teaches great discipline.My son is into karate and i see much worse injuries at those fights than thai fights but i see no-one condemning this noble art.

[david]

these parents should be take to court for they are doing to them if some took them they would be for child abuse so what do they call this then if it is not the same

[thefighter]

Thai boxing is a fantastic sport for anyone, and there is no better way of keeping fit and learning how to defend yourself.
But I really don’t see the need for kids to fight, when they are adults they can decide for themselves if fighting is for them. After all this is not Thailand! Where kids fight to make a living or provide a better future for themselves.

[Muay Thai is Good!]

i have trained in muay thai boxing for year and have seen only good, like kids now having the confidence to strive for better things in life. not just in the ring but in school and have a good respect for others.
i feel anyone against kids wanting to do this sport are wrong. would you rather your child be a thug, drug dealer or in a violent street gang?? you tell me! muay thai instills respect, disapline and confidence in anyone who wishes to participate.
so channel 4 stop making a mockery of our fabulous sport.

[alan keddle]

the program and ensuing article shows a small minority of people/promoters that exist the UK within the sport of muaythai that clearly have no morals or guidelines. 99% of practioners of the sport here in the UK do not allow head contact for juniors under 14.

children are not forced to fight and the referee would stop any contest where a junior did not want to compete or was crying from fear or pain. However like all sports there are 'rogue traders'and other versions exist like for example unlicensed boxing.

Many sports are played at risk without medical teams, supervision or rules like football and rugby. Not everybody sticks to the rules.

The sport does have down sides, no doubt however these are easily outweighed by the positive results i have seen in children over the years.

Most of us in the Thai Boxing trade do not allow head contact for under 14's, always use protective body and shin armour and do not allow children to be forced to compete or continue should they not wish to do so. The programme portraits an image of the small minority and as usual never the full story.

One last point. I hope the article makes coaches and promoters consider what they should do and from now on and employ the right ethics for the sport! I will be.

[kevin oloughlin]

i am upset that people are calling us parents sick and irrasponcible for supporting our children in a sport that they enjoy. is ricky hattons mum and ammara khars mum and all of the other boxers that are champions irrasponcible and sick no i dont think so you are all quick to jude others when you have not spoken to the children who actually enjoy the sport.i have to agree it does sound and look wrong but not all parents are like that you dont get hurt i have 2 children who did the sport and are champions english and british and northwest and area they enjoyed it .my husband also does the sport and has done since he was 6 those clipings that have been shown are accidential head shots it is very rare that a child gets hurt when in tourtnment .

[dave House]

I've been training in muay thai for 12 years. And i think it’s important for children to know how to protect themselves in this day and age, as well as building self confidence and keeping fit. So would say these martial arts should definitely be encouraged. Although I do not agree with children fighting in the ring until at least 12yrs old, and even when they do an APROVED HEADGUIDE should be worn.

[Kane]

My name is Kane, i am 12 and i have been Thai Boxing for 3 years now, i train really hard for events, i eat heathly,and i do as im told by my instructor, because i want to be good at it, all this stuff in the paper makes my chosen sport look dirty, children who train in any marsial arts are controled, dedicated atherlets, and the ones who compet in the ring (30%)love the sport, my friends hang around the streets, drinking and smoking weed, and causing trouble, i go to the gym and get fit, take orders, have a curfew, respect my elders, and most marshial artests are the same, you have one parent in the paper who pushes his kids into the ring when they are obviously not ready to compete yet, an possibly never will be, dont judge the thousands of other kids and parents by this example, come see a show and you will see we dont get hurt, we compete because we want to acheve something, be good at a sport, win medals, trophys and belts and do something with are lives, people complain about parents not taking control of there kids, marshial arts parents get there kids into it so there kids are not like these yobbos on the street, if you can do the training, have the nerve to get in the ring, not give up when your tied and think yourv lost,you will do the same in life, not give up at school, not give up at college,not give up on relationship and your own kids, as for head shots, we dont do them until we are 14, but we still wear gumsheilds incase of accidentaly being hit, in the 12 fights iv had, iv proberly been hit in the face 3 or 4 times, the ref has stoped it and warned the person, the person didnt mean to hit me, they were aimiming for the chest body armer we all wear,we train on defence just as much as hitting, there is contol and rules, we are sports people, like boxers, not abused babys

[chris]

my child started thai boxing over 1 year ago, lots of problems at school with behaviour and attendance. he started thai boxing and we've never looked back, he's not a model pupil but he is now behaving and attending. he has acheived lots. he loves it. it gives him disipline, keeps him off the streets and keeps him fit. maybe they should have attended more gyms and more shows to see the true thai boxing.

[CARL]

In any sport you have children welfare officers, there are strict guidelines to follow from sport England, and all sporting governing bodies, if this is as bad as it is made out to be, then the sports governing bodies/welfare officers are not doing there job, Someone needs to take responsibility for these actions, is this classed as neglect, emotional abuse, or is this just a one off case forcing a young child to fight, and clearly she does not want this.

This is an issue for the governing bodies involved to decide if this is aloud, or decide if its illegal and charge the parents with abuse. Where do you draw the line at what age if this is allowed?

The parents in this case have already committed an offence with emotional abuse against their daughter. I have no idea if this fighting is legal for such a young age, if it is, it should be banned at once. If a young one dies from this whether it be the opponents fault or not who will be to blamed? and how will the young one cope.

Ban it at this age, and make it illegal if its not already, if it is illegal, get the parents in court.

[Nancy]

I was totally horrified when I read this article. This man's actions are irresponsible to say the very least. He is only thinking about himself and of course he knows his daughter gets distressed. He says that she wants to continue with it but of course she just wants to please her Daddy. But when she's cry that much that says it all. Doesn't it?

Speaking as a martial artist myself, I am very concerned about the lack of safety involved. Firstly, the lack of safety gear that these children don't have is shocking any hard style martial arts training must have the correct sparring gear, head guard, gum shield, gloves, forearm guards, boots, shin pads groin guard. Without these sparring should not be allowed under any circumstances. Why?, because the safety element in any sport should never be ignored.There are also questions to raise about these children training in an authentic martial arts club with fully qualified instructors that are vetted CRB Disclosure/Country. Also that the people who are organising the training for these children should be recognised by the Sports Council as the Governing Body for these organisations in the United Kingdom.

I personally feel that the Sports Council should have the authority to come down pretty hard on any trainer or coach who takes such a negligent approach to anyone whether they are recognised or not towards the the training and safety of children or adults. Trainers and coaches who do not meet with the stict rules and regulations that the Sports Council lay down should have a life ban imposed on them.

With every sport there is a risk and when you start training you accept that risk. You place your trust in your instructor to guide you properly as any instructor worth there salt will never force you to do anything that you do not feel uncomfortable about doind and will encourage you to wear safety gear.

[Alix]

Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) is a great sport that promotes fitness/discipline and respect in children. In all my experiences within the sport (7 yrs) helping run childrens classes, I have never had kids injured from contact with each other. Head contact is not allowed under 16 and from the very beginning control is emphasisied with all techniques. Will be interested to see how the documentary portrays our sport.

[Sarah Johnson]

This is absolutely sickening. I felt physically sick whilst reading this article. How can these so called parents justify putting their babies in a boxing ring and bribing them into fighting with threats of having their sparkly make up taken away???
It's dispicable! These people need to wake up and realise that tiny children will do anything to gain their parents approval. So, Darren Flanagan - your kids aren't enjoying knocking seven bells out of other children, they're just trying to win praise from you!
And your excuse of it's teaching your daughter self defence is just pathetic. If you're so concerned then wait until she's a young adult and send her on a self defence course. And in the meantime do your job as her parent by protecting and nurturing her, rather than instilling in her that aggression and violence is praise worthy.
As for the owners of these gyms - they want closing down!

[Carol]

I totally agree with the above, I would also like to say as a grandparent if my son was ever to do such a thing to his child I would report him myself for being an unfit parent and go straight for custody of my grandson. Children are precious, these parents are sick indivduals and would appear to have the mentallaty of very sick individuals, and should be sent to prison, and not be allowed to breed ever!

[sue dean]

I am absolutely outraged that this sort of thing goes on in a country that is suppsed to be civilised. This is not a civilised way to bring up children who will be scared for life. I can only hope that one of them lands a punch on their parents which may knock some sence in to them.

The adults should be put in the ring and the kids should be taken away from them because they are not fit to be parents. I am absolutely disgusted by this and find it completely unbelievable.

Social services should be involved and the venues where these events take place closed down. The people who pay to see such hideous child abuse are no better either.

The government is supposed to protect children, what happened to 'Every child Matters?' I have a five year old niece and I find it incomprehensible that kids her age are being actively encouraged in to such behaviour by their so called parents.

[WIRRAL]

Hi i would love to know which parents force there children i have been fighting thai for years and i have never came across any instructor who forces there children

All parents cheer there children on as do parents who have children in a lot of sports for example dancing football rugby. And they arnt slagged of so why is it you pick thai boxing.

parents cheer there children, to encourage them and to let them know they will support them no matter what result.

This is self defence and will come in handy in years to come with the world nowadays you have to be able to learn how to fight.

I love the thought of my parents cheering me on as do all human beings thai boxing is all about self confidence and respect also discipline. I LOVE it as do all children in my camp

[steve]

My two children have been training in the art of Thai boxing for the last two years. The training is hard and has it rewards IE Physical stamina is greater and children are able to protect themselves if the need arises.My 14 year old is proud of his sixpack.

In any sport that you do there will be the pushy parents, the gymnast who is on a special diet,the football player who trains everyday and told to go in hard so the opponent knows you are there,believe me i have seen all the pushy parents in the sporting world as both of my sons play a variety of sports.

This martial art is one of the oldest in the world,one of my friends sons does takwendo which is an Olympic sport of which he is a black belt gets more contact injuries than both of my sons put together.

As stated before i have seen more violence and verbal abuse and pushy parents at my sons football matches than at inter-clubs

[wayne stokes]

I am a Martial Arts Instructor to over 300 children and would never agree to this this sort of competition, i believe all competition is healthy but it must be controlled contact and only when they become adults can they make the decission to fight full contact. This is just a mark another along side money driven instructors that give Martial Arts a bad name.

[David Hall]

Although I'm a fan of martial arts and have taken part in them, I have never been forced into it or would I do it to my son. These people who are forcing their child to take part in Thai boxing should have their children taken away from them.

And people wonder why British society is crumbling, wondering why we have gangs of feral kids are roaming the streets like savages. I raised to have respect and discipline, but not by being forced into a ring to beat some one to a plup.

Thai boxing has very few rules to start with, lets face it in its home country, spectators want blood and even death in some cases, so what is it going to take for the government to stop this barbaric practice before an innocent child is left brain damaged, or even killed.

If their parents want to take part in Thai boxing then put them in the ring and fight with a traditional Thai boxer, with tradition rules and see how they like it.

[Samantha]

When you see your child hit another in the street or the playground, you shout and tell them not to hit other people because its wrong... But now there are parents actually COACHING and EGGING children on to do just that, and infront of a paying crowd????

This is one of the most disgusting things i have come across in a long time, and it made my stomach churn. It only takes one kick, one punch, one hit in the wrong place and your child could end up in hospital, and in pain from something YOU have told them to do?!

The people paying to watch this are just as bad as the parents who are willing their children on to fight. For you people who are saying "Its not as bad as the papers are making out" - Put your child in the ring, and see how you feel then.

If your opinion is still the same then maybe you shouldnt be a parent at all. This should be illegal, and in my humble opinion, so such parents don't deserve to have children. Let them enjoy being young before you force them into a way of life they never wanted to live.

[Frances Banks]

How can these people call themselves PARENTS, they shouldn't be allowed to have two beautiful children -- I feel deeply sorry for their families, especially the Grand Parents. Obsessive pushy parents are every where, but these two are sick

[liam aged 10]

I have been Thai-boxing for two and a half years and I have never once come across a junior thai-boxer that has fought head contact. The organisation I belong to does not allow any head contact till you are sixteen. My parents have never made me fight, they have just supported my desicion to do so. Thai-boxing has had a very positive influence on me. It has taught me discpline and fitness, I am actually very proud of having a fit and healthy body. My confidence has increased since I started Thai-boxing.