MMA, previously seen as “violent” and “brain-damaging,” is now quickly rising up in popularity among youth. Previously, youth MMA was unregulated or illegal in many states, but as the sport has grown in popularity over the past decade, some question about how to safely offer it to youth and adolescents.
Just like any other physically demanding youth sport, many parents worry about their child’s safety. However, MMA has an immense bad reputation due to the violent image of professional leagues such as UFC. From jabs to crosses, from hooks to uppercuts, from grappling to submission, there are many ways to get hurt.
Young people such as Isaiah Triana prepare endlessly to compete for a national championship in California. A competition of 189 kids, throwing hands and trying to take their opponent down.
As Isaiah entered his first duel, he held up his arms to tap his opponent’s gloves as soon as the fight started, but the fight was already over. Catching a kick, he drove the other fighter into the cage before taking him to the ground. Isaiah grabbed the kid’s wrists and began to pull. In just over a minute, he had his first submission and victory of the tournament. Just like that, Isaiah takes his place atop the podium for his third MMA title.
Isaiah’s father, Eddie, was an amateur boxer and a fight coach for years. Isaiah was two and a half years old when Eddie started to train his son in jiu-jitsu for the first time.
“I had my pacifier and my blanket. I was just a little baby,” Isaiah said. “Once I got on the mat, I just felt some kind of feeling that I was going to go in there for a long time and that I was going to stay there forever.” And just like that, jujitsu became the foundation of his training: “His ground game is his bread and butter,” Eddie said.
Without a doubt though, Isaiah’s parents were anxious for him sparring in combat disciplines because of potential brain injuries. What has put the family at ease, Eddie said, is that in youth MMA head strikes are banned, along with the quality of officiating that enforces the rules and the improvement of headgear.
Just like any other physically demanding youth sport, many parents worry about their child’s safety. However, MMA has an immense bad reputation due to the violent image of professional leagues such as UFC. From jabs to crosses, from hooks to uppercuts, from grappling to submission, there are many ways to get hurt.
Young people such as Isaiah Triana prepare endlessly to compete for a national championship in California. A competition of 189 kids, throwing hands and trying to take their opponent down.
As Isaiah entered his first duel, he held up his arms to tap his opponent’s gloves as soon as the fight started, but the fight was already over. Catching a kick, he drove the other fighter into the cage before taking him to the ground. Isaiah grabbed the kid’s wrists and began to pull. In just over a minute, he had his first submission and victory of the tournament. Just like that, Isaiah takes his place atop the podium for his third MMA title.
Isaiah’s father, Eddie, was an amateur boxer and a fight coach for years. Isaiah was two and a half years old when Eddie started to train his son in jiu-jitsu for the first time.
“I had my pacifier and my blanket. I was just a little baby,” Isaiah said. “Once I got on the mat, I just felt some kind of feeling that I was going to go in there for a long time and that I was going to stay there forever.” And just like that, jujitsu became the foundation of his training: “His ground game is his bread and butter,” Eddie said.
Without a doubt though, Isaiah’s parents were anxious for him sparring in combat disciplines because of potential brain injuries. What has put the family at ease, Eddie said, is that in youth MMA head strikes are banned, along with the quality of officiating that enforces the rules and the improvement of headgear.
