Brock Lesnar, sportsman or barbarian?

Sophie Team Observers — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:52:18 +0200

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), one of America's most brutal sports, has just got fiercer. Even as heavyweight champion Brock Lesner pushes the sport into dangerously violent territory, it is becoming increasingly popular across Europe, where martial arts specialists deem it closer to a gladiators' show than a sport.

"Fight Club" for kids

Sophie Team Observers — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:19:48 +0200

With moves like "ground-and-pound" and "lay-and-pray", Mixed Martial Arts is considered the most brutal form of contact sport after street fighting. So why are children as young as six getting involved?

MMA is a refined version of "ultimate fighting", the short-lived full-contact sport that emerged in the early nineties and was once labelled "human cock fighting" by John McCain. Too violent for the public, ultimate fighting was reworked with a few strict rules and re-entered the sporting arena as "Mixed Martial Arts". Since it began, three people have died from MMA related injuries, and organised competitions are illegal in 49 states. However, the sport's popularity continues to grow, and it's now on a par with wrestling and boxing in terms of TV viewing numbers.

In the past few years increasing numbers of classes for children have sprung up around the US. In states where it's legal, such as Missouri, competitions are staged - like the one in this video.

Posted by "pankrasekid" 18 November 2007.

contact sports

Brock Lesnar, sportsman or barbarian?

"Fight Club" for kids