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<h3><a href="/go=news.detail&gid=437534" target="_blank">
CSAC head Andy Foster decries youth MMA fights
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<a href="/go=news.detail&gid=437534" ><img class="photo" src="http://img.mixedmartialarts.com/method=get&rs=50&q=75&x=2&y=10&w=310&h=165&ro=0&s=andy-foster.png" /></a>
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<p>Youth mixed martial arts matches with no head contact rules are increasing in popularity in California, but as seen in this ABC News Nightline piece, California State Athletic Commissioner Andy Foster is taking steps to prevent the bouts. Children as young as five are taking part in the contests.</p>
"I'm okay with them practicing with their coaches," explains Foster. "But when they step into a competitive area, and they use full contact blows to damage the other person, that's how they win, then it becomes a problem."
Foster is making huge strides in turning around the MMA scene in California, bringing the CSAC back from the brink of collapse, and will undoubtedly bring the events into compliance.
Kids should grapple and wrestle. There is no need for a five year old, or a ten year old, to be stepping into a cage to fight. If they parents are so into it, they should step in there.
This is only big news because it's "cagefighting" as they clearly loved pointing out. People forget that kids this young also compete in TKD matches that are full-contact but with padding. I honestly see no problem with this. The only problem I would have is the same problem I have with all youth sports: if the kids don't wanna do it, the parents shouldn't make them.
Foster took over the CSAC in late 2012, and has hugely turned it around. He is the perfect guy for it - impeccable regulator, and has professionally fought, professionally trained fighters, and promoted, so he knows how all the stakeholders see things.
Andy foster was another mma fighter in Georgia when i first got into the sport. Guy was a legit fighter. These are the types of people we need making decisions about the sport
Kids should grapple and wrestle. There is no need for a five year old, or a ten year old, to be stepping into a cage to fight. If they parents are so into it, they should step in there.
I am friends with Andy, I respect Andy & I respect Kirik.
Here are some facts though:
USA Boxing age for competition 8.
#1 Sport for injuries in America = Cheerleading.
Where I live I know Pee Wee tackle football starts at 8.
Here is my opinion:
In a controlled environment, no ground & pound, no knees, no elbows, essentially like the GA amateur rules that we have kids should be able to start competition somewhere between the age of 8-12.
Kids should grapple and wrestle. There is no need for a five year old, or a ten year old, to be stepping into a cage to fight. If they parents are so into it, they should step in there.
The guys at Nightline who did this piece did an intentional hatchet job on a completely transparent league that has been operating under modified FILA rules for over 10 years.
If you wan't to understand the sport you won't get anywhere by watching the Nightline piece. Review the rules at the FILA website above or look at the ones employed by the USFL here http://fightleague.org/
It's a great sport for kids. I'd be interested in hearing logical and objective reasons to no allow kids to compete in this sport.
My daughter is 8 and I have been teaching her a little grappling, like headlock defense and stuff. I'll hold pads for her and that kind of stuff, but no hitting her back. For now I just want her to think about self defense and not trying to hurt someone.
I fully agree that it's dumb for some parents to live vicariously through their kids. I saw a lot of that when I played football and wrestled and it took some of the fun out of it for some kids. When you make a mistake and your fat mom who never played a sport chews you out all loud it kinda takes the fun out of the game.
Drewout - I am friends with Andy, I respect Andy & I respect Kirik.
Here are some facts though:
USA Boxing age for competition 8.
#1 Sport for injuries in America = Cheerleading.
Where I live I know Pee Wee tackle football starts at 8.
Here is my opinion:
In a controlled environment, no ground & pound, no knees, no elbows, essentially like the GA amateur rules that we have kids should be able to start competition somewhere between the age of 8-12.
What you think UG?
Andy Foster claiming to be "Shocked" reminds me of Captain Renault in Casablanca. CAMO has their own form of Pankration but unlike the USFL which scores based on effective striking techniques delivered to legal striking targets, CAMO uses a "damage" approach. Andy isn't going after CAMO.
Mr. Foster decided to issue a cease and desist after being sent a video doctored to illustrate an illegal head strike in a youth match. Obviously we suspect mal intent on whoever sent the video which was also sent to several state legislators.
We know CAMO has been talking about developing their own youth Pankration league with Mr. Foster along with one of their Amateur MMA promoters. We can only suspect that one of there supporters may have facilitated action by sending it out.
We were able to get the catalyst video and combine it with an unedited version to reflect the actual match where the referee recognized the illegal strike and preformed the appropriate action.
