Definitely did the art of Thai Boxing no favours. Kids can certainly learn discipline, self-control and confidence from most martial arts from an early age, but by concentrating on questionable parenting decisions the show came acroos as unbalanced - I'm sure there are pushy parents with kids involved in all sports, not just martial arts.

A very sad reflection of the society we live in ~ this was not sport. Swearing at kids , win at all costs and children and adults motivated by money ~ the last few lines said it all 'two bentleys, the biggest 'ouse'

I cant belive what Iv seen from the parents of these poor children.
Connor can dream on about his Bentley & 10 million pound house as he probablly have a fractured skull by the time he reaches 11.
Parents living thier dreams through thier children....whilst putting the children in danger and even signing consent that they understand they could DIE!!
Greedy fat trainers...who obviusly dont have much of a life,a father justifying his sons fighting because of azcema,and a father who thinks his little girl is having a moment when she wants to dress up as a princess....shes 5 for god sake.
How have women managed to say safe all these years,without having boxing training.
Ego driven people who should not have children.
If you want dream.....get your own,

this is a disgrace, the kids don't even kow the meaning of muay thai, where is the respect. these kids are just falling into the same old english way of think they know best and not really learning the meaning behind their actions!!!

typical east ender
the kid has as much gob as the mother (ricky)


they should let the kids be kids


the kids are just living the parents dream as they were probably failures growing up

This was the most disturbing thing i've seen on tv. The parents should be locked up. I have 2 boys and had tears in my eyes all the way through this film. Watching the parents shouting and swearing, this is the human equivalent of dog-fighting. They should be prosecuted for child abuse and it should be made illegal.

did anyone else find it disturbing that he was shouting princess to his daughter as a way 2 encourage her 2 beat up another girl?

I agree, this programme was disturbing to watch. Something I didn't plan to watch this evening but stubled accross whilst browsing the tv. It was very concerning to see so much aggression in such young children. Their parents, although I am sure the care much for their children, are subjecting them to unneccesary violence. I agree, fathers/mothers trying to make up for their failed lives.
Sad part that one of the kids mentioned not playing out with the other kids so he can practice. Children should be allowed to have a childhood!!

Unbelievable. So wrong on so many levels... I blame the parents.

yeh, that was great kids scrapping for my entertainment. I try to get my kids to fight when im bored but they are wimps.

The documentary was very well made and gave an insight into something I had no idea about.

It was shocking and I am dismayed by the parents, including Maggy who commented above, who think that this is OK.

It is not like football or rugby. It is teaching children to be aggressive and to win by "battering" their opponent physically.

As far as I could see, there is no difference between this and dogfighting. Only, people put their children at risk for what they think is a sport. It isn't a sport, the children don't really have a choice. They are at the mercy of parents who don't understand what the pecking order in a family does to a child.

These children should be placed in care for their own protection

What a disgrace , what chance have these kids got with parents like that . These kids are destined for a life of crime and jail , the language and the attitude of the parents was a disgrace but dont get me wrong the cocky cockney kid who one in the end deserves a good hiding ,

I am absolutely disgusted by what i have just seen but had to continue to watch to see if the cocky kid got beaten!!!
Pushy, mercenary parents using disgraceful language towards their children and the nature of the sport just produces thugs as far as i am concerned. These children are still growing and this form of fighting and intense training (no matter how much padding) is physically ruining these children!! Although the children seem to enjoy it I feel sorry for them.

None of those people deserve to be looking after young children. This is a form of abuse, as bad as any other. I just hope those poor children will be able to heal with time.

I Have children that fight in a similar sport, Kickboxing. I was suprised at what i saw and i thought that the parents were a little extreme. I cant speak for tai boxing but it is very similar. I would never see my kids get hurt and i know when it has gone to far in a fight to stop it. There are precautions in place to prevent kids getting hurt and as with all sports there is always a risk of getting hurt. Those kids loved doing that as much as the parents watching it, The sport teaches and allows the kids to express themselves in ways not everyone will understand. And it is a lot safer than you would think. Statisticaly your kids have more chance breaking a bone or blacking an eye riding their bike than in this sport. Contact sports will always be controversal, even more so when its kids fighting. well done Connor i new from the start u would do it . keep it up son.

quote:

I'm sure there are pushy parents with kids involved in all sports, not just martial arts.

Yep that is correct, but what got me you know was oen child refused head protection in that cage match, now kids have always been involved in boxing, rugby and yet they always have head protection, I foudn this really out of order thar the child refused head protection and both the orgainsers and parents where not bothered.

That would be like my son not wearing leathers and a helmet and going out racing, of course unlike this thai fighthing my lad would not be allowed to race without proetction.

quote:

Originally posted by GloomCookie:
If it wasn't for parents like those shown tonight the "society we live in today" wouldn't be nearly as bad as it is. Horrible to watch, much like the parents that enter their children into beauty pageants. How anyone could do that to any child, let alone their own, is beyond me.

My sentiments exactly GloomCookie. Its kids like these that will eventually go around their estates terrorising all the other kids because they have been brought up to believe that fighting and being hard are the ways to achieve fame and wealth.

Parents living their dream through their children... very sad.

I am writing to say that I am absolutely disgusted with the program I have just watched. I felt sick the whole way through how on earth these parents can subject their children to this just to fulfil their own dreams is unbelievable. This program is tittering on verbal and mental abuse.

i think what me and my wife and kids just watch was sick this should not of been show . you would not let your pet dog fight. so why would any decent parents do it to there kids . where is social services. this is so wrong