Recently a family were taken to court for filming 2 small children, on their mobiles,fighting each other and egging them on to hurt each other. this made the national news and everyone was horrified yet this is allowed!!! I am disgusted, all sport has the potential to cause harm, but to put a small child into a ring and scream and shout at them to fight each other is morally wrong, don't we live in a wonderful world when parents with half a brain cell between them think they are doing well

I've nothing against martial arts. My daughter learns Karate and she loves it. However... she sees it as self defence, is licensed and is not encouraged to behave in the way shown on this programme.

. If it isn't illegal anyone involved in this activity should carefully consider whether, in all honesty, they believe this is on balance good for the children involved.

I believe the violence shown and the pressure on children, who are not mature enough to be equipped to deal with it is unacceptable, with or without parental consent.

As a parent who has two children (male- age 19 and female- age 12) who both participate in the art of Thai Boxing and have done for some years now, I am saddened to have viewed this programme and the light that I believe it protrayed this martial art. I also believe that the parents conduct in most instances was deplorable but feel strongly enough to state that this is not the conduct of most parents that I have come into contact with through out this sport and also all rules etc protrayed appeared only to relate to English based Thai boxing gyms, this differs in other parts of the UK. In my part of the UK, children under sixteen must wear protective head gear and Head contact of any format including kicks or punches is permitted.

This programme was very one-sided and I am very disappointed

I am a parent to 2 kids the oldest of which my son is 5 years. I have also taken part in Thai boxing for over 10 years now.

First point is that Thai Boxing is the national sport of thailand and not a martial art....similar to western (Normal) boxing in that sence.

I was too quite disturbed as a parent watching the first part of the documentary, as at 5yrs old kids are simply too young in my opinion to take part in thai boxing competitively.

This prog portraid thai boxing in the completely wrong light missing the positive sides of the sport.

I am so upset that a parent that is supposed to nurture and love a child can force/brainwash them into this barbaric form of entertainment! My husband was so disgusted by it he refused to watch it after the first 20 min.

Well... what can I say!! apart from horrible:
I have a little one and would not mind him doing ma or mma but what we have seen tonight is neither.. its purely for adult entertainment. If the parents mean what they say why don't they train their children to respect the discipline they are being taught rather than how to swear and fight..
PARENTS NEED TO BE TAUGHT A THING OR TO. Why do'nt they fight themselves...
DISGUSTING !!!!

What a horrific programme, Cant believe that parents can brain wash their small children like that and get away with it. What chance do these children have in growing up to be normal human beings. We hear time and time again 'Blame the parents' in this instance the old saying is right.

quote:

Originally posted by Maggy:
I would like to say that what we have all just watched is competitions and contact is bound to happen just like in Karate, Rugby or any other sports that children take part in. My 5 year old son started Thai Kickboxing 6 months ago & it has given him motivation to do something instead of sitting in front of a computer. I think this programme has praorade Thai Boxing as violent as abusive to children. It is all down to the parent and person teaching the martial art to motivate children & use it in the correct way.....in the gym.

I think you will find that there is respect,control and a more disciplined approach in martial arts,unlike what was shown tonight. This is also reflected in the adult version. This was street brawling,common parents who do not know any better on how to bring their Child up.And why would you let your child fight without a head guard,this is not allowed for adult boxers until they turn pro.It was like watching dog fighting,and the sooner the goverment ban this the better. And before anybody questions my motives, i have played rugby at a competitive level and also i am highly trained in Tae Kwan Do, so i am used to contact sports . This showed britain at its worst.

This documentary has really opened my eyes to how disgusting humans can be.

there were 1,000 people at the last fight, £30-something a head. I thought it was significant that the program mentioned the children recieved none of the money... So I wonder where it all goes? Are the parents to benefit financially from putting their CHILDREN into a cage fight.

I can understand a childs dedication and ambition to a sport but this is taking advantage of that. it was said after one fight of one parent, that because his son had lost it had "crushed his fathers dreams". His FATHERS dreams.

These are children and not adults. They're probably too young to even get a train by themselves, but old enough to be put into a cage fight??

I have never posted anything before but i feel so strongly about the shocking abuse of these poor children.

I have a 3 year old myself and i would not even contemplate putting him in the ring with the intention of hurting himself or any other baby!

I was brought to tears with what i saw! I could not beleive the pure venom coming from the parent's as they (so called) cheered their children on.

I would never put any child through such an ordeal! When have these poor children had a chance to be JUST CHILDREN!

I feel that the sport is ok but for OVER 18'S ONLY!!

I only hope that these so called parent's (guardian's)have come to their senses!

Signed
A very distraught person!

I agree 100 percent and hope the NSPCC step in immediatley. The government should also act without delay at this blatant abuse--I just found it sickening.

quote:

Originally posted by sickened:
Comletely sickening. I have just e mailed the NSPCC to report this abuse and urged them to investigate these sick people. Please do the same if you were as upset by it as I was and help these kids. They are obviously terrified of their bullying parents.

As a parent and a teacher I am utterly sickened by what I have just watched!

How any parent can stand by and allow their child to beat, or be beaten by anyone else (adult or child) is beyond me. And to be filmed for television, showing pride in their child's 'achievements' is simply beyond belief. These parents (as has already been said) are living their dreams through their children, and more than one of these children was simply doing it to please their parents, not because they wanted to.

Not one of the parents expressed to their child that their 'martial art' / 'boxing' skills should be confined to the ring. And if their child lost, it was anyone's fault but their own. Blameless society is breeding ever more violent children. I fear for my son's future.

I agree with the previous comment in that what this has shown tonight is a clear case of parents with a passion for such a sport yet have only failed in their own attempts to become successful. They are therefore heaping enormous amounts of pressure on their children to succeed (the little boy had no life outside of the thai boxin!)the pressure on the kids during that cage fight was at a stupid level. Like in many other sports, starting young is a good idea but this is only successful when the kids are doing it for enjoyment. The parents had their own agendas!..I completly disagree with the way the london lad was talking about beating up a kid at school, clear evidence to show his "talent" was not being controlled correctly!

Interesting posts on this one. I am honestly split. As a parent I initially found it disturbing but I understand the sporting and realism of win and lose situations ( Quote 'It is also very heartbreaking to see children in tears after losing a match.') It is part of a healthy upbringing to experience wins and losses and most children experience thia through sport. As football is common to our country we unerstand the injuries, unjust descions and bitter loss. Interesting that we cannot apply this to the ring. As a female I have fought in highly discplined martial arts fights and, no, I am not a Pickey. I think there is a gulf between understanding this as a sport never mibd at such a young age. My own daughter has shown a love of horse riding and at 4 I fully intend to let her experience this. The theory is the younger they learn, the ore they gain from it. There are risks of injury associated with every sport and the most dangerous listed in a poll was skiing not boxing. Thai boxing, like standard boxing is a raw display of intended harm and that is why most people find it hard to digest. Would I let a child of mine take an extreme art such as Thia boxing at such a tender age? I would say not but I am lucky- my daughter is the opposite of me and I respect and will induldge her interests even if they are not my dreams.

What a bunch of 'do as you likies'! Read a book!

This programme was disgusting and showed 'pushy parents' at their very worst.

Yeh, the kids didn't argue, but; would you argue with parents like that, or ; if you've never known any different?

My God, the poor little things!!

So the 5 yr old wont be pushed around when she's older? Probably because she'll be in a specialist hospital for the permanently brain damaged from all that hitting!!!


GGGGrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I cannot understand any parent who would willingly put their child into a ring to fight. If dog-fighting is illegal in this country, then this certainly should be! It was appalling to see these children being trained to hit other children!!

Normal parents, with high morals and values would not put their kids, or indeed anyone elses kids through that, and only reinforces my idea that certain people should be sterilised and prevented from having children.

I find myself asking what the difference is between this and a criminal case in the headlines last year involving a family (2 aunts and the grandmother) filming the young children fighting each other and encouraging them to be vicious. Can anyone else see the similarity?

How very sad - those parents need help. All races all faiths this is nothing but appalling.

I think this is Disturbing, Disgusting,and Sick. These parents should be investigated, and these children should be placed into care for their own safety and well being.
This sort of strenous activity will damage their bodies as they are still young and growing.
What damage will this activty have on the physical, socialogical and mental side of these kids.

This is immoral and should be BANNED.

Sorry typing error - must correct - the latter part of my post should have stated kicks or punches are NOT permitted - apologies

quote:

Originally posted by Jax K:
As a parent who has two children (male- age 19 and female- age 12) who both participate in the art of Thai Boxing and have done for some years now, I am saddened to have viewed this programme and the light that I believe it protrayed this martial art. I also believe that the parents conduct in most instances was deplorable but feel strongly enough to state that this is not the conduct of most parents that I have come into contact with through out this sport and also all rules etc protrayed appeared only to relate to English based Thai boxing gyms, this differs in other parts of the UK. In my part of the UK, children under sixteen must wear protective head gear and Head contact of any format including kicks or punches is permitted.

This programme was very one-sided and I am very disappointed

I am a great fan of all forms of boxing and am totally appauled children are allowed to take part in a sport that is for adults. The program was one of the worst I've watched, I'd put it in the same league as sick dog fighters. As for the parents, did any of them have one brain cell between them!I don't see what is to be gained by encouraging children of such a young age to be so agressive, self protection is sensible for us all but this was damn right crazy.And as for the youngsters training for hours after school, what about their education and possibly some rest time too!

This society is strange, we ban dog fighting but will allow our kids to fight in such a brutal and aggresive way.

I can't believe Thai was allowed into the ring without head gear.

It was truly heart renching hearing the parents put these kids down at ring side for not fightin well.

awful kids should be taken away the parents dont deserve them. and as for maggie above your five year old should not be in front of a computer, you should be down the park with them on the swings.

quote:

Originally posted by loftusroad:

quote:

Originally posted by Maggy:
I would like to say that what we have all just watched is competitions and contact is bound to happen just like in Karate, Rugby or any other sports that children take part in. My 5 year old son started Thai Kickboxing 6 months ago & it has given him motivation to do something instead of sitting in front of a computer. I think this programme has praorade Thai Boxing as violent as abusive to children. It is all down to the parent and person teaching the martial art to motivate children & use it in the correct way.....in the gym.

I think you will find that there is respect,control and a more disciplined approach in martial arts,unlike what was shown tonight. This is also reflected in the adult version. This was street brawling,common parents who do not know any better on how to bring their Child up.And why would you let your child fight without a head guard,this is not allowed for adult boxers until they turn pro.It was like watching dog fighting,and the sooner the goverment ban this the better. And before anybody questions my motives, i have played rugby at a competitive level and also i am highly trained in Tae Kwan Do, so i am used to contact sports . This showed britain at its worst.

One other thing.Put any of those so called loving fathers in the ring with me for 5 minutes and we will see if they thing it is still suitable.

i have to agree, i think the shock value is due to the makers rather than the sport and we can all sit and slag it off at how disgusted we were but we still sat and watched the programme. It may say more about us an audience