By: Alice Li

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), which has been banned in many states for its violence and is prone to get injured when participating, is receiving more attention throughout the US.

Youth MMA was unpopular and illegal in many states, but growing attention is helping the sport to grow. Many see the sport as problematic because some fights result in head and brain injuries. Other sports, such as youth football, hockey or karate are more or less accepted in society even though many players within getting serious injuries, but youth MMA is still highly controversial.

In my opinion, youth MMA is too dangerous and risky for elementary and younger middle school students. High school students are old enough to choose what they want to do, and whether or not the sport suits them or not. They are more experienced to prevent injuries and understand the risk of participating in a sport like youth MMA. But, I strongly believe that the risk of younger children getting a head injury is unacceptable. Younger children should practice and learn in a safe environment with an experienced coach, which will decrease the danger of receiving long-lasting injuries. Brain injuries can ruin a person’s life, and I think the risk is too great for young children such as Isaiah. There may be protective headwear and rules of no head shots, but who knows what their opponent will do? It is too unpredictable, and if the headwear is knocked off, things become even more dangerous. Elementary and younger middle school students should practice and prepare for tournaments but not participate at such a young age.