My letter to ESPN

**socalpankration** · Posted On: 7/21/2008 11:30pm

I Just saw the Piece on Kids MMA . I had no knowledge of this story at all. You used allot of footage from our Amateur Pankration League Tournaments. The crazy thing is I recently e-mailed ESPN and invited you to cover an event. I received a "Thanks but No Thanks Response". In hindsight it was a Good thing I was blown off! To do a story like this and use edited versions of our videos without even letting us know is wrong. We are not hard to find www.fightleague.org .

Much of the competition footage was from Kids Pankration Tournaments, not Kids MMA. This sport is well established and has been around since 2001. We have a National Governing body (USAFPA, web site www.teamusapankration.com ) and are an Official Form of International Wrestling under FILA, www.fila-wrestling.com.

Our league rules are very strict: www.fightleague.org/Rules.html
We go above and beyond to make this SAFE for both Adults and Kids.
In short:
-No Strikes to the head
-No Slams when executing a takedown. Cannot drop on head or use unnecessary roughness with takedown.
-No heel hooks or dynamic neck cranks. These moves can injury and are hard to control.
-All submission holds are to be executed with applied pressure. We make it clear that if you hurt your opponent before he/she has a chance to submit you get disqualified. We stop kid’s matches short of submission, that’s why some of them were crying in the videos you presented.
- We have a Certified Athletic Trainer is present during all events.
- We use 2 referees during every match. One must be a Chief referee. To be a Chief Referee they must be at least 21 years old and have a Min. of 10 years of Martial Arts experience. They must have refereed over prior 200 matches and be trained in First Aid and CPR.

We put on tournaments for the US Military as well. An independent Athletic Trainer based out of Camp Pendleton evaluated Amateur Pankration under our rules and events and deemed it SAFER than FOOTBALL.

Obviously the producer surfed Youtube and edited our 50 plus videos down to 30 seconds of what appeared to be the ugliest parts.
SEE FOR YOURSELF: http://youtube.com/results?search_qu...deo_avg_rating

Since 2002 we have NEVER had a kid seriously injured. For the last couple of years we have kept an injury log of all injuries treated by the Athletic Trainer. We provided all this information to Andrea Canning of 20/20 when they did their piece on Kids MMA. Looks like they gave you some footage as well? I can give you the contact info for our Trainer if you would like to ask about the injury rate.

As for the kids, This SPORT ABOVE ALL OTHERS TEACHES EMPATHY. Competitors are responsible for their opponent’s safety. To do this in a combative sports setting is the best lesson on strength and responsibility,

I have watched many of these Kids, to include my own, grow in this sport since 2002. Most are still involved and doing great, especially socially. They are Good Kids with good Grades, very respectful and hard working. Much more so than the average American Kid. Here is a link to our results for all our events (except our 1st tournament): http://www.fightleague.org/Results.html . If you would like to contact some of them let me know.

Please respond back,
J. Frank
Amateur Pankration League
E-mail jfrank128@cox.net

**Judah Maccabee** · Posted On: 7/21/2008 11:32pm

that's pretty bogus if it went down as you say.

**Ke?poFist** · Posted On: 7/21/2008 11:36pm

mother f*****

Keep getting the word out

**Brandon** · Posted On: 7/21/2008 11:46pm

Responsible journalism went out the window a long time ago.

Sensationalism = Ratings

Ratings = Money

News outlets rarely care about presenting an accurate picture, just one that can lure in viewers.

**3moose1** · Posted On: 7/21/2008 11:54pm

My only questions is:

Is there pankration tournaments in michigan/will there be soon?

**TheRuss** · Posted On: 7/22/2008 1:30am

Make sure your e-mail gets to their ombudsman (this link should work - if not, click around their website) - if anyone acts on it, she will. Also, try to be specific about which show it was, when the footage was aired, who you are, etc.

**MMAGreg** · Posted On: 7/22/2008 3:08am

hehe, I don't think I have any problem with kids training in any sport, including pankration or mma, but if you are writing a formal letter you should really do a grammar and spelling proof read to be taken seriously... just one of many examples: "These moves can injury and are hard to control."

also...

"Much of the competition footage was from Kids Pankration Tournaments, not Kids MMA. This sport is well established and has been around since 2001."

what? because mma is not established or hasn't been around since 2001? thanks for the mutual respect, seriously.

and "that’s why some of them were crying in the videos you presented." is no way to sell your point... these people who they are appealing to don't want to see children crying due to aggressive sports, it is why moms hate watching their children compete in any sport... might have been better off avoiding mention of children crying.

**sempaiman** · Posted On: 7/22/2008 8:15am

If most of video was from Pankration tournaments then the kids where breaking the rules. I saw a lot of head striking and hard body slams....

**socalpankration** · Posted On: 7/22/2008 11:08am

Originally Posted by MMAGreg

hehe, I don't think I have any problem with kids training in any sport, including pankration or mma, but if you are writing a formal letter you should really do a grammar and spelling proof read to be taken seriously... just one of many examples: "These moves can injury and are hard to control."

also...

"Much of the competition footage was from Kids Pankration Tournaments, not Kids MMA. This sport is well established and has been around since 2001."

what? because mma is not established or hasn't been around since 2001? thanks for the mutual respect, seriously.

and "that’s why some of them were crying in the videos you presented." is no way to sell your point... these people who they are appealing to don't want to see children crying due to aggressive sports, it is why moms hate watching their children compete in any sport... might have been better off avoiding mention of children crying.

LOL I Know!!

Before I send the hard copy I will have one of my kids, who according to ESPN should be Psycos by now, do a re-write, they have very good grades in English even know they have been fighting since 2002.