High School MMA

**Matt Phillips** · Posted On: 6/25/2009 8:13am

One thing I would object to though, is (at 4:48) what appears to be mid-heavy contact MT sparring with no pads, and without proper headgear. That is stupid. Even the Thais don't practice like that. Unless their coach wants kids going home with the same injury Kinaton got from WS, I would invest in some shin pads, Thai pads, and boxing-type headgear. 2-1 they are not wrapping their hands either.

**Kintanon** · Posted On: 6/25/2009 8:20am

Why can't anyone ever spell my name right? It's KinTanon, K I N T A N O N.

And yeah, especially with kids MMA shinguards are a must have. I also recommend gloves like the level 4 primetimes or other training MMA gloves that have heavier padding across the knuckles that the normal ones.

**Matt Phillips** · Posted On: 6/25/2009 8:52am

Originally Posted by Kintanon

Why can't anyone ever spell my name right? It's KinTanon, K I N T A N O N.

And yeah, especially with kids MMA shinguards are a must have. I also recommend gloves like the level 4 primetimes or other training MMA gloves that have heavier padding across the knuckles that the normal ones.

Sure thing, Kintation.

What is the meaning anyway. Its not your name name, I know that.

**Coach Josh** · Posted On: 6/25/2009 11:49am

Safety is always the main concern. This is why the people who did martial arts before in high schools have screwed it up before. They think that they can train fighters in high school. All it takes is one incident of the wrong child getting hurt and the parents start looking into the who what when and whys and there will be no more programs in high schools.

I one of the first high school roller hockey clubs in Louisiana a few years back. I fight happened during a game. We did not start the incident. The principal would not allow us to use school facilities for the club. Threatened to suspend all the players. Gave me this huge speech. The same week one of the kids on my hockey team was also a football player got into a fight on the football field. Nothing happened about it at all.

I talked to the principal and was stupefied with the answer I received. "Football makes the school money hockey doesn't get out of my office with this piety ****." So until you can make the school money with a martial arts program it ain't going to happen on a huge scale.

**newbie999** · Posted On: 6/25/2009 12:18pm

Sounds like a cool idea and it seems like it actually could make money with the growth of MMA, but they need added protection like face & shin guards and thicker gloves like the 6 and 7oz MMA sparring gloves and perhaps banning knee strikes to the head or elbowing the head on mount. Maybe require rash guards for all fights. Probably a few rules on type of submissions as well like no small joint submissions or damaging subs like heel hooks. Perhaps 3 minute rounds vs. 5 minute rounds etc. Sort of how amauter boxing is done (e.g.-mandatory face guards).

Also, give the option of the coach/ref tapping out for the fighter to avoid the whole, my fighter is too proud to tap out mentality.

**Hesperus** · Posted On: 6/25/2009 3:16pm

Striking, high school and competition will not mix well.

**newbie999** · Posted On: 6/25/2009 3:44pm

Originally Posted by Hesperus

Striking, high school and competition will not mix well.

How is striking with protective equipment like headgear and gloves different then in footbal with pads and high schoolers hitting each other at full speed?

I guess parents freak out more where they see their kids bleed on a mat vs when they don't see it in a football game (High schools playing football bust their noses and bleed and get knocked out). The injuries are just as bad as in football if not worse.

Think grappling is bad? Ever seen a high schooler's career end on a tackle gone bad and seeing their knees snap?

**Matt Phillips** · Posted On: 6/25/2009 3:46pm

Originally Posted by Hesperus

Striking, high school and competition will not mix well.

I dunno, throw in staph and closet gayness and you've got your typical locker room. Mixes just fine.

**Matt Phillips** · Posted On: 6/25/2009 3:48pm

Originally Posted by newbie999

How is striking with protective equipment like headgear and gloves different then in footbal with pads and high schoolers hitting each other at full speed?

I guess parents freak out more where they see their kids bleed on a mat vs when they don't see it in a football game (High schools playing football bust their noses and bleed and get knocked out). The injuries are just as bad as in football if not worse.

Don't be naive. The difference is that in football, the point is to advance the ball, not strike the opposing players. This is why I won't let my kid play hockey. If he's going to fight, I'd rather he got a trophy than a penalty.

**in8oo** · Posted On: 6/25/2009 6:01pm

Originally Posted by Hesperus

Striking, high school and competition will not mix well.

Striking in the program is limited to pads. The bouts shown in the video were 2 minute side exhibitions by students who train more extensively outside the club.

If there were to be competitions, they would be limited to submission grappling matches.