Fight Clubs in High Schools

on May 15, 2009 at 3:13 PM

Fight clubs--groups of guys (and sometimes girls) who fight violently for sport--are gaining popularity all around the country. But not just among adults, teens are taking to this brutal sport too.

Check out this video of one fight club in Texas--meeting in a school bathroom. It's a scary thing, but with the growing popularity of mixed martial arts and "Ultimate Fighting Championship" the prospect of kids trying this themselves was almost predictable.

In fact, on today's episode of Dr. Phil, a 16 and 17-year-old who both belong to an underground fight club came face to face with real UFC fighters, including president Dana White. Not to fight, of course.

The teens said their fight clubs are really about training for the real thing. But then one admitted that it's also "just a way to get everything out." The pros warned the teens of the inherent danger involved with such an extreme sport. White reminded them that there are 8 or 9 boxing deaths every year.

Have you ever heard of these fight clubs? Would you have a problem if your child wanted to be a professional fighter?

Comments (5)

Lindalu2

on May 15, 2009 at 7:49 PM

That is really a depressing thought. I am against any kind of fighting,particularly boxing ,so I would not allow my son to join in with the"fight club" guys. Boxing should not be considered a sport. If two men fought on the streets in public, the police would arrest them and charge them with assault. But boxers get big bucks. It is a sadistic activity-not a sport. Why would teens want to hit another person? It sounds sick and wrong. How are they being raised? What is wrong with their parents?

Report this comment

Lennon_Molly

on May 15, 2009 at 10:57 PM

I just heard about these a few weeks ago in my Social Problems class. One women said that in her town, maybe 20 minutes from where I live, they set up these fights in fields near electric fences, to add to the danger. It's sad.

guitarlove

on May 15, 2009 at 11:24 PM

It would be one thing if my (hypothetical, teen-aged) kid wanted to join an organised boxing or wrestling team... an entirely DIFFERENT thing if they were joining some stupid "club" based on a movie to kick the crap out of other kids.

DIYindymom

on May 16, 2009 at 1:54 AM

If my child/children wanted to be a proffesional fighter than thats what I would support them in. Its not illegal and the UFC is a very proffesional setting. Not everyone likes the "screw it all" attitude of UFC President Dana White but I respect the guy for speaking his mind and having what he needs to back it up. These kids in these underground fight clubs are obviously in need of some serious discipline not only from their parents but the school administration. I saw that video on Dr. Phil and the first thing my Fiancee and I said to each other was "Well where in the hell are the teachers?" Its not the UFC's fault that these kids are ignorant when it comes to MMA fighting. If they really want to learn more about it there are places they can take classes and an endless amount of information at their fingertips. Its a parents responsibility to teach their children responsibility. If your child is into MMA fighting and is in a fight club with their buddies its time to step in and get them into classes where they can learn to respect the sport and the fighters. Respect is exactly what these kids are missing. If they had respect for this sport they wouldn't be making a bad name for it by fighting each other in bad conditions without the right training and medical staff on hand.

klmom2

on May 16, 2009 at 3:43 AM

I find that this type of behavior is sad, and if a parent support their children then the parents have a problem. I would not want my son to be involved in such behavior. As DIYindymom, mentioned where were the teachers of the class? I saw the video on Dr. Phil also and it seemed as if the students set the classroom up for their fight stint. As one of the guests mentioned, accidents occur during these fights, and non of the students who were involved or the other students in the room would not have been able to handle such an accident if it were to turn tragic, because they feel that they are invincible from a tragedy from happening. It is sad that our children are unimaginative, bored and uneventful. I am glad that my son is not as fast as most children, he is taking his time growing up.