I just saw a report on ESPN’s OTL about how Martial Arts schools are teaching kids how to spar in Mixed Martial Arts. Im all for competitive sports for the youth and very much for martial arts trainging for kid’s but MMA is a whole different ball game. The types of injuries that can occur from this are development threatening. The all out fighting style that is MMA is much to intense for young childern to endure. They should go through Karate, Judo, Aikido or whatever and then choose when they turn 18; when they can truly make an inteligent choice about MMA.

Sure I may come off like I dont get it, but to call it pure martial arts is crazy. Kids might spar in other forms of martial arts but they dont go in pullverizing each other as the only option. I am all for MMA and a supporter of Youth Boxing, but all the grappling and all the throws by these underexperienced fighters is only going to spell disaster.

Again, I am all for training and getting kids to be active and I hear what the experts like Frank Shamrock is saying about the life style aspect. Teaching the youth how to control themselves is a very positive thing, but there are kids out there who will use it the wrong way. And there are also Instructors who will train these kids to fight beyond what they need to be. There should be no way children under 18 should be allowed to participate. It shouldnt happen, and the approach from the Parents to ask these establishments to tailor their training programs to meet the demands of the multimedia world is encourageable. Seriously ask yourself if you think this is a good thing for kids, if you would truly want the injuries that happen to pro’s; hell the injuries that happen to amature mixing it up. Broken arms, dislocated shoulders, dislocated elbows, career ening injuries before puberty. Think about it.

They call it wrestling “entertainment” because, unlike mixed martial arts, no one is going to actually get a beating. That said, the Sandman (pictured), certainly seems like he took a few punches while a guest at Captain Lou Albano’s 75th birthday party. All of which is plenty badass.

Fedor Emelianenko nearly ripped Tim Sylvia in half to win the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts championship yesterday. It only took him about thirty seconds. Awesome.

Also of interest, Affliction Clothing is trying to step up to Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC, to become a player in this growing sport. Enter the Donald — Donald Trump has invested significant coin in their fighting promotion. More important than the money, though, is his name. The Trump brand is now associated with mixed martial arts.

Bruce Lee was one of the world’s most famous and effective martial artists when he passed away 35 years ago. Today is the anniversary of his death. His cinematic legacy of exciting and scientifically applied physical smack downs continues to inspire us today. He used Wing Chun as the starting point for the practice he called Jeet Kune Do. His concept of using the technique that works, no matter where it originates, is seen by some as the beginning of the mixed martial arts concept. To quote Mr. Lee, “Take things as they are. Punch when you have to punch. Kick when you have to kick.”

Once top secret in the former Soviet Union, the martial art known as sambo is becoming better known in America. Combat sambo, which is practiced by the secret police and other military organizations, includes the strikes, counter moves for various weapons and chokes that the competitive version avoids. It’s basically the same moves as Brazilian style ju-jitsu, but, according to Rorion Gracie, co-founder of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, ju-jitsu may have had better marketing. Vladimir Putin, until recently the leader of Russia, is a master samboist.

Rampage Jackson, clearly having a bad week, was detained and hospitalized by police Wednesday. According to the Los Angeles Times, friends were “concerned about his behavior.” They should be. Jackson, whose first name is Quinton, started the week by playing bumper cars with his truck on the highway Tuesday. He lost his Ultimate Fighting Championship Title to Forrest Griffin on July 5.

Jake Deitchler was definitely tougher than you were in high school. A graduate of Anoka High School in Minnesota, home of four previous Greco-Roman Olympians, Deitchler is the youngest person to qualify for the Olympics in Greco-Roman since Mike Farina did in 1976. For those of you who might be unfamiliar with the concept of Greco-Roman, it’s wrestling where you are not allowed to attack below the waist. These guys rock suplexes, body-locks and gut wrenches. People who like mixed martial arts will love this stuff.

We love Gina Carano and her Elite XC fight before Kimbo Slice’s hugely-viewed match on CBS was arguably more intense and enjoyable than Kimbo’s:

On Saturday night, 2.3 million people tuned into to watch Kimbo Slice fight James Thompson… and in the process, 2.3 million Americans learned about the aesthetic and bloody horrors of Cauliflower Ear by witnessing the single most horrendous instance of Cauliflower Brutality ever aired on prime-time television. Great stuff. In honor of Kimbo and James Thompson’s dangling ear, here is more visuals, videos and information than you could ever want to see or know:

Little known fact about Cauliflower Ear and James Thompson - he is the cousin of Goonie’s legend and Cauliflower activist Sloth:

What is Cauliflower Ear:

Cauliflower ear is a condition most common among wrestlers, rugby players, mixed martial artists, and boxers. If the external portion of the ear suffers a blow, a blood clot or other fluid may collect under the perichondrium. This separates the cartilage from the overlying perichondrium that is its source of nutrients, causing the cartilage to die. This leads to a formation of fibrous tissue in the overlying skin. When this happens, the outer ear becomes permanently swollen and deformed, thus resembling a cauliflower.

Headgear that protects the ears is worn in wrestling and rugby (where it is called a “scrum cap”), many martial arts, and other contact sports to help prevent this condition. For some wrestlers and fighters, however, a cauliflower ear is a badge of honor.

Kimbo Slice Pops Open the Most Disgusting Cauliflower Ear Ever:

How to Fix Cauliflower Ear:

Joe Rogan Discusses Cauliflower Ear: