WORLD FAMOUS FIGHTING SPORT: Three Reasons Why Boxing Should Not Be Banned

Also called pugilism and prize fighting, Boxing has come a long way from its first recorded match in 688 B.C. in ancient Greece. Included among the other Olympic and Commonwealth sport, amateur and professional boxing rules had been amended throughout the years, resulting to include more safety rules.

Considered to be one of the most demanding sports in the world, boxing is not for the faint-hearted. Boxing involves balance, speed, hand-eye coordination, agility or quickness and strength. Training is rigid and only those deemed to have acquired the skill and discipline required to fight in the ring are allowed to do so even in amateur boxing matches.

When asked by the most inquisitive mind why boxing should not be banned, knowledgeable people would say these three simple reasons.

First: There are rules governing boxing. It is legal in almost all countries. There are governing and sanctioning bodies that control boxing as a sport. There’s the European Boxing Union, World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Council. World Boxing Organization, British Boxing Board of Control and the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Second: Despite the many medical concerns involving boxing, every fighting match is not a fight to the death. There is no intent to kill with every punch delivered. Yes, there are several reported cases of brain damage because of repeated experiences of concussions. This is the reason why boxers are not allowed to fight long in the ring, alleviating the occurrence of sustaining punches to the head. Also, not all punches that will garner points are aimed in the head. Delivering a knock-out is not a necessity when the safety of the combatants is foremost in the minds of organizers and judges.

Third: Boxers, because of training, improves their cardiovascular conditions. They gain strength, endurance, alertness, confidence and power. The ultimate workout, boxing exercises, not just hitting punching bags and weight lifting, can burn a lot of calories, conditioning and toning muscles, and eventually keeping the body in tip top shape.

There have been many arguments and discussions regarding the pros and cons of boxing. Since like other combat sports, boxing has always been associated with violence even if combatants use padded gloves in delivering those lethal punches. With the numerous rules and regulations focused on safety and good health, it is no wonder than many factions that wanted to push legislation to ban boxing haven’t succeeded.

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTING SPORT: Three Reasons Why MMA Should Not Be Banned

With its roots tracing back to the ancient Greco-Roman fighting sport known as Pankration, Mixed Martial Arts or MMA, a full contact combat sport, brings together techniques from almost all types of fighting schools. From Brazilian Jui-Jitsu (BJJ), aikido, karate, kung fu, judo, taekwondo, kickboxing, wrestling, muay Thai, boxing and many more, MMA’s unique blend of fighting techniques, styles and discipline has captured the attention of professional fighters all around the world.

Mixed Martial is not for the faint hearted. It’s a no-holds-barred type, weaponless combat sport where professional tournaments are held throughout the USA and Europe. Although each technique and style employed with every fighting move is geared towards winning, professional MMA competitions are not a fight to the death. MMA adheres to regulations and rules.

There are many reasons why Mixed Martial Arts should not be banned. Here are just three of the most relevant reasons.

The first is the obvious reason that every fight is regulated just like in any sport. A set of rules govern every fight. There are forty-six states in the US that has passed legislation in legalizing professional MMA competitions as of now.

The second reason is all about health. Different strength-enhancing disciplines are learned through MMA. Practitioners can increase their stamina, strength and endurance with the numerous fundamental exercises followed in the various fighting styles. With proper training, the combative skills are considered to be the ultimate form of exercise, a complete workout. Every movement learned increases muscle development and strength. Vitals are also monitored and enhanced.

The third reason why MMA shouldn’t be banned is it is a weaponless fighting sport. Yes, every kick, punch or grapple can be as lethal as using weapons, but the severity of the blows is not as fatal compared to professional boxing. Like in any contact sport, there are injuries incurred but are otherwise minimized since competitions are regulated and only trained fighters are allowed in the ring.

Even with the various arguments regarding safety issues in professional MMA competitions, the pros offset the cons. It may look violent, a true manifestation of the most basic of human instinct for violence, but as long as there is proper training and fighters are monitored by their respective coaches, MMA is not dangerous. It is a sport and practitioners follow a set of rules and principles that are in no way near any intent to kill and, therefore, should not be banned.

LETHAL PUNCH: Three Reasons Why Boxing Should Be Banned

Boxing, that world-famous fighting sport that many people are going crazy for, have allowed many to argue and discuss its pros and cons throughout the ages. Since its first recorded match in 688 B.C. in ancient Greece, boxing has acquired quite a large number of enthusiasts and followers as time passes.

The growing fascination of spectators watching boxing matches may seem so confounding to those who believe boxing to be a blatant example of violence. Even when there are rules protecting combatants from permanent injuries during a match, there are still those that see every lethal punch delivered to be an act of aggression and therefore doesn’t set a good example to society, especially to young children.

Although boxing has a set of rules to live by and every amateur or professional match is monitored and regulated by a ruling organization or body, there are still many people who are advocating banning boxing mainly because of these three reasons.

First: There’s a high risk of sustaining brain damage and other long term health/body damages. Every time a boxer faces an opponent in the ring and was delivered a knockout punch resulting to unconsciousness and subsequently a concussion, there is the likelihood of brain hemorrhage. Even wearing the protective headgear doesn’t help in keeping the head safe from the head punches.

Second: There’s a possibility of imminent death. There have been a reported number of boxers dying because of injuries sustained from boxing matches. Because of concussions from head punches, there are over two hundred amateur boxers that have died of head injuries since 1980.

Third: The strong intent to inflict pain and injury should not be condoned by civilized society. Young children watching matches are exposed to the violence happening inside the boxing ring. Like a form of brainwashing, those who watch the match will subconsciously think that the violence they see is natural. Because of this exposure, children are conditioned to commit the same movements when unattended by an adult, adding up on the chain of violence.

Many view boxing as barbaric and people pushing to have professional boxing banned have succeeded in several countries like in North Korea, Iceland, Norway, Iran and Cuba. Through it all, boxing should be used as a fighting sport and not as a means to maim or to kill. With proper training and discipline, the principles governing any sport should always be prioritized in every match, keeping in mind the safety of all those involved.

FATAL ARENA: Three Reasons Why MMA Should Be Banned

A full contact and intense combat sport, Mixed Martial Arts (also known as MMA) is a form of hybrid martial arts. It combines fighting styles and techniques of boxing, kickboxing, taekwondo, kung fu, judo, karate, Brazilian Jui-Jitsu (BJJ), muay Thai, wrestling, bujinkan, hapkido and many more. Its beginnings can be traced all the way back to ancient times where the inner caveman reins supreme in a harsh world that knows only two things – survival and power.  

Because of the rise in its recent popularity among the masses, safety and health issues and much legality involving the tournaments, people are rising en masse to push authorities and even governments all over the world to ban MMA.

Here are three reasons why MMA should be banned.

The first reason is safety and health issues. The growing injury rate in MMA competitions, including brain or head injuries are increasing. The longer a person engages in MMA fights, the higher the risk of hippocampus and thalamus size reduction. Constant trauma to the head, even if the blows are not that strong, can affect the brain and cause memory loss and lessen alertness.

The second is the high risk of dying. Since getting sanctioned as a sport in 2001, MMA has already three recorded deaths so far. Sam Vasquez, who died in November 30, 2007 in a Renegades Extreme Fighting held in Houston, Texas, was the first MMA fatality. His death was ruled out as a mix of complications from the fight. Michael Kirkham was knocked out and remained unconscious until he died on June 28, 2010 in a Dash Entertainment/King MMA fight in Aiken, South Carolina. Mike Mitelmeier died in 2012 after receiving an illegal kick to the head that made his brain hemorrhage, collapsing after being pronounced as winner because of disqualification of the opponent.

The third reason is the constantly changing rules. Because it’s still new, competition rules are always getting amended, making each MMA fight unpredictable. Legislation regarding MMA is still pending in some states even if professional fights are allowed in forty-six states as of May 2012.

With every move a study of precise execution of lethal and violent intent, witnesses are torn between those who feel an adrenaline rush to see these modern gladiators duke it out inside the ring and the others who cringe and abhor the blatant show of human violence in its most basic form. Banning the combat sport will likely be a lifetime endeavor for those who prize peace over violence at any given day.