Teens
Fight Clubs Can End With a Legal Knockout
By Dan Blankenship
© 2007 Dan Blankenship
In 1999, the movie “Fight Club”, starring Brad Pitt, hit movie screens around the country. It was a huge success. The movie glorified, illegal fisticuffs and the mayhem that surrounds such events. Today, teenagers are using technology to record fights and then display them on the Internet via resources like YouTube ™ and MySpace.com ©. This trend has led to teenagers being arrested and prosecuted for felonies in different locations around America.
Proverbs 11:17 (NIV): “A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.’
Texas, New Jersey, Washington, and even Alaska (1) have all uncovered teenage fight clubs that were very well organized and popular. Teens agreed to do battle without regard to the physical dangers they were engaging in each and every time a fight occurred.
Proverbs 11:8 (NIV): The righteous man is rescued from trouble, and it comes on the wicked instead.”
I have a lot of experience with legalized fighting, having competed in closed-style martial arts point fighting tournaments, mixed-style martial arts tournaments, and kickboxing matches throughout the past twenty years. I have suffered broken ribs, concussions, severe cuts above both of my eyes, and even whiplash, but never more than one of these injuries at the same competition.
Under legal, controlled, and sanctioned events, I only once felt that I did not receive proper guidance or medical support before, during, or after a match. A contestant at one of these teen fight clubs is much more likely to suffer not only multiple injuries but also a lack of medical treatment after a fight. Hospital workers are bound to ask questions; it is always possible that a secret fight club could be uncovered when a combatant ends up in the emergency room.
Here is my advice to anyone who has though about attending one of these fight clubs: Think about the overall likelihood that someone may become severely injured during one of these illegal and immoral events. Professional mixed martial arts fighters train for years to become proficient at what they do. Boxers train relentlessly to become experts in their sport. The same holds true of wrestlers. All three of these groups rely on professional organizers, trainers, referees, and doctors to keep them safe from life changing injuries.
So, in case you ever find yourself being invited to a “fight club” gathering, and the bait is a list of who will be at event, remember who will most likely not be at the event – the professional staff of people dedicated to keeping real athletes healthy so they can go see the next Brad Pitt movie.
Proverbs 5:21 (NIV): “For a man’s ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all his paths.”
Source:
1. Michael McCarthy “Illegal, Violent Teen Fight Clubs Face Police Crackdown”. USA Today, 18 August 2006, can be visited at: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-07-31-violent-fight-clubs_x.htm
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
Reader Count & Comments
Date
This is actually a much bigger problem than I believe most parents want to accept. My son is considering joining the wrestling team this year. (his senior year) I will stand behind him, just as I do when he plays football, but it isn't easy, even knowing that he is closely supervised and that many good lessons come from participating in these very physical sports. I actually even get a bit excited from my place in the stands when he makes a great tackle or picks up a fumble, etc. However, it was only year before last that I got wind of an unprecedented "boxing tournament" that took place after school hours. And yes, my son was one of those who participated. I was so glad to hear that a stop was put to it. Now, I just pray that his "successes" in that incident have given him no "bright" ideas about a future in these types of things.
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 2688 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Dan Blankenship or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 2688 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.