Kids taking up Mixed Martial Arts

The bloody bouts and knock outs of mixed martial arts is nothing new to adults who fight competitively but the techniques they use are now being taught to a younger generation.

Children as young as 3 years old are taking part in MMA classes across the country.

At American Top Team in Coconut Creek, the children's program is packed almost every night

"He enjoys it, he wants to come," said parent Stephen Roberts. "I don't find it violent at all."

While kids are practicing in one area of the gym, adults are involved in cage fights just steps away but parent Will Kleine wasn't concerned about what his son was learning.

"You how he's very confident in himself and not afraid to try new things. Plus the added benefit of being able to protect himself in the event that he had to," Kleine said.

Protection is a key factor for many parents.

"Their kid may be bullied or maybe they think 'he it hasn't happened to them yet but I just want to feel better about my son or daughter'", said Richard Guerriero, general manager of the gym.

But Dr. Mitch Spero, a child psychologist with Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, said some kids maynot fully understand all the factors involved when it comes to learning a martial art.

"Some young children may not have the mental or cognitive maturity to separate when it makes sense to wrestle with a friend and when it makes sense to go into competition of when it makes sense to simply walk away," said Spero.

Spero said that in MMA, as with any sport, parental guidance is the most important factgor.

"Some of the kisd that enter MMA truly have different levels of insecurity that they are wokring on. for some of those kids, once they know they can handle themselves, that can build their self esteem," Spero said.

According to trainers at American Top Team, kids do not learn the same techniques as adults.

"It's more about discipline than actual fighting, said Guerriero.