Children as young as four are being plunged into the cutthroat arena of competitive kickboxing by over-zealous parents.

A new British television documentary shows young boys and girls trading blows in the bloodsport — with many breaking down in tears as parents harrass them from the sidelines.
In one instance, five-year-old girl Miah Flanagan is seen on the Channel 4 documentary wearing large punching gloves as she sobs beside the boxing ring.

Her twin brother Kian is later shown receiving a sharp knock to the face from his kickboxing partner.
The children's MuayThai boxing bouts happen within an adult-sized boxing ring, with parents shouting tips such as "come on Princess, go forward, kick 'em, kick 'em."

The documentary is screening in Britain this week.
Britain has no age restrictions for youngsters taking part in MuayThai boxing, which is taught by over 500 registered clubs around the country.

There are also no official rules about children wearing protective headgear.
The Flanagans' father, Darren, believes the hits his children are taking now will stand them in good stead for the future.
"If someone grabs Miah when she's 15, what do you think is going to happen?" he is quoted as saying in Britain's Daily Mail newspaper.
"Miah knows all the defence moves. Anyway [she] loves it — she's like a ballet dancer with boxing gloves at the moment."
Mr Flanagan said he fed his daughter more food to bulk her up if she was facing an older or heavier opponent.


In Australia, children must be at least 14 years old to compete in Thai boxing, according to kickboxing association president Robert Murdoch.
But there are no age limits on kids taking part in other martial arts, he said.

yeah that's pretty foul. you'd have to be a cold prick of a father to throw your 4 year old daughter into the ring.

yeah that's pretty foul. you'd have to be a cold prick of a father to throw your 4 year old daughter into the ring.

these losers are the big mouths at kids footy. you just want to smash them.

however, if it was still legal, i might have let my 8yo box if he wanted to. but a 4yo???? thats cruel.

I'm gunna get my little sister trained up now, while she's 4, so she can protect my ass when i'm old and frail. haha.

This is news to me. Not to many rules governing kickboxing in England. They shouldn't be competing, i know that.

Guess i'll have to watch it and tell you what its all about

these losers are the big mouths at kids footy. you just want to smash them.

however, if it was still legal, i might have let my 8yo box if he wanted to. but a 4yo???? thats cruel.

yeah that's exactly right.. there's always one miserable old cunt trying to live through their kid.

let us know what the doco is like then mickey if ya see it

Fckn England why am i not suprised?

ive seen the same kind of thing happen at amateur cards in australia mate..

maybe not four year olds.. but kids who're at an age where they'd rather be watching cartoons and playing with toys.. getting stuck in a ring and told to fight..

if the kid isnt old enough to make the choice for themself they just shouldnt be in there.

ive seen the same kind of thing happen at amateur cards in australia mate..

maybe not four year olds.. but kids who're at an age where they'd rather be watching cartoons and playing with toys.. getting stuck in a ring and told to fight..

if the kid isnt old enough to make the choice for themself they just shouldnt be in there.

Yep. And people who are watching this **** happen should go have a few words with there parents.

Boxing is vicious. I don't think anyone should really start it until mid teens.

But then again look at Calzaghe. He started at 6. And look where he is now.

But in Britain anything goes. :D

They just had this on the news, apparently its supposed to be no head contact at all, and wear body protection suits. However for a kid that age there is much better sports out there for kids of that age; soccer, basketball, etc. Contact sports should defently a decision they make for themselves

They just had this on the news, apparently its supposed to be no head contact at all, and wear body protection suits. However for a kid that age there is much better sports out there for kids of that age; soccer, basketball, etc. Contact sports should defently a decision they make for themselves

Then whats the point of it?

I don't know at least the kids aren't going to be fat ****ers at such a young age like i have been seeing around the shops.

I don't know at least the kids aren't going to be fat ****ers at such a young age like i have been seeing around the shops.

Is this more sick than my banner?

:D

Fckn England why am i not suprised?

Yep. And people who are watching this **** happen should go have a few words with there parents.

Boxing is vicious. I don't think anyone should really start it until mid teens.

But then again look at Calzaghe. He started at 6. And look where he is now.

But in Britain anything goes. :D


You trying to get my back up kid?

I hope not.


Anyway, I agree that kids shouldn't be allowed to compete until they are of an age to know what they are doing -but i think kickboxing, boxing...infact any sport/game should be taught to any age. The arguments have been mentioned here - influencing good health and fitness but also teaching them lessons about patience, persistance and detirmination... it also teaches them that if you practice and try enough at something, you WILL get better.

However watching two children batter each other is not acceptable. I'll have to find this documentary..but i assure you... it's not common practice.

You trying to get my back up kid?

I hope not.


Anyway, I agree that kids shouldn't be allowed to compete until they are of an age to know what they are doing -but i think kickboxing, boxing...infact any sport/game should be taught to any age. The arguments have been mentioned here - influencing good health and fitness but also teaching them lessons about patience, persistance and detirmination... it also teaches them that if you practice and try enough at something, you WILL get better.

However watching two children batter each other is not acceptable. I'll have to find this documentary..but i assure you... it's not common practice.


Im just saying the truth. I had a few friends from England. They told me "they use to shower once every two weeks". I asked, "Isn't that dirty?". They said " thats really clean compared to other people in England".

Im not trying to stirr anything up here. But im just saying, its really cold there. There rugby league is terrible. Soccer seasons nearly over. There is pretty much nothing else to do in that country now.

:D

Im just saying the truth. I had a few friends from England. They told me "they use to shower once every two weeks". I asked, "Isn't that dirty?". They said " thats really clean compared to other people in England".

Im not trying to stirr anything up here. But im just saying, its really cold there. There rugby league is terrible. Soccer seasons nearly over. There is pretty much nothing else to do in that country now.

:D

I'm literally speechless.

You have a point, as the soccer season is over the whole nation should hibernate.

I saw crocodile dundee last night and frankly, i was glad I got a chance to see an insight into the everyday lives of Australians.

Ahh Crocodile Dundee, I love watching that on my portable DVD player whilst riding my pet Kangaroo to work each day

I'm literally speechless.

You have a point, as the soccer season is over the whole nation should hibernate.

I saw crocodile dundee last night and frankly, i was glad I got a chance to see an insight into the everyday lives of Australians.

I don't mean to be to harsh.

But what is there to do in England? I mean apart from being snowed in, having long jumpers and tracksuit pants on. And watching the royal family on the news.

I would much rather wake up, have a surf. Put my shorts on, a shirt, thongs. Drink some beer. Watch the NRL, then watch "fox sports news".

:D

Ahh Crocodile Dundee, I love watching that on my portable DVD player whilst riding my pet Kangaroo to work each day

We should trade kangaroos.

I don't mean to be to harsh.

But what is there to do in England? I mean apart from being snowed in, having long jumpers and tracksuit pants on. And watching the royal family on the news.

I would much rather wake up, have a surf. Put my shorts on, a shirt, thongs. Drink some beer. Watch the NRL, then watch "fox sports news".

:D

Exactly i was there for a month and wondered how they went throughout a day without wanting to jump in front of one of their tiny cars on their tiny roads. Seriously they have some **** drivers there, and even worst weather. But at least they have some decent soccer teams over there, apart from leeds, how could I choose to support them?

Im just saying the truth. I had a few friends from England. They told me "they use to shower once every two weeks". I asked, "Isn't that dirty?". They said " thats really clean compared to other people in England".
Im not trying to stirr anything up here. But im just saying, its really cold there. There rugby league is terrible. Soccer seasons nearly over. There is pretty much nothing else to do in that country now.

:D

hehehehe....

I don't mean to be to harsh.

But what is there to do in England? I mean apart from being snowed in, having long jumpers and tracksuit pants on. And watching the royal family on the news.

I would much rather wake up, have a surf. Put my shorts on, a shirt, thongs. Drink some beer. Watch the NRL, then watch "fox sports news".

:D

What a strange comment, England is a big place and obviously has a lot of things to do.

If you got bored here it's likely because you're a boring person. There is nothing you can do in Australia that you can't do here - and vice versa. Even surfing, watching NRL and fox sports news.

On second thoughts its unlikely you'll get a sun tan in England except for perhaps 2 weeks of the year...if you're lucky.

What a strange comment, England is a big place and obviously has a lot of things to do.

If you got bored here it's likely because you're a boring person. There is nothing you can do in Australia that you can't do here - and vice versa. Even surfing, watching NRL and fox sports news.

was just about to say that. but i didnt cause i ****ing hate england :nutkick:
;)

was just about to say that. but i didnt cause i ****ing hate england :nutkick:
;)

It seems alot of folk hate England, even the English... everyone is migrating to Oz, New Zealand or Canada.

Dare I say, many are jumping ship against the back drop of extremely lax immigration and high taxes. British folk get ****ed over by the government.

I'd be off now if i could, and hopefully will soon, Englands a bit of a ****hole.

I saw this advertised on the TV last night.

I'm intrigued, so i'll be watching.

Children as young as four are being plunged into the cutthroat arena of competitive kickboxing by over-zealous parents.

A new British television documentary shows young boys and girls trading blows in the bloodsport — with many breaking down in tears as parents harrass them from the sidelines.
In one instance, five-year-old girl Miah Flanagan is seen on the Channel 4 documentary wearing large punching gloves as she sobs beside the boxing ring.

Her twin brother Kian is later shown receiving a sharp knock to the face from his kickboxing partner.
The children's MuayThai boxing bouts happen within an adult-sized boxing ring, with parents shouting tips such as "come on Princess, go forward, kick 'em, kick 'em."

The documentary is screening in Britain this week.
Britain has no age restrictions for youngsters taking part in MuayThai boxing, which is taught by over 500 registered clubs around the country.

There are also no official rules about children wearing protective headgear.
The Flanagans' father, Darren, believes the hits his children are taking now will stand them in good stead for the future.
"If someone grabs Miah when she's 15, what do you think is going to happen?" he is quoted as saying in Britain's Daily Mail newspaper.
"Miah knows all the defence moves. Anyway [she] loves it — she's like a ballet dancer with boxing gloves at the moment."
Mr Flanagan said he fed his daughter more food to bulk her up if she was facing an older or heavier opponent.


In Australia, children must be at least 14 years old to compete in Thai boxing, according to kickboxing association president Robert Murdoch.
But there are no age limits on kids taking part in other martial arts, he said.

Link please?

Link please?

it's true.I got it from the nine msn website, and there will be a documentary on it soon.

It seems alot of folk hate England, even the English... everyone is migrating to Oz, New Zealand or Canada.

Dare I say, many are jumping ship against the back drop of extremely lax immigration and high taxes. British folk get ****ed over by the government.

whose got higher taxes the uk or australia?

Yeah i saw it on today tonight as well

The pommys do have one good thing going for them.

"Days of our lives". Not a bad show once you follow it.

The pommys do have one good thing going for them.

"Days of our lives". Not a bad show once you follow it.

Your kidding right? Personally i'd rather fight a bear and have a good chance of dieing than watching that show.

Your kidding right? Personally i'd rather fight a bear and have a good chance of dieing than watching that show.

LOL i was taking the piss man.

:D

That would sell some tickets though. I think some guy from NSB had an idea of Tyson vs a Gorilla lol. And he kept going on about it. He said he had sold like 900 tickets at $40.

haha it defently would sell some tickets, man I would charge way more than $40 a pop, PPV would be $60, so prime tickets would be in the thousands ;)

I just watched it...to be honest... it wasn't that bad.

The only grievance i have is the lack of organisation. A governing body should have been present to make sure rules and the amount of protection was of standard.

Other than that... it wasn't THAT shocking.. the kids loved it.

I watched this programme tonight, i didnt see anything shocking or disturbing, as mickyb said the kids loved it:banana:

The parents were responsible and ok too... although a little tough on them for not peforming to there best... they were concerned with safety etc...

I wouldn't mind watching it myself.