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Dad Who Let Daughter, 8, Kickbox in Aussie Match Has Fight on His Hands
Filed under: In The News
A little girl who dreams of being a kickboxer when she grows up may be a bit unusual, but we can get behind that. Oh, you say her dad is a world kickboxing champ? Well, that makes even more sense.
But putting her in the boxing ring for a three-round fight in front of a paying crowd? Now, that's got folks crying crikey.
Australia's John Wayne Parr is drawing some serious boos after he allowed Jasmine, his 8-year-old daughter, to fight a 7-year-old in the ring, "Today" reports.
"When I grow up I want to be like my mom and dad," Jasmine tells the show. "My kicks are getting harder and harder every day."
"Today" reports Jasmine cried after the first three-minute round of the controversial bout after being knocked down, but the girl got back in the ring and the match ended in a draw.
The fight has drawn harsh criticism, according to the show.
"We had a girl aged 9 who was hospitalized due to a significant concussion as a result of boxing," Dr. Kellie Wilson of Sydney Children's Hospital tells "Today."
Parr says he wasn't expecting the backlash.
"I'm a good guy," he tells "Today." "I wouldn't put my own flesh and blood in the ring unless I thought it was 100 percent safe."
British national kickboxing champ Amanda Kelly backs him up.
"It's a great way of teaching them to have confidence, coordination, balance, " she tells "Today" of kickboxing for kids.
Jasmine tells "Today" she wants a big trophy one day -- but she doesn't want to hit the ring again until she's 10.
"I think that my dad and my mom are good parents and I think they would never push me into something," the girl tells the show.
What do you think? Should parents let young kids duke it out? Leave a comment below!
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 4)
7-12-2011 @ 8:08PM
M.A.Korman said...I think this is disgusting,what kind of parent would encourage his child to participate in a violent sport like this.
Reply
7-12-2011 @ 9:18PM
Wsulli said...I think you should mind your own business.
7-12-2011 @ 10:11PM
Pocholo13 said...this is a sport like any other,it teaches discipline,commitment,character etc....stop it. I bet that girl it's not going to be a over weight brat like most kids here
7-13-2011 @ 3:16AM
David said...I don't know why this would be bad. I mean we let parents dress their girls up like whores for pageants. Other than the parents enjoying the child molesters get a thrill. Have you seen those shows. Most of the girls don't even want to be doing it. This girl wants to do it. Boys play tackle football when they are young and without pads. Are you going to drive around the neighborhoods to stop it or call the cops to stop it. We are setting to many rules and limits on our society while we allow other things to go like real crimes.
7-13-2011 @ 4:44AM
leaf said...Parents let kids as young as 6 play football and in some cases as I have seen with some of my good friends coming up they are "FORCED" to play by dear Old Dad to make them men as they were told. I see no difference here, if the girl is good with it then fine.
7-12-2011 @ 8:16PM
Jean said...Any parent who lets their child into the kickboxing ring under the age of 16 should have that child taken away from them....no questions asked.
Reply
7-12-2011 @ 11:37PM
Dita said...Have the child taken away because a parent puts their child in a sport that teaches discipline, confidence, and builds self-esteem? Yes, it is a physical sport, like any other sport such as basketball, football and volleyball. But if you did any research, which you clearly have not, more athletes are injured playing football, basketball, soccer and any other "traditional" sport than any type of martial arts.
7-13-2011 @ 2:51AM
K said...Kick boxing is a violent sport. For self defense ok, but not to enter your child in competition. Brain damage is very likly to happen and put emotional stress in that childs life. Should be banned for those under 18.
7-12-2011 @ 8:20PM
cozycall said...I say an eight year old girl is too young to make the choice herself. And a parent would be misguiding their child by allowing her to compete. There's plenty on time for the Dad to boast and show-off his childs talent after she grows up a little and learns how to defend and protect herself from serious injury.
Reply
7-12-2011 @ 10:55PM
youthere said...I work next to a karate dojo for kids and they have 4,5,6, yo children and some older. Those classes appear to be large. Are all those parents to be taken from their children?...Where do we end that madness? Parents of children who play rough sports like soccer or football? Parents who encourage their children to play baseball? Shall we orfan all children who get involved in things YOU don't understand? Your free country allows you to raise YOUR child in whatever stupid way YOU want....so let these people be to raise their children as they wish. In this case...confident and self reliant.
7-12-2011 @ 8:24PM
sue said...Perfectly safe, huh? The girl says her kicks are "getting harder and harder each day". That is not as bad as the guy on America's Got Talent that lets his kids ride motorcycles at the same time, upside-down at a fast speed inside a large metal ball. All for entertainment and money. Shouldn't child services be called?
Reply
7-12-2011 @ 8:24PM
sue said...I suppose I wouldn't have such a problem with it if the children were at least in their teens when they started the sport.
Reply
7-12-2011 @ 10:36PM
yogi said...M.A.Korman said... I think this is disgusting
Jean said... Any parent who lets their child into the kickboxing ring under the age of 16 should have that child taken away from them....no questions asked
and Sue...
IM a grandpa of 4 little Girls and they have all played sports from 8 to 13 years old like baseball. Football an we all know that we read about kids being killed or hurt real bad for life. IM not saying this is a good sport IM saying its like any other sport if the kid likes it they do it if they don't they cry about it till they quit. O and the worth sport out there for little GIRLS is when you dress them up like little dolls an put them on a stage an then later on in life they cant be that little doll and they hurt them self's
7-12-2011 @ 8:29PM
Jean Bailey said...Someone should kick box YOU in the head for posting something that has NOTHING to do with the story!
Reply
7-12-2011 @ 8:30PM
Jean Bailey said...You should also be kick boxed in the head for posting something that has NOTHING to do with this story!
Reply
7-13-2011 @ 8:23AM
danny said...if you bought a 250.00 lowes card for 48.00 it is a card derived from stolen merchandise.
Reply
7-12-2011 @ 8:51PM
RPF said...Wow! Violent sport! Any type of Martial Arts is great for any kid at any age. Started my daughter at the age of 4. She has trained and competed in all Arts. I am sure if she did not want to compete her father and mother would pull her out.
Have there child taken away,please. These days young lady's need to learn how to protect themselfs. Mommy and Daddy will not always be there!
This is a great way to condition kids. Or should we just let them all go over weight. Or maybe they can look up to all these great sport figures we have now a days.
Reply
7-12-2011 @ 8:55PM
JLBradford said...7.12.11
People are so foolish, why in the 'hell' is teaching a child martial
arts any worse than taking them on a shooting range and shoving
a gun in their hand and teaching them to shoot? There are certain
value judgements and specific skills that you learn along with martial arts that you don't necessarily pick up shooting a gun.
Anyone skilled in the martial arts will know what I am talking
about. Anyway, with proper teaching, a child should develope
as well as they would learning any other skill. The secret is
having the right teacher and choosing the martial art that is
suitable for the particular child.
Reply
7-12-2011 @ 9:05PM
Tina said...Dont we have enough violence in America and all over the world? ENOUGH ALL READY!!!!!!!!!!
Reply
7-12-2011 @ 9:10PM
paolo said...shes wearing gloves, headgear and shin guards. theres probably more risk in teaching her how to ride a bike. kids her age in thailand fight without that gear regularly, and support entire families doing it. john wayne parr is a fairly well known and successful thai boxer on the international circuit. i doubt he'd have his daughter competing in marital arts if he thought she wasnt able to do it safely. this is such a non story, its a joke.
Reply