would it be possible to have a high school mixed martial arts program?

Answer 1

Although that seems like an awesome idea, I don't think it could ever really work. You could argue that MMA is not much different from amateur wrestling, but the administrators at your school would probably look at the UFC and Pride Fighting, note their violent fights, and immediately shoot down the idea. Obviously this program would not be anything like UFC or Pride, but having any relation to those two organizations would probably make people nervous. Also, getting coaches for the program would probably be pretty difficult.

You should still ask at least. I wish this kind of thing would have been thought of when I was in high school, I would have joined in a heart beat.

Answer 2

I seriously doubt it, Mixed Martial Arts is not a TRUE DISCIPLINE, the only thing an individual does is study two SEPARATE Martial Arts disciplines (the two most prevalent disciplines being Jujitsu, Brazilian or Japanese as a ground fighting discipline and Muay Thai as a standing game fighting discipline) and learning them at the same time for one product: a baseline rounded fighter.

take Matt Hughes for example, he wrestled in highschool and college, so learning Jujitsu was certainly no stretch for him because with his Greco-Roman Wrestling background, he was already comfortable being on the mats.

So all he had to do was learn the standing game side of the fight which meant learning Western Kickboxing or Muay Thai because their the bare bones of Martial Arts.

ANYONE who has studied more than one discipline can be considered a MIXED Martial Artist

but no, I don't think that it would be welcomed that well into the Phys Ed curriculum for highschool especially by the school board (not to mention the parents), partly due to the severe injuries that a competitor could receive that can be particularly dangerous, and from an insurance standpoint, the school's insurance carrier would likely drop them because it would be far too risky for their premiums.

Martial Arts as a sport in school has always been a very difficult subject to address because there're so many different disciplines and different ways they are governed about how it should be regulated or run.

Answer 3

I'm gonna side with the "Not likely" answers.

Getting the more established, traditional forms of martial arts set up is almost impossible. Aside from that, if just one or two of those who would be able to approve it have seen UFC or similar competitions, they would say it is too brutal a sport to offer high school kids. Some parents would also veto it for the same reason.

Even if it weren't for that.... To my knowledge, there isn't a collective program among different school districts to offer competitions, so it would be like trying to train kids for trainings sake. Given all the educational programs that are cut (artistic, music, less accepted sports, etc.) because they don't offer other benefits (in other words, they don't bring money into the school programs), a program that doesn't offer more than the disciple and training the students would get isn't likely to make it.

Answer 4

Yes, it is possible and it has been done in several schools as either an Intramural program or as an extension of their Phys Ed classes.
I, too, suggest that you talk to your Principal and also your Physical Education teacher about this...maybe even your Wrestling coach. Martial Arts is no more dangerous than a wrestling team, and can have far more benefits than a wrestling program. Concentrate on the fact that martial arts in general is an atheletic activity that can have great benefits to health. Nevermind that it is self defense, the school officials will be more inclined to pay attention to you if you propose it as an atheletic thing.
Maybe even talk to your martial arts instructor and see about having a demonstration at your high school. It would be a good way for the Dojo to drum up some business and helpful to the students of the high school.
Hope this helps you...

Answer 5

I doubt a high school would pick up a MMA program. The liability insurance would be a huge turn off for the school. Also when allocating the funding for programs team competition is an important factor. You can have wrestling tournaments with other schools, football games and so on for other potentially dangerous sports but I couldn't imagine high schools taking their students to an MMA tournament. You would be better off training for these separately and competing in Grappling tournaments or Pankration fights ( a milder version of MMA ) these will have teen divisions.

Good Luck

Answer 6

Stanford is tough but if you excel at sports like Richard Sherman and Doug Baldwin, you can get in. I do not care what any school says, it is about the money and filling the stands and not about GPA. PERIOD

Answer 7

Its possible but not likely to happen , liability and other injury insurance would cost so much .

Answer 8

yeah..........good luck at that.

imagine all the politics you would have to face with the school board, the school superintendents, and the hardest of them all........the parents.

Answer 9

talk to the principal of the highschool. they should be able to help you out! i see no reason that it isn't possible...