Mixed martial arts would have saved Lionel Tate
You might remember Lionel - at 13 he was sentenced to life in prison for the death of 6 year-old Tiffany Eunick that occurred in 1999. While Lionel’s notorious conviction was overturned, his path to trouble seemed inevitable. On May 18th of this year, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison for gun possession, the latest (and saddest) chapter in this youth’s troubled life.
Observing this sad story and being an enthusiast of jiu jitsu and MMA, I can’t help but think that this fast growing and explosive sport could have been Tate’s saving grace, as it has been and can be for many a troubled youth. Sadly, Tate’s story is not singular in our culture. Gangs are rampant in our cities and violent crimes committed by young people is an epidemic spiraling out of control – often leading to reactionary outcomes like the initial Tate sentencing.
As a society, we must look for viable, sensible solutions for our “at risk” society. Training in mixed martial arts can provide a distraction and safe avenue away from the dangers of life on the street, and the lessons of humility and discipline can ultimately save a person from themselves. These benefits themselves far outweigh the often misplaced criticism aimed at the sport, portrayed by opponents as unsafe, ultra-violent, and as “human cockfighting”.
Take Treavan Buendia, an 18 year old from Hawaii. As a sophomore, Treavan was well on his way to a life of trouble, always fighting and skipping school. Already a wrestler, he discovered judo, an experience that changed his life. “This sport keeps you humble,’’ he said in a recent interview. “We are fighting every day practicing, so why do you want to fight on the street? It doesn’t make sense. I used to get in fights and not go to class, all the bad things...because I wanted to compete, I needed the grades, so I had to go to class. It has really helped me straighten out my life.” The soon-to-be graduate now sports a B average and is on the way to college.
The benefit of martial arts for youth is not new. In 2002, a school program designed by a group headed by psychotherapist Dr. Stuart Twemlow, which included a martial arts program for students, was cited by the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA): “Its martial arts component is a way of meeting the needs of youth and channeling aggression into appropriate avenues of expression.”
Indeed, like oil, our society is seemingly addicted to violence and it is promoted to our younger generation via all types of entertainment. Thus, inevitably they act out violently as well. From gangbangers to soccer fans, young people are going to fight anyway, anywhere, and over anything. With jiu jitsu, for example, a person learns to channel natural aggression, learns the importance of the philosophical as well as the physical, and, ironically, by training to fight or just compete, learns to be a better person. Additionally, the concepts of family, camaraderie, and respect that one might look for in a gang are easily found among trainee-teammates as well as the traditional teacher-pupil relationship
In our own Colorado backyard, Mike Nickels, a rising MMA star and jiu jitsu champion who can be seen this season on Spike TV’s “The Ultimate Fighter”, is yet another example of the positive impact of the world of mixed martial arts. Mike does not hesitate to share his passionate perspective of jiu jitsu which helped him mature from small-time thug to being a father, husband, and business owner. He talks about the “mathematics” of life being reflected in the art and how the more he trained to fight, the more he learned about humility, finding harmony, and discipline - all the things that are antithetical to fighting and violence.
More and more institutes are taking the youth cause, further obliterating the bad image of mixed martial arts. In Denver, the Grapplers Edge Academy, home of national jiu jitsu team champions, has trained high school wrestlers for years, and in Aurora, the Family Martial Arts Center’s youth black belt program includes the requirement of 40 acts of kindness, and correcting 3 wrongs done in one’s life.
Imagine the impact mixed martial arts would have had on a young Lionel Tate. Imagine a 12 year old with trophy or medal in place of a murder conviction. Imagine, some sweat, some tears, and 40 acts of kindness in place of a robbery or gun possession. Imagine Lionel Tate on his way to college, and imagine Tiffany Eunick celebrating her 13th birthday.
Observing this sad story and being an enthusiast of jiu jitsu and MMA, I can’t help but think that this fast growing and explosive sport could have been Tate’s saving grace, as it has been and can be for many a troubled youth. Sadly, Tate’s story is not singular in our culture. Gangs are rampant in our cities and violent crimes committed by young people is an epidemic spiraling out of control – often leading to reactionary outcomes like the initial Tate sentencing.
As a society, we must look for viable, sensible solutions for our “at risk” society. Training in mixed martial arts can provide a distraction and safe avenue away from the dangers of life on the street, and the lessons of humility and discipline can ultimately save a person from themselves. These benefits themselves far outweigh the often misplaced criticism aimed at the sport, portrayed by opponents as unsafe, ultra-violent, and as “human cockfighting”.
Take Treavan Buendia, an 18 year old from Hawaii. As a sophomore, Treavan was well on his way to a life of trouble, always fighting and skipping school. Already a wrestler, he discovered judo, an experience that changed his life. “This sport keeps you humble,’’ he said in a recent interview. “We are fighting every day practicing, so why do you want to fight on the street? It doesn’t make sense. I used to get in fights and not go to class, all the bad things...because I wanted to compete, I needed the grades, so I had to go to class. It has really helped me straighten out my life.” The soon-to-be graduate now sports a B average and is on the way to college.
The benefit of martial arts for youth is not new. In 2002, a school program designed by a group headed by psychotherapist Dr. Stuart Twemlow, which included a martial arts program for students, was cited by the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA): “Its martial arts component is a way of meeting the needs of youth and channeling aggression into appropriate avenues of expression.”
Indeed, like oil, our society is seemingly addicted to violence and it is promoted to our younger generation via all types of entertainment. Thus, inevitably they act out violently as well. From gangbangers to soccer fans, young people are going to fight anyway, anywhere, and over anything. With jiu jitsu, for example, a person learns to channel natural aggression, learns the importance of the philosophical as well as the physical, and, ironically, by training to fight or just compete, learns to be a better person. Additionally, the concepts of family, camaraderie, and respect that one might look for in a gang are easily found among trainee-teammates as well as the traditional teacher-pupil relationship
In our own Colorado backyard, Mike Nickels, a rising MMA star and jiu jitsu champion who can be seen this season on Spike TV’s “The Ultimate Fighter”, is yet another example of the positive impact of the world of mixed martial arts. Mike does not hesitate to share his passionate perspective of jiu jitsu which helped him mature from small-time thug to being a father, husband, and business owner. He talks about the “mathematics” of life being reflected in the art and how the more he trained to fight, the more he learned about humility, finding harmony, and discipline - all the things that are antithetical to fighting and violence.
More and more institutes are taking the youth cause, further obliterating the bad image of mixed martial arts. In Denver, the Grapplers Edge Academy, home of national jiu jitsu team champions, has trained high school wrestlers for years, and in Aurora, the Family Martial Arts Center’s youth black belt program includes the requirement of 40 acts of kindness, and correcting 3 wrongs done in one’s life.
Imagine the impact mixed martial arts would have had on a young Lionel Tate. Imagine a 12 year old with trophy or medal in place of a murder conviction. Imagine, some sweat, some tears, and 40 acts of kindness in place of a robbery or gun possession. Imagine Lionel Tate on his way to college, and imagine Tiffany Eunick celebrating her 13th birthday.
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