MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) and Violence

David Mayeda, PhD has written another article about violence in our society and the role that mixed martial arts plays. The article is an overview of a presentation he was asked to give at a conference in Minnesota, where there has been an increase in teen violence “that stems from MMA’s rising popularity in the region.”

Mayeda begins with the definition of violence by the World Health Organization.

As defined by the World Health Organization, “Violence is the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, which either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment, or deprivation.”

Mayeda is a fan of MMA. Even so, he states,

“Even as fans of MMA, we must admit that the sport is a form of violence.

He continues by looking at various examples of violence that we find in society, ranging in severity from genocide, homicide, economic sanctions, and the excessive degree of drug violence currently transpiring across Mexico to media violence, such as cartoons. Then he moves on to look at how we assign severity and how we often justify violent acts.

But again, how we assign severity to acts of violence is a subjective process, frequently dependent upon our own experiences. Furthermore, those who perpetrate and/or support violence (in whatever form it comes), almost always try to find a way to justify its existence. Murderers can attempt to justify their behavior by claiming insanity. Dictators can try to justify genocide by defining a group/race of people as inferior. Movie producers may justify violent images as being fake entertainment. And sports owners/coaches can justify athletic risks as part of the game.

We also tend to justify violence by comparing its seriousness to other, perhaps more severe acts of violence. Those in the MMA industry (including myself) do this all the time: “Well, MMA is not as dangerous as boxing or football or a street fight.”

Next comes the very accurate observation that our society glamorizes violence, with almost all of the “role models” being male. He comes to a conclusion about how the trend has come about and how it is perpetuated.

Considering these trends in the media, it is not surprising that so many males grow up wanting to embody the violent hero who saves the day, the renegade “bad boy,” or even the violent sports star. Just as Hollywood media glamorizes violence, so does the sports industry. How often have you watched NFL highlights on ESPN over and over in order to keep seeing the same wicked Ray Lewis hit? And while the NFL is expanding its rule base to help prevent injuries, the increasing speed, power, and size that continues to characterize athletes makes sports injury prevention impossible.

A powerful quote, Mayeda mentions the difference between violence in other sports and violence specifically in mixed martial arts.

Manipulating people to fight for spectators and profit is an age old enterprise historically frowned upon. … More than any other sport, MMA perpetuates this level of violent irresponsibility.

Mayeda even mentions an MTV reality show in which mixed martial artists beat up bullies. He asks us,

“Should professional mixed martial artists and MMA as a sport be used as a violent arbitrator of supposed moral justice? Does sport exist as a means to problem solve and teach lessons through cyclical forms of humiliation?

Mayeda claims that there are upstanding role models in the MMA industry, but that only their athletic prowess is promoted by the major organizations. Surprisingly, he seems disappointed and surprised at the absence of promotion of non-violent conflict resolution in the world of MMA. The reader may ask however, how one could possibly expect to find promotion of peaceful conflict resolution outside the ring, when the MMA community exercises the very opposite of that inside the ring.

He provides us with only one example of a professional mixed martial artist who championed the peaceful resolution of conflict.

In 2008, a young woman in Hawaii was killed by her ex-boyfriend in public. … Executives from MMAHawaii.com saw the suspect on the news and realized he was a frequent spectator at local MMA events and therefore, initiated partnerships with the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (HSCADV) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

The partnership with HSCADV yielded this add:

Pictured (photo courtesy of MMAHawaii.com) is MMA fighter Kala “Kolohe” Hose with his daughter. The caption reads: “Love your daughter. You want to give her the world. Start by treating her mother with respect. Real fighters keep it in the ring.”

In conclusion, Mayeda shares his wish for the future of MMA: that “MMA organizations, media entities, fighters, and fans initiate greater levels of social responsibility.”

Hmmm… Critics might ask if participation in MMA in itself is perhaps actually a demonstration of a lack of social responsibility.

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David Mayeda, PhD, is lead author of Fighting for Acceptance: Mixed Martial Artists and Violence in American Society, the first political book on mixed martial arts that attempts to reform the sport by increasing violence prevention measures through interviews with forty mixed martial artists, including Randy Couture, Dan Henderson, Guy Mezger, Antonio McKee, Chris Leben, “Rampage” Jackson, “Mayhem” Miller, Travis Lutter, and Frank Trigg. Dr. Mayeda has also published numerous academic journal articles on youth violence prevention and discrimination in sports media.
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