Is this an anti MMA thread? As others have said kids have done this sort of stuff probabably for ever! I imagine stone age kids were copying the adults hunting in whatever the equivalant of a backyard was. Of course it's sturpid! It's kids!
I agree with Brian. This is not anit MMA. What it is, is a discussion of kids who are putting their lives at risk! I wrestled with my friends when I was young, but the difference was, is that my parents explained fact from fiction. In the WWE or other pro wrestling events, these guys are trained on how to properly land. When the 13 yo kid does a throw like he saw on tv, to his 13 yo buddy, and his 13 yo buddy breaks his neck, then what?
As I said in another post, if these kids are a) really interested in competing and b) attending a legit school and not learning from a tape, there are a number of events out there which are safe and still provide a competitive environment.
Mike