Getting into a ring and have grown men watch as two human beings beat one another into bloody submission or give one of them a concussion is barbaric. And I thought girls were smarter than boys.
6
I am amazed to see the lack of sensitivity, and encouragement for someone that is doing what they love.As a father, I can see the concern that some may have. But we shouldn't be quick to judge because we don't know the full behind the scenes story.Everyone here is basing their opinions on what? a 6 min video of young boxer? Would the comments have been any different if the child was a boy? The mere fact that some of you are quick to judge not just the father, suggesting that his child should be taken away from him and or that he should be arrested, calling him "dopey"; goes to show the lack of knowledge, compassion and willingness to have an open mind. Look past the sport she is in, and take a look at the big picture. She has a father who is supporting something that she loves regardless of what others, like you, think. I am sure that Laila Ali probably had the same issues when she jumped into boxing. Look at her now..
Perhaps those of you that only look at the negative side of this, should question the choices that you've made on your own lives and those of your children, if you have them. Or perhaps you should do your research before making assumptions.Did you know that Giselle Salandy made her professional boxing debut at the age of 13! When she was 27 (that's 14 years later in boxing) she won the NABC World Title on 9/23/2005.Had it not been for her passing away in a car accident in 2009, I am guessing she would still be around to comment on JessZilla!
Perhaps those of you that only look at the negative side of this, should question the choices that you've made on your own lives and those of your children, if you have them. Or perhaps you should do your research before making assumptions.Did you know that Giselle Salandy made her professional boxing debut at the age of 13! When she was 27 (that's 14 years later in boxing) she won the NABC World Title on 9/23/2005.Had it not been for her passing away in a car accident in 2009, I am guessing she would still be around to comment on JessZilla!
4
This is crazy!! It would take too long to explain to her Dad that her brains are already being scrambled as the result of her boxing. It is a medical fact
He should book some time with a neurosurgeon to discuss this....he will get the fright of his life!
He should book some time with a neurosurgeon to discuss this....he will get the fright of his life!
9
Interesting that next article is about abuse at Choate. I never understood boxing and I think putting your ten-year-old child's health at this kind of risk should be illegal (or is illegal)!
9
Girl or boy, how safe is it to let children with developing brain engage in a sport known to cause traumatic brain injury through repeated head blows? I'm all for breaking down barriers in school, military service, sports, science, politics, and business, but perhaps there are better barriers to break than boxing.
8
There is a vast amount of evidence that boxing is extremely bad for your brain. A large portion of the sport involves working on hitting your opponent's head - hard. People get concussions - or worse - on a regular basis.
Why is this good for ANY ten year old child, male or female? She is one or two hits away from an incident she may spend a lifetime regretting...
Why is this good for ANY ten year old child, male or female? She is one or two hits away from an incident she may spend a lifetime regretting...
4
Must we continue to fool ourselves into thinking that boxing is actually a
"sport " . It's barbaric , violent and cruel .
Shame on our country for continuing to promulgate the mistaken notion that this primal and sadistic " sport " is in any way civilized , as we watch the Romans cheer the gladiators on .
We wonder why Europeans think Americans have no class. It's because we don't.
Special thanks to our so called president for reinforcing that .
"sport " . It's barbaric , violent and cruel .
Shame on our country for continuing to promulgate the mistaken notion that this primal and sadistic " sport " is in any way civilized , as we watch the Romans cheer the gladiators on .
We wonder why Europeans think Americans have no class. It's because we don't.
Special thanks to our so called president for reinforcing that .
9
This should be outlawed. She still has a developing brain, and it should not be subjected to such trauma. The effects could damage her for life.
Aside from that, I have concerns about teaching girls to be aggressive. It's bad enough that boys are that way.
Aside from that, I have concerns about teaching girls to be aggressive. It's bad enough that boys are that way.
6
Very sad. All the protective equipment in the world will not prevent her from getting her brains scrambled.
26
This passes for news?
A 10 year old getting her head pushed in while her dopey parents look on in admiration?
This is a great example why there should be a test before you're able to have children. Some people are just not mentally equipped.
Child services should be contacted.
A 10 year old getting her head pushed in while her dopey parents look on in admiration?
This is a great example why there should be a test before you're able to have children. Some people are just not mentally equipped.
Child services should be contacted.
22
With "Girl Boxer" Ms. Sheskin cloaks her criminal exploitation of a 10 year old child, a Hispanic female, in technical sophistication and technique. Worse yet, the NYT passes off her fancy infomercial as legitimate art.
Is such promotion despite?, because?, or irrespective? of its attempt to legitimate and normalization a form of child exploitation that poses a marketing challenge, a hard sell.
Is such promotion despite?, because?, or irrespective? of its attempt to legitimate and normalization a form of child exploitation that poses a marketing challenge, a hard sell.
10
As a girl, I was explicitly taught to dampen any feelings of aggression. As an adult, I have taken up boxing, just for fun. It's been a revelation. I feel powerful, alive. I have learned my own strength and that I can take a blow, recover, and land blows on my partner. It's increased my confidence, my agility, and oddly enough, has been a good outlet for natural aggression. I leave a boxing workout feeling relaxed. I appreciate the concerns for head injuries that many are raising, but I can't help but admire this girls passion, and I hope she is able to channel it for many years to come.
9
There appear to be no stats on concussions for 10 year old female boxers. But I have watched boys of that age fight, and I haven't seen a head blow that resulted in any whiplash. 10 year old boys just lack the strength to throw forceful punches. And they all throw short jabs, You almost never see hooks, which have more force. The leading cause of childhood concussions isn't blows to the head. It is head injuries from falls. And the statistics about child boxing that I have seen focus on those near age 18.
For this young girl. boxing is about dedication, excellence, and family bonding. She appears to come from an environment where that has particular value. And her father is wisely hesitant to see her continue to an age where head injuries are a problem. Of course, the girl talks about going pro. But that won't happen without substantial family support. I say the family is on the right track for now, and I think they have earned the right to manage their daughter's boxing to maximize the benefits and minimize the potential harm.
For this young girl. boxing is about dedication, excellence, and family bonding. She appears to come from an environment where that has particular value. And her father is wisely hesitant to see her continue to an age where head injuries are a problem. Of course, the girl talks about going pro. But that won't happen without substantial family support. I say the family is on the right track for now, and I think they have earned the right to manage their daughter's boxing to maximize the benefits and minimize the potential harm.
7
This is a most bizarre note. I was not aware that anyone still believed that CTE is all about the number of concussions. There is substantial information, and it is well publicized, that one can easily get CTE with never a concussion. This is not a new story, lots of boxers have slurred speech without ever getting knocked out. The notion that children hit each other with less force than adults do is interesting but hardly crelevant given how much is known about the vulnerability of the childhood brain to all sorts of insults. There are certain generalities known to anyone paying attention; pregnant women should avoid anything that could ever be thought to be teratogenic, and children should avoid anything that might impact brain development.
12
Insane. Do we really need more, overly aggressive people in the world, men or women? It's not nearly as dramatic, but quietly studying for an exam would be far more productive for this young woman then getting brain damaged by boxing.
11
wait 20 years and see what the after effects on the body and brain are from all those blows to the head. Hope the NY Times does a follow up then.
19
I can only hope this young girl changes her sport before she enters puberty.
7
With everything we know about traumatic brain injury, no child should be in the ring, ever.
24
Really interesting. Violence in sports by men is very properly decried as the major issue that it is. A 10 yr old child participating in a brutal sport traditionally dominated by men for thousands of years is lauded and encouraged because of her gender. Reverse double standard? Outright sexism? Complete logical short circuit?
I think boxing is a great healthy sport for kids as is most of the marital arts as long as it has limits to only friendly sparring. It builds strength and self esteem, strong body, strong mind. It great to see this talented girl perfect her art.
I did this to some degree when I was young. I loved punching the speed bag, body bag, going through the challenges of the workouts, lite sparring, no head shots, shadow boxing, etc. But, with that said, my plan was never to get in the ring with anyone who could take my head off, which was everyone, anyone. I just stuck to the basic workouts. Never had any desire to beat someone, win a title or a gold metal. But I walked tall with self confidence and a calmness of satisfaction.
I Hope this father can talk to his daughter and explain the certain dangers that await her, the risks that are not worth the rewards. Take her to an American Ninja Warrior Gym where she can find all the challenges she can master without hurting herself or anyone else...
I did this to some degree when I was young. I loved punching the speed bag, body bag, going through the challenges of the workouts, lite sparring, no head shots, shadow boxing, etc. But, with that said, my plan was never to get in the ring with anyone who could take my head off, which was everyone, anyone. I just stuck to the basic workouts. Never had any desire to beat someone, win a title or a gold metal. But I walked tall with self confidence and a calmness of satisfaction.
I Hope this father can talk to his daughter and explain the certain dangers that await her, the risks that are not worth the rewards. Take her to an American Ninja Warrior Gym where she can find all the challenges she can master without hurting herself or anyone else...
3
Wow, what a tough little girl! I can tell she I'd doing what SHE loves, despite any negative commentaries from the peanut gallery. Should she be baking or cleaning the house? Would that make YOU feel better? Get with the times. Equal opportunity. Gender roles are out the door!
I'm getting tired of reading these comments from PC parents. Please! She's bright, charismatic, empowered, hardworking, inspired, etc.. she's not in a "fight club" she's not training for MMA. She's boxing, safely. Her father said boxing wasn't forever. This is merely a stepping stone. At least she knows what good sportsmanship is about. At least she's active, which is more than I could say for the average "couch potato" kid on his phone or game console. Opinions are like elbows, everyone's got one!
I'm getting tired of reading these comments from PC parents. Please! She's bright, charismatic, empowered, hardworking, inspired, etc.. she's not in a "fight club" she's not training for MMA. She's boxing, safely. Her father said boxing wasn't forever. This is merely a stepping stone. At least she knows what good sportsmanship is about. At least she's active, which is more than I could say for the average "couch potato" kid on his phone or game console. Opinions are like elbows, everyone's got one!
5
You might like to check out Nicola Adams, UK Olympic gold at 2012 and 2016. She's got a good story and is an entertaining interviewee. She's just turned professional. Makes a great comparison and good advice on progression.
1
The number of brain injuries people suffer who engage in boxing, like football, is sufficient to say that this "sport" should be banned as dangerous for males or females. There is no point whatever to risk a person's health like this. If a child wants to engage in a martial art there are many that don't carry such a risk, and just as physically challenging. The father in this story will rue the day he allowed and encouraged his child to participate.
26
She makes me proud to be from New Jersey. I bet she does a lot for the self esteem of other kids too. Both boys and girls. I hear a lot about how demanding this sport can be. But so can baseball, basketball, football.. it's amazing how far we've come, in regards to feminism and women's liberation. Seems like many would rather her do something more domestic..like cooking or cleaning. No. That's ridiculous.
Let Jesselyn follow her dreams. Her dad seems supportive of her aspirations. Let them be. Mind your business. Don't like it? Don't watch it. I'm pretty sure little girls who like to play basketball, were told the same thing. You can't or shouldn't do it. It's not ladylike or some antiquated way of thinking. This is the future. We have women serving our country too! Are you against female soldiers as well? They seem to be doing a great job a protecting us! Is boxing more demanding than being a soldier? I think not. Kudos Jesselyn! We will support you in anyway possible! Big hugs, we wish you lots of success! :)
Let Jesselyn follow her dreams. Her dad seems supportive of her aspirations. Let them be. Mind your business. Don't like it? Don't watch it. I'm pretty sure little girls who like to play basketball, were told the same thing. You can't or shouldn't do it. It's not ladylike or some antiquated way of thinking. This is the future. We have women serving our country too! Are you against female soldiers as well? They seem to be doing a great job a protecting us! Is boxing more demanding than being a soldier? I think not. Kudos Jesselyn! We will support you in anyway possible! Big hugs, we wish you lots of success! :)
5
The goal of basketball is not to punch somebody so hard that he or she is knocked out. Brain injury is serious.
1
Is it too much to hope that the New York Times, America's foremost liberal daily and a bastion of enlightenment, will become the site of discussions about helping society outgrow boxing instead of celebrating the entry of women and girls into the ring?
It's not just about protecting children from injury. We ought to feel that a "sport" in which people try to land staggering blows on each other, if not beat each other senseless, is unworthy of us.
Of course, I may be biased. I was watching the night Emil Griffith beat Benny "Kid" Paret to death on the ropes.
http://thefamilyproperty.blogspot.jp/
It's not just about protecting children from injury. We ought to feel that a "sport" in which people try to land staggering blows on each other, if not beat each other senseless, is unworthy of us.
Of course, I may be biased. I was watching the night Emil Griffith beat Benny "Kid" Paret to death on the ropes.
http://thefamilyproperty.blogspot.jp/
11
Wow. I also witnessed real-time the Friday night fight in which Griffith pummelled Benny "Kid" Paret to death. I was appx 10 years old at the time and it completely traumatized me against the practice of not wearing proper headgear during prize fights.
1
So she too can suffer the effects of a concussion. Great! Keep punching!
15
OK, I will try to get this posted again in spite of the NYT censors who obviously don't like criticism of The Gray Lady:
WHY is The New York Times glorifying and promoting a sport that has been proven to cause severe brain damage -- especially where a 10-year-old is involved?
Shame.
WHY is The New York Times glorifying and promoting a sport that has been proven to cause severe brain damage -- especially where a 10-year-old is involved?
Shame.
29
The drive, focus and maturity are inspiring. Yes, the potential health risk over a period of time is concerning, but that's something she can factor into her thought process as she progresses. For now, she's a brace, strong little woman. You go girl!
1
I am concerned about repetitive head injury to that little girl.
8
Boxing and being Punch Drunk
The primary goal in boxing is the "knockout".
The "knockout" is a cerebral concussion which in fact is permanent brain damage. With repeated knockouts, enough brain damage accumulates to destroy proper human brain function and the boxer becomes "Punchdrunk".
There is no recovery from this state.
Boxing should be outlawed!!!!!!!
The primary goal in boxing is the "knockout".
The "knockout" is a cerebral concussion which in fact is permanent brain damage. With repeated knockouts, enough brain damage accumulates to destroy proper human brain function and the boxer becomes "Punchdrunk".
There is no recovery from this state.
Boxing should be outlawed!!!!!!!
8
Wow, so many negative posts, despite the fact the safety is addressed in the video and it's obviously a concern of theirs. I'm sure there are a few parents in the responses who are subjecting their kids to the pro-level training that is near-standard in the suburban soccer/football/baseball leagues.
Congratulations to the Silvas, and to Ms. Sheskin, for such a charming portrait!! What a kid!
Congratulations to the Silvas, and to Ms. Sheskin, for such a charming portrait!! What a kid!
3
michael, I am very upset that you feel that because the article mentioned safety that it is no longer an issue. It is unlikely that Jesselyn will be slurring her speech, indeed, the other children do not hit that hard. However, it is extremely likely that she will suffer a 10 - 15 point loss in IQ from the many micropetichiae she will suffer from the repeated (albeit soft) head blows she will experience. How can any parent even consider such a course.
4
Great piece -- beautifully crafted work! I have the same misgivings about boxing as people have about football and a lot of other body-crunching sports. But to me this little gem of film making is about the dreams of a ten year girl and the love of her father, who though clearly ambivalent, is supporting his daughter's passion. In a couple of years Jesselyn might want to be a chef or an architect and I can see Pedro doing whatever he can to help her get there.
5
The goal of boxing is to inflict a concussion on your opponent. I find it irresponsible to allow underage children to box. When they're 18, they can make their own decisions. There is much discussion about head injuries from football where concussions are a result of the game , not the sole purpose. Boxing's sole purpose is a knockout ( definition- concussion ). Traumatic brain injury is serious !!!!!!
13
At ten, she should not be boxing. She should be studying and working on being a force in the world, a force that requires her intellect, not her ability to take a hit in the head. At twenty will she be able to speak? Will she have a future? Very possibly not. Her parents are guilty of child abuse by proxy.
14
A 10 year old girl is incapable of mature judgement, regardless of her enthusiasm. There are many things children may be enthused about, and even display some talent for: this is not license for actual engagement. This is objectionable on so many levels, I don't know where to begin. Wrong-minded, and exploitative for starters.
4
Might as well bring back Joe Camel and lose the required seat belt law. As a father of two daughters, I love that girls are making inroads into male dominated activities....but this is not the area to do it. I love that this girl has a supportive father.......but does he understand the head trauma statistics associated with youth boxing? Can you even find a single pediatrician who supports this sport for children?
NYTimes, the story is not the girl. It's the parent who isn't aware or doesn't care.
NYTimes, the story is not the girl. It's the parent who isn't aware or doesn't care.
5
Are you kidding me?
This is endangering the welfare of a child. Social servies should remove this child from her parents. It is the height of irresponsibility to encourage any child, girl or boy, to do such a sport. Shame on the parents and all those associated with this story to encourage her. There are certainly other activities that would empower her more!
This is endangering the welfare of a child. Social servies should remove this child from her parents. It is the height of irresponsibility to encourage any child, girl or boy, to do such a sport. Shame on the parents and all those associated with this story to encourage her. There are certainly other activities that would empower her more!
5
Arielle, I think from the comments of the father that he is indeed a great parent, although by my analysis a bit uninformed about head injuries. I think he should be compelled to talk to some of the many specialists who could talk him out of endangering his daughter like this.
1
10, in the ring and NO HEAD GEAR. Let's hope that is for the benefit of the photographer, otherwise it borders on criminal.
3
Would there be as much outrage if Jess choose a more traditonal, female sport? Cause gymnastics hasnt caused little girls any lasting physical or emotional problems. Or beauty pageants.
1
Really off topic. I dont think any of the critics want Jesselyn to give up active sports. The issue is only being hit repeatedly in the head.
3
I loved reading about & watching this confident, focused young girl with her supportive father. I wish her & her family all the best & hope she gets the support, financial & emotional, to keep on fighting. Terrific work on this feature.
The parents should be brought up on charges for child neglect/abuse, there is no reason for 10-year-old girl, still developing her brain, should be getting punched in the head.
I believe the parents are probably a good deal under educated
I believe the parents are probably a good deal under educated
4
CRITICS Of female athletics being on a par with male athletics are clearly showing their sexist bias. But their arguments couldn't make it possible for them to box their way out a paper bag!
2
Oh how cute a article and video of a 10 year girl boxing, please show a video in 15 years of drool running down the side of her mouth due to brain injury. And that includes both young girls and boys.
5
No protective head gear? What about drain bammage? What next? Girl's tackle football? Do women and girls have to do everything stupid that men do?
4
Is this the NY Times or Rupert's Rag?
Give men a break! Why would we encourage ANY child to channel their energy into a sport which may give them dementia?
Give men a break! Why would we encourage ANY child to channel their energy into a sport which may give them dementia?
5
How could parents encourage or support this "sport" for their children - boys or girls? This is tantamount to child abuse/neglect. "JessZilla's" brain may already be permanently damaged. There's no excuse for this.
3
This a huge mistake for this little girl. Years of repeated head trauma will certainly result in brain injury just like boxers and football players. Allowing her to do this is not an act of love, it is an act of ignorance.
4
The report mentioned by Ann below is sobering. Even worse is the fact that children this age, boys as well as girls, aren't capable of making reasoned decisions for themselves, which is why they depend on the adults around them to make wise choices. I wonder how this girl will feel in 15 years when she realizes what the effect of the sport she loves has had on her brain. Will she be so grateful to her father then?
4
I watched this video during my lunch break at work and it brought tears to my eyes. This wonderful girl is already my champion.
2
Unbelievable. This is child abuse, pure-and-simple. And I can't imagine why The New York Times is promoting it. I hope the Department of Social Services reads this and intervenes on this child's behalf.
"Profiling a young girl’s journey in a male-dominated combat sport....?" More like profiling a young girl's journey into early brain damage, shortened life span, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
I trust that Ms. Sheskin, the filmmaker, will visit Jesselyn Silva again in ten or twenty years and document the irreversible damage that's been done. Shame.
"Profiling a young girl’s journey in a male-dominated combat sport....?" More like profiling a young girl's journey into early brain damage, shortened life span, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
I trust that Ms. Sheskin, the filmmaker, will visit Jesselyn Silva again in ten or twenty years and document the irreversible damage that's been done. Shame.
3
Head injuries affect both boys and girls, and they are far more dangerous for younger, developing brains.
Find a sport that this gifted young athlete can LIVE with.
Find a sport that this gifted young athlete can LIVE with.
3
Lovely. In 30 years Social Security Disability will be paying for this young lady's cognitive deficits due to traumatic brain injury.
5
By all means, we need more girls and women boxing. Men aren't stupid enough. We need equal opportunity stupidity. Let all women beat each others' heads into a pulp...
2
Youngest boxer -> youngest traumatic brain injury patient.
2
it is completely irresponsible of the parents to let their child risk her young brain this way. Concussions are NOT the only risk. Repeated sub-concussive microtrauma also causes brain damage. Research on this has been accumulating for several years around soccer "heading".
Furthermore, when the explicit goal is to cause enough brain damage to knock your opponent unconscious, that is NOT a legitimate sport. It is barbarism.
Furthermore, when the explicit goal is to cause enough brain damage to knock your opponent unconscious, that is NOT a legitimate sport. It is barbarism.
7
I'd hate to be the ER doctor tasked with explaining to the family that children's skulls are much softer than adults, and that the slurred speech, cognitive difficulties, blinding headaches and loss of fine motor coordination are probably here to stay.
4
How awful to let your young child damage their brain like this. This should be against the law. Knowing what we know about brains and concussions in 2017, all head contact sports, especially boxing, should be banned. Just look at the brain damage all these poor people show if they fight for long.
3
I've done years of martial arts and have had my share of injuries, so I don't think I fit into the wimp category. Boxing is another matter entirely--same with football. If you want your kids to have a career or any kind of life when they're past their athletic prime, don't let them participate in "sports" that damage their brains.
12
Got it. Let's do away with all gender differences. Let's destroy all traditions just for the pure joy of overturning every societal norm. Or at the very least, let's let a 10-year old girl train for the so-called "sweet science" of pounding another person with fists before they can similarly pound her into unconsciousness. How wonderfully enlightening and progressive. Hello? CTE anybody? Mohammed Ali? I can assure Laurabat that it is definitely NOT safer than cheerleading. I had a daughter who was a cheerleader and she never broke a bone nor fractured her nose, jaw, skull, nor developed epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, etc. etc. Yet another sign of the apocalypse. We are doomed.
5
I'm no stranger to martial arts, and I had my children in karate for a number of years. There was significant emphasis on form, self-discipline and collaboration with opponents in demonstration. There were also strict rules on which parts of the body could be hit in youth competition. It's a demanding sport that actually has some practical value for self defense.
However, what I see here is child abuse, not much better than dressing up the girl as a punching bag and inviting people to hit her. Nothing that anyone should feel proud of.
However, what I see here is child abuse, not much better than dressing up the girl as a punching bag and inviting people to hit her. Nothing that anyone should feel proud of.
8
This girl is very impressive. She has determination and goals and incredible self-confidence. It's a shame she developed a love of boxing. There are plenty of other sports that won't cause brain damage she could play.
I'm sure her father is proud of her, but children of either sex should not be allowed to box. The science is getting clearer - repeated blows to the head, whether in football, soccer or boxing, causes long term cognitive damage. You can't go through life avoiding all dangers, but you can choose not to let a 10 year old possibly destroy her life.
I'm sure her father is proud of her, but children of either sex should not be allowed to box. The science is getting clearer - repeated blows to the head, whether in football, soccer or boxing, causes long term cognitive damage. You can't go through life avoiding all dangers, but you can choose not to let a 10 year old possibly destroy her life.
8
Charming. I will point out that there are any number of sports that have all the benefits of competition, one on one, without the risk of CTE inherent in boxing. I coached wrestling and all the attributes are there - strength, training, individual responsibility, dedication, breaking barriers - minus the substantial risk of CTE, especially for developing brains.
5
Very sad. Totally wrong priority. There are so many other healthy ways to improve a child's self-esteem and physical health. Why boxing? You want her to get premature dementia? Steer her toward soccer or running or bicycling or swimming before it is too late!
7
Teaching young children violent sports is not the way to go. The times we live in, full of stupidity from adults. If adults want to fight, that's enough of a problem but to encourage, support and enable children to do so is just plain crazy. This includes sports like football, rugby, ice hockey. When will humanity grow up?
8
Boxing is neither a (martial) art, nor a (sweet) science. It is violence for the entertainment of others, and the damage it inflicts on even the so-called winners' brains is appalling. To put a 10 year old in harm's way in this manner is a disgrace. There are so many other sports, so much more wholesome, and so much less fraught with danger. I find it hard to fathom that the Times would give publicity to this, unless it were 'encourage debate' on a topic that almost every physician has already concluded is a catastrophically bad idea.
17
You have taken the words out of my mouth. Thank you.
Boxing is bad news for everyone involved. Just a small step better than gladiatorial combat. It should be banned for anyone not of legal age and thus unable to give informed consent.
12
I know I'll get slammed but I see it very differently. There's nothing wrong with a young boy or girl being interested in anything that sparks their passion. I suspect she was cultivated into this "like" of the sport, by her parents. Gender conventionality needs a reduction in our culture. However, males and females are different, emotionally, biologically and in all the mysterious and magical ways that we'll never fully understand, and shouldn't. I believe modern militant feminism has misguided young women into an idea that to be valid, serious, successful, one has to give up femininity and all the beauty of being female. This seems a sever attack on women in my opinion. Has anyone looked into the physical problem that can arise from a female partaking in a sport, like boxing? Are we all simply riding the P.C. cult like movement that women are men, and there are no differences? Or perhaps the differences are real when it's time to condemn men for being insensitive and unfair to women. Make up your mind, should gender not matter or should it?
3
Boxing is bad for men and women, for boys and girls. The brain does not like being pounded, and even with a helmut, the brain still withstands the shock.
5
I am a woman who most people consider "feminine" because I love fashion. And yet I know that there is nothing special, let alone "mysterious and magical", about femininity. Biological sex is an evolutionary adaptation for reproduction and evolution does not care for mystery, magic, morality or any other human value. If it works, it works - that's the only rule. Female hyenas are bigger and more violent than their male counterparts but hyenas reproduce quite successfully. Human females are, on the average, physically weaker than males because of the residual sexual dimorphism of the human species but this has nothing to do with individual or cultural behavior. You think women love babies? In ancient Greece and Rome where infanticide was culturally acceptable, women routinely left weaker newborns outside to die. You think women are less violent or cruel than men? There have been female soldiers and rulers throughout history who showed themselves to be as capable of slaughter as their male counterparts. And if you think women are less competitive than men, you haven't been in a corporate boardroom. Biological sex matters for the continuation of the species; gender matters not at all. And since technology has freed us for biology, sex should not matter either. All this said, I think that boxing is a bad idea for anybody, male or female. Can't you do something better with your brain than pounding it out?
2
Love this young person's drive and spirit! As a neurologist, however, I must echo others who have pointed out the danger of repeated blows to the head and the very serious risk of developing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), formerly referred to as dementia pugilistica, or punch drunkenness. Subdural Hematomas are another, life-threatening risk, as in the excerpt below. I truly hope that she finds another sport that she loves.
Neurosurg Focus. 2006 Oct 15;21(4):E10.
Subdural hematomas in boxing: the spectrum of consequences.
Miele VJ1, Bailes JE, Cantu RC, Rabb CH.
"Boxing is a violent sport in which every participant accepts the risk of brain damage or death. This sport has been linked to acute neurological injury and chronic brain damage. The most common life-threatening injury encountered by its participants is subdural hematoma (SDH), and the most feared consequence of chronic insult to the nervous system is dementia pugilistica, or punch drunkenness."
Neurosurg Focus. 2006 Oct 15;21(4):E10.
Subdural hematomas in boxing: the spectrum of consequences.
Miele VJ1, Bailes JE, Cantu RC, Rabb CH.
"Boxing is a violent sport in which every participant accepts the risk of brain damage or death. This sport has been linked to acute neurological injury and chronic brain damage. The most common life-threatening injury encountered by its participants is subdural hematoma (SDH), and the most feared consequence of chronic insult to the nervous system is dementia pugilistica, or punch drunkenness."
17
Dementia pugilistica. Leave the ring, Miss Silva, & use your brain for something better. We now know too much about Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy for you to give your promising life to agonizing disability, after your sport is done with you. Your sport is not worth its long-term cost. Be well.
13
I have a deep love for the sport of boxing. I've competed and I grew up watching it with my father. I can't explain why I prefer it's form of brutality to that of football, MMA, hockey, or rugby but I do.
That said, I don't think the sport should be out lawed at all or anything but knowing what we know about contact sports, especially boxing, I'd do everything in my power to keep my children from pursuing it past a certain age. Long after the lights and the glory are gone a majority of pros (even low level pros and probably a certain percentage of very active amateurs) suffer from some level of cognative impairment. Even the successful defensive boxers. She's charismatic and a sweetheart and I wish them the best but boxing ain't fair to a great many men and less so to the few women.
That said, I don't think the sport should be out lawed at all or anything but knowing what we know about contact sports, especially boxing, I'd do everything in my power to keep my children from pursuing it past a certain age. Long after the lights and the glory are gone a majority of pros (even low level pros and probably a certain percentage of very active amateurs) suffer from some level of cognative impairment. Even the successful defensive boxers. She's charismatic and a sweetheart and I wish them the best but boxing ain't fair to a great many men and less so to the few women.
5
Huh. I edited the following for hyperbole, so as not to sound like a lunatic. But absolutist language is not hyperbole, it is not extreme, in opposition to a policy or logic that is absolutely wrong. Until we have a robust medical and epidemiological model of a safe concussion" -- don't hold your breath -- there should be no ambiguity on this issue. Therefore:
Boxing, like any "sport" that uses traumatic brain injury to others as a tactic, should be banned. Any adult that allows, much less encourages, a minor to engage in concussion sports should be relieved of authority over the child, jailed pending criminal charges of abuse and neglect, and held financially liable for any consequences to the child's health or ability to function. That man is an abuser, the filmmaker is an (unwitting, I hope) enabler and apologist, and the child is a potential victim in need of rescue before the unthinkable happens and, as a result of TBI, she can no longer think.
Boxing, like any "sport" that uses traumatic brain injury to others as a tactic, should be banned. Any adult that allows, much less encourages, a minor to engage in concussion sports should be relieved of authority over the child, jailed pending criminal charges of abuse and neglect, and held financially liable for any consequences to the child's health or ability to function. That man is an abuser, the filmmaker is an (unwitting, I hope) enabler and apologist, and the child is a potential victim in need of rescue before the unthinkable happens and, as a result of TBI, she can no longer think.
7
Thanks, Mr. Knell. You provide the direct, accurate, and necessary message to the film(infomercial?) maker and staff of NYT.
Brain damage, schmain damage. By the time she's an adult the machines will be doing all the thinking anyway.
2
The only “sport” (ahh the sweet science!) where the goal is to knock the other person unconscious!
The British Medical Journal:
Medical professionals have long called for bans, with the World Medical Association noting “its basic intent is to produce bodily harm in the opponent. Boxing can result in death and produces an alarming incidence of chronic brain injury.” This criticism is well founded. Acute and long term injuries are prevalent—unsurprising considering that the force of a professional boxer’s punch is comparable with being hit with a 6 kg bowling ball travelling at 32 km/hour.
http://www.bmj.com/content/352/bmj.i389
I’ve been in neurology since 1968---44th Medical Battalion in the Vietnam War. I KNOW what the shock waves of explosives do to the Central Nervous System. The brain does NOT regenerate! Once you lose brain cells..they do NOT grow back!
For a while the idea of brain regeneration rocked the Internet. All sorts of websites such as “luminosity” promised that older adults could regain all brain function.
It was widely believed that physical and mental exercise can stimulate hippocampal neurogenesis that offsets age-related cognitive decline and may protect against depression and Alzheimer's. “Everyone wants to believe that functional neurogenesis happens in adult humans. Everyone wants to believe that we can repair damaged brains,
BUT there’s precious little evidence for it!"
This is why we want helmets and want to ban guns!
Just.Say.NO!
The British Medical Journal:
Medical professionals have long called for bans, with the World Medical Association noting “its basic intent is to produce bodily harm in the opponent. Boxing can result in death and produces an alarming incidence of chronic brain injury.” This criticism is well founded. Acute and long term injuries are prevalent—unsurprising considering that the force of a professional boxer’s punch is comparable with being hit with a 6 kg bowling ball travelling at 32 km/hour.
http://www.bmj.com/content/352/bmj.i389
I’ve been in neurology since 1968---44th Medical Battalion in the Vietnam War. I KNOW what the shock waves of explosives do to the Central Nervous System. The brain does NOT regenerate! Once you lose brain cells..they do NOT grow back!
For a while the idea of brain regeneration rocked the Internet. All sorts of websites such as “luminosity” promised that older adults could regain all brain function.
It was widely believed that physical and mental exercise can stimulate hippocampal neurogenesis that offsets age-related cognitive decline and may protect against depression and Alzheimer's. “Everyone wants to believe that functional neurogenesis happens in adult humans. Everyone wants to believe that we can repair damaged brains,
BUT there’s precious little evidence for it!"
This is why we want helmets and want to ban guns!
Just.Say.NO!
11
Splendid points, Dr. Nuschler! Certainly resonates with what I learned during my two year postdoc in public health at Johns Hopkins. Secondary and tertiary prevention can never match the benefit of primary prevention.
2
Dear father of this child,
Boxing causes brain damage and other dangers. Read about those dangers and stop this young girl - who does not know better - from boxing. She does not understand, and it seems from the video, neither do you. Please thiink about it.
Boxing causes brain damage and other dangers. Read about those dangers and stop this young girl - who does not know better - from boxing. She does not understand, and it seems from the video, neither do you. Please thiink about it.
18
Completely concur, Mr. Bernstien! May I suggest you address your comment to the folks at the NYT personnel responsible for promoting Ms. Sheskin's infomercial (its high production values not withstanding).
2
Child abuse is a crime, at least in California. If this were happening in California, there is a good chance that it wold be seen as child abuse. This kid is being manipulated by father who is using her natural need to be loved to con her into his dream.
Interesting how many women were against boxing in the years before Ali's daughter took it up. Now it's you go girl, literally in this case. What was bad for the gander's good for the goose now.
2
once a few women start being diagnosed with brain damage, some 20 years from now, all this will change.
1
The more essential point is that activity, however marketed or rationalized, is high risk for goose, gander, the 1% and all of the 99%, the Jews, Muslims Christians, Buddhists, agnostics, etc. etc.,. It is high risk for all humans, but typically reserved the highest risk for the youngest who are easier to exploit.
1
No. No. No. Find a challenging martial art you can do for the rest of your life, like Chen or Wu style tai chi. The head injuries inevitable from boxing will follow you to the grave.
15
If the young lady really wants to do this, then she should be able to do it unfettered. But for the life of me I can’t understand why…
2
Sorry to have to insert the head injury caution here. All the comments about how empowering this is for this very impressive girl seem true to me. My concern is that all the head injury studies show pretty clearly that it is not only about concussions, and repetitive sub-concussive blows to the head are damaging and the vulnerability of the very early developing brain is likely to severe. Its not a boy-girl issue, young boys should also not be allowed to experience repeated blows to the head. The notion that the head padding or the minimal strength of young kids makes this OK is not reasonable. If this is indeed safer than cheerleading, I think we need to worry about cheerleading. On the other hand, a boxing sport that did not involve hitting the head might have many of the obvious benefits described in the comments.
6
How adorable. Like that time R.J. Reynolds wanted to launch a new cigarette, Uptown, just for black people. Equal opportunity cancer everybody!!
Look up chronic brain injury associated with boxing. The American Academy of Pediatrics opposes boxing as a sport for children. http://www.cps.ca/documents/position/boxing
Are any of the people promoting this child's boxing career going to pay her medical bills and lost earnings from brain injuries?
Look up chronic brain injury associated with boxing. The American Academy of Pediatrics opposes boxing as a sport for children. http://www.cps.ca/documents/position/boxing
Are any of the people promoting this child's boxing career going to pay her medical bills and lost earnings from brain injuries?
99
Pretty sure at that age, they wear headgear
I totally agree. Way too young, male or female. I thought we were making some progress vis a vis awareness of football, gymnastics, competitive cheerleading dangers -guess I was mistaken. My father specialized in rehab medicine, and some things were strictly forbidden for both his sons and daughters: trampolines, motorcycles, horse riding with English saddles or involving jumping, bike riding on major streets, skateboards, surfing, high diving boards, tackle football, gymnastics. I know he absolutely would say no to boxing. Given his specialty and tragedies he saw that involved young people, he was especially protective of our brains, necks and backs.
Are you equally against children participating in gymnastics, ice skating, soccer, etc?
Its so refreshing to see the confidence and positivity that is so lacking in those who sit and pass comments and bully others on facebook !
Go girl go!
Go girl go!
8
Ban boxing, especially for children. It's playing Russian roulette with young brains. I'm a vet. Seen my share of violence. Don't like that we call fighting a "sport"... it's not, it's a dirty business. This poor girl should be swimming or running or jumping. Not hitting!
6
Do you actually understand boxing? Do you know what the effects of multiple concussions are? Do you understand how fragile the brain is? Do you have an idea about the neck musculature of a child of 10?
Do you know anything?
Do you know anything?
2
I think it is wonderful that this girl has such high aspirations and focus at such a young age. It is inspiring.
However, it is boxing. I am a martial artist. I began wrestling competitively at a younger age then her. I am not a wimp. I state this because what I am about to write will cause some to say I am just another over cautious parent that doesnt understand fighting.
I wish I could support her but science is catching up with us. Getting hit in the head will impact her mental/cognitive development. Especially at such a young age. Concussions at this age are just function of physiology. The neck is simply not strong enough to hold the head stable when punched and or jarred. As a result the brain shifts within the cranium and concussion occur.
The number one sport for concussions reported by the NCAA is not college football (as one may expect) but women's soccer. Why? Neck strength. By the way, helmets/headgear provide no protection for concussions.
I will not allow my child to box. I will not allow my child to play football. My child's soccer league doesn't allow "heading the ball" in soccer. My child wrestles, plays flag football, soccer etc.
I would like to be "tough" but science is stating that we are frail. Especially the brain.
As for this wonderful, young pugilist. It would be great to funnel that energy into something she can do for a life time rather than a sport that will almost certainly limit her over her life time.
I wish her well.
However, it is boxing. I am a martial artist. I began wrestling competitively at a younger age then her. I am not a wimp. I state this because what I am about to write will cause some to say I am just another over cautious parent that doesnt understand fighting.
I wish I could support her but science is catching up with us. Getting hit in the head will impact her mental/cognitive development. Especially at such a young age. Concussions at this age are just function of physiology. The neck is simply not strong enough to hold the head stable when punched and or jarred. As a result the brain shifts within the cranium and concussion occur.
The number one sport for concussions reported by the NCAA is not college football (as one may expect) but women's soccer. Why? Neck strength. By the way, helmets/headgear provide no protection for concussions.
I will not allow my child to box. I will not allow my child to play football. My child's soccer league doesn't allow "heading the ball" in soccer. My child wrestles, plays flag football, soccer etc.
I would like to be "tough" but science is stating that we are frail. Especially the brain.
As for this wonderful, young pugilist. It would be great to funnel that energy into something she can do for a life time rather than a sport that will almost certainly limit her over her life time.
I wish her well.
152
It's not like she's fighting adults
She's fighting other kids, while wearing headgear
(pretty sure none of those kids can hit very hard, significant muscle development doesn't begin until mid teens)
She's fighting other kids, while wearing headgear
(pretty sure none of those kids can hit very hard, significant muscle development doesn't begin until mid teens)
Aspiring to be a boxer is NOT high aspirations. A doctor, chemist, scientist, peacemaker- Yes! Those are worth her aspirations.
7
Avinash, Clearly you are not an engineer. Can you give me some sense for the range or accelerations of the brain produced by children punching each other in the head. Then can you tell me if that range is close to that reported for high school football linemen that suffer subtle CTE from the repeated small brain trauma of scrimmaging? If it were my child I would want to stay far away from the damaging range.
1
Sixty some years ago at age 8 learning the manly sport at the Boys Club Eddie McCaffery, two years my senior, caught me in the head and that was the end of my boxing career having seen enough stars to learn my lesson. Although not well enough as I played seven years of organized football and had at least one similar experience. Boxing and 'American' football, mug's games.
25
I'd rather see her mountain climbing, skiing, running, skateboarding etc.
61
Wonder what will happen to her brain after all that pounding at such a young age and over the course of her fighting life.
I'm sure she'll be fine...
I'm sure she'll be fine...
31
Boxing causes brain damage. It's days are numbered in a caring culture. We are already raising the age for playing tackle football.
54
“Now, whoever has courage and a strong and collected spirit in his breast, let him come forward, lace on the gloves and put up his hands. (5.363-364)” Virgil.
Forget the naysayers, they've never laced 'em up. You're going to win gold!
Forget the naysayers, they've never laced 'em up. You're going to win gold!
5
It's definitely an ich that she seems she needs to scratch! I wish her luck too.
Quotes Virgil, and casually drops boxing phrases! That's some ego you got there, pal!
Please let us know Virgil's knowledge of and opinions regarding CTE.
Heartwarming.
The probability of this girl developing CTE in her life does not seem to be of any concern.
The probability of this girl developing CTE in her life does not seem to be of any concern.
47
No. The risk of brain injury doesn't bother the adults at all. They just cheer her on.
1
Fantastic!
Thank you for this video. I'd love to see more young women participate in the sport--the workouts are fantastic and even a little bit of sparring is incredible for one's confidence. Moreover, you don't succeed with blind aggression or anger, to succeed at boxing you must be able to deal with conflict, fear (and sometimes pain), and being aggressive while maintaining emotional control--that's a pretty empowering skill to learn. And while boxing may not fit with many people's view of what's acceptable to girls, it's probably a lot safer than say cheerleading.
15
"Boxing...[is]...probably a lot safer than cheerleading"
I think the statement speaks for itself...
I think the statement speaks for itself...
1
you need to get a grip on reality. Violent sports are not okay. So, you love to see young children duke it out until they are comatose?
4
"to succeed at boxing you must be able to deal with conflict, fear (and sometimes pain)"
Sometimes pain?? Has this commenter read anything at all about brain injury? How did this get to be a NY Times pick????
Sometimes pain?? Has this commenter read anything at all about brain injury? How did this get to be a NY Times pick????
5
Upon reading this a couple questions beg for an answer: why is this considered newsworthy in the opinion section of the NYT (instead of say, the sports section)? Why is a child being trained in a "sport" where the ultimate aim is to beat someone into unconsciousness? Please young grasshopper, if you really want to learn to physically overpower someone and develop athletic prowess, join a wrestling team. You will get all the benefits and none of the serious consequences, i.e. brain damage inflicted upon yourself and your opponents.
63
Jef Rep -- The reason the Times considers this story newsworthy is the progressive obsession with equality for the sake of equality. In particular, the Left strains to deny, as far as possible, the biological differences between men and women. Hence they are thrilled to see a 10 year old girl participating in an inappropriately masculine sport, because it somehow proves that boys and girls aren't really different, that it's all a social construct.
That said, if Jesselyn Silva is determined to pursue an inappropriately masculine sport, I'd be much happier if it were wrestling. Constant blows to the head, even when delivered by 10 year old girls, just aren't healthy.
That said, if Jesselyn Silva is determined to pursue an inappropriately masculine sport, I'd be much happier if it were wrestling. Constant blows to the head, even when delivered by 10 year old girls, just aren't healthy.
3
Jesselyn is very intelligent and focused for her age.
Girl boxers are rare, but I saw NBC show, Little Big Shots. Steve Harvey interviewed a smiling, charming 8 year old girl boxer from Evnika Saadvakassova from Kazakhstan-- "This feisty boxer had Steve Harvey shaking in his boots after giving him a right hook to the face." Harvey held the punching bag, and "she struck it 206 times in 30 seconds!”
She moved so fast, she was a blur. .
“Evnika was chosen to appear on the show after video her father posted went viral, of an even younger Evnika as the “fastest girl in Kazakhstan.”
Google ‘girl boxer on little big shots’ ---another 9 year old has been boxing as long as she can remember.” & 8 year old twin boy boxers.
These kids are very proud of themselves---they achieve a power skill and admiration at a very young age. Wow.
Don’t know how I’d feel as a parent about this—probably conflicted. I’d want them to develop and succeed. But, as another commenter physician said—what about head injuries?
She said in the video that her head hurts. The coach pushes her to focus, push through it---says you never know how you’ll feel the day of the fight. The father said when they get stronger as an adult they can knock somebody out. He wants her to stop at a certain age.
How will this affect their later health and life---both boys and girls? Jesselyn’s goal is winning Olympic gold for her country. How is Olympic winner, Claressa Shields doing?
Girl boxers are rare, but I saw NBC show, Little Big Shots. Steve Harvey interviewed a smiling, charming 8 year old girl boxer from Evnika Saadvakassova from Kazakhstan-- "This feisty boxer had Steve Harvey shaking in his boots after giving him a right hook to the face." Harvey held the punching bag, and "she struck it 206 times in 30 seconds!”
She moved so fast, she was a blur. .
“Evnika was chosen to appear on the show after video her father posted went viral, of an even younger Evnika as the “fastest girl in Kazakhstan.”
Google ‘girl boxer on little big shots’ ---another 9 year old has been boxing as long as she can remember.” & 8 year old twin boy boxers.
These kids are very proud of themselves---they achieve a power skill and admiration at a very young age. Wow.
Don’t know how I’d feel as a parent about this—probably conflicted. I’d want them to develop and succeed. But, as another commenter physician said—what about head injuries?
She said in the video that her head hurts. The coach pushes her to focus, push through it---says you never know how you’ll feel the day of the fight. The father said when they get stronger as an adult they can knock somebody out. He wants her to stop at a certain age.
How will this affect their later health and life---both boys and girls? Jesselyn’s goal is winning Olympic gold for her country. How is Olympic winner, Claressa Shields doing?
2
With the head padding, the padded gloves, and the 70 pound competitors who have little upper body strength boxing for 10 year olds is no more of a concussion threat than gymnastics.
2. Older girls have more strength but those who weigh 120 lbs seldom knock out their opponents.
3. In men's boxing, heavyweights knock out their opponents three times as often as lightweights. Women weigh less and have less upper body strength. So almost all their matches are decided based on punches landed, punches which are unable to knock their opponents out.
This is not to say that there is no danger in women's boxing. But keep in mind that the sports is most popular among minorities and the poor, that it requires superior athleticism and dedication, and that success creates pride based on extraordinary dedication. Whether the benefits of success for these kids outweighs any physical danger is debatable. If you tell your little girl to stop boxing, she may have no other outlet where she is among the best. For poor minorities, an outlet where they excel has a tremendous psychological benefit.
2. Older girls have more strength but those who weigh 120 lbs seldom knock out their opponents.
3. In men's boxing, heavyweights knock out their opponents three times as often as lightweights. Women weigh less and have less upper body strength. So almost all their matches are decided based on punches landed, punches which are unable to knock their opponents out.
This is not to say that there is no danger in women's boxing. But keep in mind that the sports is most popular among minorities and the poor, that it requires superior athleticism and dedication, and that success creates pride based on extraordinary dedication. Whether the benefits of success for these kids outweighs any physical danger is debatable. If you tell your little girl to stop boxing, she may have no other outlet where she is among the best. For poor minorities, an outlet where they excel has a tremendous psychological benefit.
5
Wrong. Wrong. And Wrong.
The risks of concussion are greater and the brain damage greater at this age.
Fact Checker
Gloves are padded not to protect the head or the opponent but so to allow the puncher to punch and protect the hand from breaking.
Head gear and padding doesn't stop the shift in head from the impact. Unless gymnasts are hitting their heads on the mat or floor or other object there is little to no risk of a concussion. Hits to the head consistently with little force can cause concussions - in fact the biggest long term concern of those researching concussion are the repetitive hits that do not "knock out" and or "ring the bell" of the athlete.
I will not even go into the issues of a developing brain and micro and macro traumas caused by hits to the head.
You have the right to your own opinion but not your own facts.
The risks of concussion are greater and the brain damage greater at this age.
Fact Checker
Gloves are padded not to protect the head or the opponent but so to allow the puncher to punch and protect the hand from breaking.
Head gear and padding doesn't stop the shift in head from the impact. Unless gymnasts are hitting their heads on the mat or floor or other object there is little to no risk of a concussion. Hits to the head consistently with little force can cause concussions - in fact the biggest long term concern of those researching concussion are the repetitive hits that do not "knock out" and or "ring the bell" of the athlete.
I will not even go into the issues of a developing brain and micro and macro traumas caused by hits to the head.
You have the right to your own opinion but not your own facts.
65
Fact check:
Here is a complete list of women athletes Known to have suffered from CTE: _________________
The only known CTE cases among women were caused by abusive men.
Here is a complete list of women athletes Known to have suffered from CTE: _________________
The only known CTE cases among women were caused by abusive men.
Wow. I am happy that Michigas is not in charge. Is your argument seriously that there are at present no known women who suffer from CTE. That does at present require histological analysis and the only people who come to histology are those with such severe CTE that they commit suicide. Is your thesis that women are likely to be less sensitive to CTE than men? Once we have developed in vivo CTE measures such as PET scans and it turns out that women are equally sensitive, will you change your recommendation for Jesselyn?
1
The objective of boxing is to maim your opponent.
Enough said.
Enough said.
52
There is a beauty in martial arts and it's not a remnant of a savage past. Much as we'd like to think humans will somehow rise above blood sport, its as much a part of us now as it was in the stone age. The drive to protect depends on the ability to defend one's self. That ability, innate in some, trained in others, is still revered. It may be barbaric but it is as natural as breathing
7
+1
Barbarism is a construct of self-appointed "civilized" people. Calling others barbaric is nothing but a means to elevate oneself to a moral pedestal, and historically to excuse the real barbarism civilized people (white Europeans and Americans) committed on natives around the world.
Barbarism is a construct of self-appointed "civilized" people. Calling others barbaric is nothing but a means to elevate oneself to a moral pedestal, and historically to excuse the real barbarism civilized people (white Europeans and Americans) committed on natives around the world.
yeah, ok. Boxing is still pretty savage and barbaric sport in which your aim is to knock your opponent unconscious as hard as you can and give them concussions that will give them dementia at an early age. This is not the case in many other martial arts such as Kung Fu.
4
Right because only white people have ever been barbaric. Travel much?
1
Awesome. The dad was funny...his face said everything.
Im sure there will be plenty of nay-sayers, wondering and complaining about how could a girl be boxing, put into a brutal sport, etc, etc. But what they will all miss is the amazing amount of confidence and discipline that the sport gives back. And for girls to learn how to control and succeed with their bodies and minds working as one, and against a direct opponent...is soemthig that more girls need...!
You go Jess! Ill be watching for you in 2024!
Im sure there will be plenty of nay-sayers, wondering and complaining about how could a girl be boxing, put into a brutal sport, etc, etc. But what they will all miss is the amazing amount of confidence and discipline that the sport gives back. And for girls to learn how to control and succeed with their bodies and minds working as one, and against a direct opponent...is soemthig that more girls need...!
You go Jess! Ill be watching for you in 2024!
12
"But what they will all miss is the amazing amount of confidence and discipline that the sport gives back."
There are other ways and other sports that don't have pounding another person into a bloody pulp as their objective and yet yield the same benefits in terms of confidence building and discipline. Think, too, about chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The odds are far higher that this child will suffer significant brain trauma than that she'll make it to the Olympics. Even the best of the best - Ali - was a neurological wreck long before his time. You don't read about the others who fell along the wayside as he battered his way to the top.
There are other ways and other sports that don't have pounding another person into a bloody pulp as their objective and yet yield the same benefits in terms of confidence building and discipline. Think, too, about chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The odds are far higher that this child will suffer significant brain trauma than that she'll make it to the Olympics. Even the best of the best - Ali - was a neurological wreck long before his time. You don't read about the others who fell along the wayside as he battered his way to the top.
28
Girls and boys should not be boxing (or playing football). There are plenty of ways to instill confidence and discipline without risking brain damage and the diminished quality and length of life that results.
Maybe Jess will win a gold when she's 17. What does she do when she's 30, her boxing career is over, as well as her ability to think straight or hold down a job?
Maybe Jess will win a gold when she's 17. What does she do when she's 30, her boxing career is over, as well as her ability to think straight or hold down a job?
2
And if she suffers brain injury -- which is likely -- so what.
1
A wonderfully made documentary - and a very impressive 10-year-old girl and father. You can't help but respect her drive, ambition, and winning attitude - and her father's support. But, as a pediatrician, I can't help but be highly concerned for her. Brain trauma is an inherent danger in the sport - and the damage that repeated blows to the head bring may not be apparent for years. Even within the film, her coach is recommending to her to work through her headaches. The American Academy of Pediatrics - and other child health organizations - advocate banning boxing for children. As teens - and then adults - develop more body mass and strength, the dangerous consequences to the brain are even more obvious - and very likely - inevitable. The embedded theme of this video is to encourage a greater marketability and appeal of female boxing. Who doesn't want to root for the underdog. But, is that really a goal worth striving for given the cost?
103
I too was concerned when I saw the intro still-photo of the video where she didnt have any head gear on...but the video cleared it up.
Dehydration can cause a headache too. Children are notorious for not hydrating, or noticing the symptoms. Hopefully the coaches are teaching her those skills.
Dehydration can cause a headache too. Children are notorious for not hydrating, or noticing the symptoms. Hopefully the coaches are teaching her those skills.
1
A headache does not equal a headache. Surely a headache after getting it in the head is more alarming than a headache from dehydration. In all sports athletes are encouraged to hydrate constantly so it's natural why one assumes the headache is due to getting it. As other commenters have pointed out, headgear provides little protection against concussions (as those are caused by the brain shifting within the skull, not by the force of the impact against the skull)
2
Sorry, head gear does nothing to minimize the trauma to the brain of repeated subconcussive blows.
1
"It’s no secret that women’s boxing has nowhere near the participants — or the money, or the audience — that men’s boxing has." Do you wonder why?
Boxing is not a sport. It's learning how to kill another human being. In all humans there is a deep drive to protect and nourish each other especially where children are concerned. This drive is not, as many think, sex related. It is a human thing, as strong and deep in a male as in a female. That this drive was termed "unmanly" was a major part of the destruction of the feminine principle and the rise of male dominance.
After longer than any of realize, this situation is coming to an end. Women are steadily regaining their place in Humanity. Humanity is one race. It can exist only in state of equilibrium. Principles of living such s freedom, harmony, justice kindness and compassion are not sex exclusive. They are Human qualities.
Prize Fighting is a barbaric ignorant deluded male invention. No child of either sex needs to be taught how to kill.
Boxing is not a sport. It's learning how to kill another human being. In all humans there is a deep drive to protect and nourish each other especially where children are concerned. This drive is not, as many think, sex related. It is a human thing, as strong and deep in a male as in a female. That this drive was termed "unmanly" was a major part of the destruction of the feminine principle and the rise of male dominance.
After longer than any of realize, this situation is coming to an end. Women are steadily regaining their place in Humanity. Humanity is one race. It can exist only in state of equilibrium. Principles of living such s freedom, harmony, justice kindness and compassion are not sex exclusive. They are Human qualities.
Prize Fighting is a barbaric ignorant deluded male invention. No child of either sex needs to be taught how to kill.
38
Nobody is denying that boxing, especially beginning in the later teen years, as muscle and strength increase, is not dangerous. But the statement above that boxing is "learning how to kill another human being" is over the top and untrue. The punches in a boxing contest are meant to score points and if possible disable an opponent but not kill him. War is learning how to kill another human being. Boxing is individual warfare made into a dangerous sport conducted under rules and-hopefully- safety standards. It is an attempt to give a "civilized" outlet for a natural instinct in man. Whether you agree that boxing should be abolished or not it's still preferable to men fighting with guns, knives or bombs.
12
Yet killing - which is a very specific act - is not the goal of boxing. You can play word games all day long, but no boxer is taught to kill. Period. Nor do boxers desire to do such a thing. There is no real animosity between the athletes, many are good friends who train together, but like any sport there comes the time to compete and put the training to the test. If you dont comprehend that, thats on YOU! If an athlete can't get past their anger (usually due to their own causes, not their opponents) and respect their opponents, they wont get very far in the sport. You train to be a better competitor.
Males will always have a need to compete in such ways. Of course not all males want or should compete in this manner, but there will always be some who will.
And contrary to mythology, many females like to compete in this way. They find a place in these sports, that no other sports gave them.
Being involved in these sports doesnt negate the male "feminine" side, no more then it negates it in females. Anymore then cleaning the house makes a women more womanly, and makes a male less a man. Youre playing into the very constructs you rail against.
Women are not regaining their place, as they never truly lost it. Subjugation doesnt remove any human from their rightful place. The slave owner is never in total control, the torturer is never the winner - but always the loser of their own humanity and rightful place. There is no winning on that side of the fence.
Males will always have a need to compete in such ways. Of course not all males want or should compete in this manner, but there will always be some who will.
And contrary to mythology, many females like to compete in this way. They find a place in these sports, that no other sports gave them.
Being involved in these sports doesnt negate the male "feminine" side, no more then it negates it in females. Anymore then cleaning the house makes a women more womanly, and makes a male less a man. Youre playing into the very constructs you rail against.
Women are not regaining their place, as they never truly lost it. Subjugation doesnt remove any human from their rightful place. The slave owner is never in total control, the torturer is never the winner - but always the loser of their own humanity and rightful place. There is no winning on that side of the fence.
1
To win, you are supposed to knock her opponent out. Constant strikes to the head-- even with headgear -- will eventually damage the brain. That is a fact. But who cares. It's fun to watch people punching each other in the head.
2
Not sure why anybody would want to box these days. Really.
77
It beats being homeless.
3
Then again, being a homeless boxer is worse than either, unless homeless boxers are praised for their initiative, much like the subject of this video.
1
Cuz not everyone can work on wall street
But where is this child's helmet????!!!!!