Child Kickboxers - Thailand

June 2008

The crowd roars as children punch and kick one another during a Thai kickboxing competition in Bangkok. For the adults watching these young athletes in combat it is more than just sport, it means money.

"After their bets are in, audiences are even more captivated by every move the fighters make." The fights are dangerous, but the crowds only care about one thing, their money. Children as young as four years old train to fight. They risk brutal injuries to earn money for their poor families and dream of a happier life. "I'm going to buy a house for my dad", claims one fighter.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Thai
• Boxing
• Kids
• Children
• Betting
• Sport
• Journeyman
• Pictures
• news
• documentary
• current affairs
• journeyman
• journeyman pictures

[jsdwd1]

The narrator cannot even pronounce the name of the sport. How can her report have any credibility at all, she obviously knows nothing about Muay Thai, or Thai culture.

But, of course, that doesn't keep her from having strong opinions.

[jubran91]

This lady has pity for these kids. I love em and it looks like they love it too.

[furbs1000]

That narrator is pretty fucking stupid. Do some research into thai culture and muay thai.maybe show how muay thai is a way out of poverty for these kids and their families.these kids are raised tough, both physically and mentally with dedication and discipline!! Instead of making this stupid report, why dont you look at the girls who leave poverty in the countryside to work as prostitutes in the cities to earn money for their families, and become fucked up with alcohol, drugs and aids!!

[StL33T]

@aramir2 um no, you don't understand. It's how they make money so they can get food. We do it for fun, they do it to live.

[BLACKSUNszekelyLori]

@jubran91 They don!t really have a choice...

[byacommoncold]

Watch 00:48 seconds, and couldn't stand the fact she was calling it "Mai Tai" instead of Muay Thai.

If they can't take the time to say it correctly, I can't take the time to watch it fully :)

[crazyboi6050]

Good doco. . . a few misconceptions and generalisations on the narrators part but theres no denying the heart of those kids.

[Theirry007]

Go pao! Your my hero man!

[aramir2]

@StL33T It's not so much that they are thrown into a pit to fight, they chose it themselves, in Thailand it's much like american football in the USA or soccer in many european countries. It's a way to reach fame and fortune in a highly revered sport. Not much different from all those westerners who makes their kids play golf/tennis/soccer/hockey or whatever. In thailand the only available sport is muay thai

[legofreak811]

It's called "Kick boxing" in America. In Thailand (Where we got kick boxing from) it's called Muay Thai. Kick boxing is America's version of it.

[OntologicalQuandary]

why doesn this bitch keep saying MY thai

[ickerish]

@UncleGary01.. i dont think they have metal detectors in their schools nor need them... who says theyre doing muay thai and not attending normal everyday school? i think our kids are crazy amounts of spoiled.. if youve been to any poor country youd know that our kids are so soft its ridiculous... keep nurturing them with the disney channel, t-ball, g-rated movies etc.. itll make them a very strong person worthy of the world ahead of them