Finally a religious leader speaks on the importance of MMA training and what positive benefits it can bring to troubled youth. Going to the gym or dojo can humble some students and decline bullies who think they can push on teh small guys or girls.
L.A. Times reports:
Pastor T.J. O'Donnell thought that by offering mixed martial arts training, he had found a sure way to lure young people away from vice and direct them toward the word of God.
He didn't expect to encounter the long arm of the California State Athletic Commission.
O'Donnell rented out the second floor of a San Bernardino carpet store where volunteers at his 777 Ministry taught aspiring fighters jiu-jitsu, karate, wrestling and boxing. He then announced plans for the 40 members of his young flock to fight in his church's first MMA event.
"It's like when a church threw rock concerts to reach the young people," said O'Donnell, 35, a former tattoo artist who praises God for helping him reform after shooting a man with a .22 revolver in 1994. "Only now, MMA's the thing."
But state investigators were tipped off about fliers advertising the unlicensed amateur fights -- known as "smokers" -- and issued the pastor a cease-and-desist order last month.
The commission has shut down at least two dozen similar events in the last year, saying fighters' health was in danger because there are no rules regulating amateurs in the popular combat sport.
"It's a huge problem," said the commission's executive director, Armando Garcia, whose investigative team closed down a Whittier smoker this month. "At this rate, we're expecting to shut down 50 more shows by the end of this year."
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