Joel Low of the Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology said such competitions can be excellent platforms for children to learn values that mirror real-life experiences.
“Winning, losing, striving, training and everything else that goes into competitions and in this case, a martial arts bout, are incredibly important lessons for a child to learn, as they can be excellent proxies for living life,” he told FMT.
Low’s comments come after the War Zone Championship combat sports tournament drew public backlash for a promotional video featuring a fight scene between two child fighters that went viral earlier this month.
A netizen had called for an investigation into the tournament, questioning the organisers’ motives in promoting the event while school bullying cases were on the rise.
The youth and sports ministry said it had not sanctioned the event.
The organisers have since issued a public apology and cancelled the junior category in this year’s War Zone Championship.
Low stressed that adult guidance is crucial to ensure children learn the right lessons from participating in martial arts and fighting tournaments, including setting the right tone to help shape how competitors perceive success and effort.
“A fighting competition can be a great way for kids to build character and learn valuable life lessons, but only if adults also participate to guide and explain things to them.
“Otherwise, it is very likely that these children will be left to draw their own conclusions and this can be detrimental at best. For example, believing that winning is the only goal and anything else is unacceptable,” he said.
Low, a clinical psychologist, stressed the importance of impressing upon children that the intent behind participating in such sports should not be solely about winning.
Such competitions, he said, are about showcasing skill, training and ability, not domination or causing harm.
“There is a fine line between the two, but that fine line is what makes a competition a good one and prevents it from devolving into acts of violence and aggression.”
Malaysian Paediatric Association (MPA) president Dr Intan Juliana Hamid agreed that combat sports, when conducted safely and responsibly, offer children numerous benefits.
“Participation in combat sports provides children with regulated environments that foster psychological resilience, emotional control abilities and a sense of belonging, all of which are essential throughout their formative developmental years,” she said.
She added that the structured combination of physical activity, routine and social interaction promotes healthy youth development.
When conducted properly, Intan said, these sports integrate physical, cognitive and social dimensions that help young individuals build stronger mental health and resilience.