I agree completely Rich, I think by facing a certain level of risk, children learn to assess risk in a realistic common sense way and also learn how to reduce risk while still achieving their goals. I would suggest it is our litigation driven society that drives an obsession with safety to stifling levels. I don't know what Ellis Cashmore's argument will be against MuayThai (if he has one). I don't think he is against competition as such (he was a martial artist himself I think) or against children participating in sport either; just that in his opinion sporting competition can damage children psychologically but I don't know what angle he will take. I have to agree there is research and anecdotal evidence that an over emphasis on winning can lead to significant loss of motivation and high attrition rates in sport for children. I personally think in the appropriate motivational climate competition is beneficial for children, when children are psychologically ready for it (this can vary from child to child). I am not sure I completely agree that playing only non-competitive sport would damage children psychologically, but it certainly would deprive them of some valuable lessons in life. Learning to win and lose and then to grow emotionally are important for other aspects of life. To be honest whatever adults to keep things non-competitive, some children will be competitive anyway...and in some quite creative ways. Certainly there is significant anecdotal evidence of the confidence success brings to other areas of an individual's life; something Nikki suggests is evident with Connor.