A new British television documentary shows young boys and girls trading blows in the bloodsport — with many breaking down in tears as parents harrass them from the sidelines.
In one instance, five-year-old girl Miah Flanagan is seen on the Channel 4 documentary wearing large punching gloves as she sobs beside the boxing ring.
Her twin brother Kian is later shown receiving a sharp knock to the face from his kickboxing partner.
The children's MuayThai boxing bouts happen within an adult-sized boxing ring, with parents shouting tips such as "come on Princess, go forward, kick 'em, kick 'em."
The documentary is screening in Britain this week.
Britain has no age restrictions for youngsters taking part in MuayThai boxing, which is taught by over 500 registered clubs around the country.
There are also no official rules about children wearing protective headgear.
The Flanagans' father, Darren, believes the hits his children are taking now will stand them in good stead for the future.
"If someone grabs Miah when she's 15, what do you think is going to happen?" he is quoted as saying in Britain's Daily Mail newspaper.
"Miah knows all the defence moves. Anyway [she] loves it — she's like a ballet dancer with boxing gloves at the moment."
Mr Flanagan said he fed his daughter more food to bulk her up if she was facing an older or heavier opponent.
In Australia, children must be at least 14 years old to compete in Thai boxing, according to kickboxing association president Robert Murdoch.
But there are no age limits on kids taking part in other martial arts, he said.
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