IGX

"I'm dangerous," 23-year-old Garrett Holeve warns as he bounces around a bedroom in his parents' suburban, single-story house, throwing punches and kicks. A pungent combination of protein-powered farts, dirty laundry, and ball sweat permeates the air.

"I'll hurt a guy real bad," Garrett brags. "I'll be covered in too much blood, and I'll keep hurting him. Kick him in the mouth so hard the mouth guard flies out."

The words don't roll off his tongue. They bunch up in his throat and pour out in a slurred manner that's difficult to understand. This is just one of the ways Garrett's Down syndrome manifests itself.

"Oh, umm," he stammers frequently when looking for an answer. "Finding a fight takes time. My friend Chris is going to get me a fight."

He carries other telltale physical characteristics of the genetic condition: small ears that look like half-hearts, almond-shaped eyes, wide hands with short fingers, and a small, round mouth. Further affecting his health is rheumatoid arthritis that afflicts his right knee.

http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2012-12 ... the-sport/

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMf7jgopJXc[/youtube]

MOAR: http://www.garrettsfight.org/

Garrett vs. Johnny Knoxville obviously.

In some ways this reminds me of the time that Ben Cartwright agreed to fight a blind man in a saloon.

This is a fight nobody wins.

Dusty in here.

Shafpocalypse Now wrote:This is a fight nobody wins.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D60Cdz3qUJs[/youtube]

That article was a decent read.

If your Down's syndrome adult kid is smokin dubes and getting blowjobs, then you have fucking won as a dad.

Where to begin...

I feel uniquely qualified to comment on this story as I have fought in MMA, and I have a son with Down Syndrome. So, I'm up close and personal with both sides of this story.

Garrett is very high functioning compared to my own son, and I hate to see that kid put in harm's way like that. Kudos to his opponent...I have no doubt that he agreed to go hard...but not too hard.

Touching to see him working in the gym with those kids. When it showed him working with the other special needs folks I just about lost it. Great activity for him in terms of health and self-esteem. Would like to see them channel his competitive desires into submission grappling and sport jiujitsu. Absolutely no need for him to be taking shots to the cranium. Early onset of dementia and Alzheimer's are big enough issues for folks with DS without them getting drilled in the face with blunt force trauma.

Mixed emotions. Happy that he's found something that he loves and helps define who he is as a person. Happy that his "fights" have had good outcomes, so far. As much as I applaud his courage, I just know that when I see him in that ring...it's just wrong.

This is why children have parents. To make tough decisions that kids are not capable of making. Garrett is not capable of making a rational decision about fighting because he can't comprehend the long-term implications. His parents seem like decent folks, but they have really gone down a bad path here unless they can continue to orchestrate some Pride and RINGS style works.

PS, I was LMFAO when he slammed that midget nigger.

Brothers gonna be all like, "Damn nigga, I heard yo ass got choke slammed by Corky Thatcher, for real though."

Damn, dude, that's a well thought out piece. About a decade ago I helped another guy train 3 guys for a special Olympics powerlifting event, and it was 2 downs guys and one guy who was mentally retarded, they were all about the same age and functionality, except the two downs guys were very serious about training, and used to talk shit to the other guy about lifting like a pussy. It took a lot to keep them on point, and it was cool to see them all medal in their event.



Like you, I thought it was spectacular to see him willing to work with other special needs folks. I think there's a big growth that happens when that responsibility is taken on.

Stubbornness is a very common trait among DS folks. Once they get it in their head that they're going to do something, you can fucking hang it up.

Kazuya Mishima wrote:Absolutely no need for him to be taking shots to the cranium. Early onset of dementia and Alzheimer's are big enough issues for folks with DS without them getting drilled in the face with blunt force trauma.

You're missing the marketing potential. Think of the PPV draws.

Damn. That was rough.

Kazuya Mishima wrote:Where to begin...

I feel uniquely qualified to comment on this story as I have fought in MMA, and I have a son with Down Syndrome. So, I'm up close and personal with both sides of this story.

Garrett is very high functioning compared to my own son, and I hate to see that kid put in harm's way like that. Kudos to his opponent...I have no doubt that he agreed to go hard...but not too hard.

Touching to see him working in the gym with those kids. When it showed him working with the other special needs folks I just about lost it. Great activity for him in terms of health and self-esteem. Would like to see them channel his competitive desires into submission grappling and sport jiujitsu. Absolutely no need for him to be taking shots to the cranium. Early onset of dementia and Alzheimer's are big enough issues for folks with DS without them getting drilled in the face with blunt force trauma.

Mixed emotions. Happy that he's found something that he loves and helps define who he is as a person. Happy that his "fights" have had good outcomes, so far. As much as I applaud his courage, I just know that when I see him in that ring...it's just wrong.

This is why children have parents. To make tough decisions that kids are not capable of making. Garrett is not capable of making a rational decision about fighting because he can't comprehend the long-term implications. His parents seem like decent folks, but they have really gone down a bad path here unless they can continue to orchestrate some Pride and RINGS style works.

I have no mixed emotions but I can afford not to. Much Respect,Kaz. Sincerely.