Martial Arts Safety

Due to the ever increasing popularity of martial arts, and the official adoption of taekwondo as an Olympic sport in 2000, countless numbers of kids and adults alike have taken up the ancient art of defense either as a competitive sport, self defense technique, or simply for exercise and to decrease stress. While there are many different styles, such as kung fu, kick boxing, wrestling, judo, thai boxing, boxing, taekwondo, hapkido, and karate, there is still potential for injury. In 2003, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reported more than 70,000 injuries related to martial arts were treated in hospitals, doctors’Äô offices, clinics, ambulatory surgery centers and emergency rooms.

The Injuries:
Sprains, strains and contusions or bruising are some of the more common injuries associated with practicing martial arts. Strains can occur in both muscles and tendons and are caused by a sudden and extreme force that is greater than that area’Äôs ability to handle. Bruising is another common injury seen in martial arts, occurring both in soft tissue areas, and also to bones.

Brain Damage is also quite common.Although martial arts participants are taking more measures to prevent brain damage, it is still a significant problem. Unfortunately, although head gear and larger gloves are being used, participants who use the equipment rely on their effectiveness too much. For instance, when sparring partners are wearing the head gear they are often throwing the punches harder, and as a result, the head is still moving; when the head moves, the brain, which is surrounded by a fluid, also moves in the fluid and will often hit the skull bone; this means that brain cells will be destroyed. One study demonstrated that this movement resulted in brain damage after only one round of sparring.

If head gear is being used, the strikes must respect its limitations.