Concussion in Martial Arts

The dangers of concussion in martial arts

The recent death - viewed as a probable suicide - by former wrestler and mixed martial arts fighter Sean O'Haire might definitely be a stark reminder of the potential dangers involved in contact sports where head injuries may be prevalent on a more regular basis.

Here's from sports.yahoo.com:

This issue first came to light in the aftermath of the infamous scandal of Chris Benoit's horrific double murder-suicide. At the request of Christopher Nowinski, Mike Benoit allowed an autopsy to be conducted on his son's brain by the Sports Legacy Institute. The results were shocking. They found that his brain displayed large amounts of abnormal Tau proteins and concluded that he had been suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative disease that can lead to symptoms also found in dementia, like memory loss, aggression, confusion and depression.  

Only a problem in pro wrestling?

It is possible to dismiss this as saying it was primarily wrestling that caused the majority of brain trauma, None the less, we need to be extremely aware of all forms of concussion and brain trauma in all contact sport, all the more so where children are involved.

Here is a video showing the impact effect on the brain from punches and kicks used in martial arts:

Improve Sports With Martial Arts

Can martial arts training improve your sports?

Bruce McCorry claims in this great article that martial arts training can without a doubt help you to become better at regular sports activities, and I agree with him completely.

The article is focusing on how it can improve the sports abilities in children, however, I would also like to say that it goes for adults as well. This is one of the reasons why many team sports (soccer, rugby, football etc.) hire martial arts teachers and coaches to help them out with certain physical details of the game.

How can martial arts training benefit sports activities?

Master McCorry correctly points to a set of vital aspects which will enhance a child's chances to be better at any sport, such as enhanced physical capability, better reflexes, enhanced reasoning, improved self-confidence and sportsman spirit.

I'd also like to add to that how good martial arts training teaches any student to focus on what YOU can do something about (yourself), rather than blaming outside things like the pitch, referee, team mates, the weather and what not.

Learning and executing control is another extremely vital part of the core teaching of any serious/good martial art. The same goes for the ability to focus and staying focused...

As for the enhanced physical aspects, I'd like also to include learning how to fall without getting injured, how to get back up quickly, how to take a hit (within reason of course and there's no hits to the head or excessive force allowed in martial arts training for children!), improved balance, eye-hand coordination and so much more.

You should of course read the whole article referenced above.

Improving sports activities with martial arts training - Image from Flickr.com

Confuse-Us Speaks #29

So... It appears I was left in the dark once again, not knowing poomsae is a sport which, according to this article from eastlondonlines.co.uk is something separate from taekwondo.

The sport combines the the moves and choreography of the martial art taekwondo, (...).

And slap me silly, I was actually led to believe that taekwondo had various disciplines, of which forms/poosae was one. Well, it's apparently proven time and time again how I really knows zilch when it comes to the martial arts.

From Flickr: Children performing a taekwondo pattern (a poomsae)

MMA Banned in Thailand

Muay Thai - Illustration from Flickr.com

Really, MMA banned in Thailand? It definitely appears to be the case, somethings which appears kind of odd in a country where the hard hitting fighters of Muay Thai are national heroes and the martial art - considered brutal by many - is the national sport.

Apparently mixed martial arts has been deemed to be 'too brutal' by the governing Thai sports authorities.

Makes me wonder if there isn't some form of political pressure behind this decision.

MMA banned in Thailand

Here's a small excerpt of what bangkokpost.com has to say about this kind of strange move.

SAT officials met this week to discuss whether holding an MMA event was lawful or not following a request from a private company and they finally agreed that under the 1999 boxing law, it is unlawful to stage an MMA event in Thailand.
"Organising a MMA event here would hurt the image of Muay Thai," Sakol said.
There have been two MMA events held in Bangkok and neither were approved by the SAT, according to Sakol. He said the SAT was asking the Interior Ministry's legal advisors to consider action against any MMA organisers.
"If you want to do this kind of business, you should do it in another country," Sakol said. "Organising MMA here could mislead the public into believing that Muay Thai is brutal."

So there you have it - apparently MMA is too brutal, but Muay Thai is OK. Weird logic if you ask me. What's your opinion?

Accused: Top Karate Coach

Karate training - From Wikipedia.com

Here's another case of an alleged sexual assault case against a well known and respected karate coach, this time from Botswana.

Below, you will see parts of what thevoicebw.com has to say about the matter.

And by all means, let us be clear that being accused is not the same as a guilty sentence..

Police are investigating allegations against well-known karate instructor Andrew Dobolo, accused of sexually assaulting two young girls in his charge during last month's Botswana Games.
Dobolo, a Presidential award winner and viewed as one of the country's shining sports personalities, was the manager of the Gaborone karate team during the competition when the alleged incidents occurred.
Filing charges recently the girl's parents contented that on two separate occasions Dobolo lured the two girls aged 13 and 15 to his house where he sexually molested them.

So, what's your take on this? Does it appear that the number of cases is actually growing, or do you believe it's more a case of more cases being known to the public? Feel free to leave your comment below.

Judo Worries Parents

Japan -- From 2012, martial arts such as judo will be compulsory in schools across the country, according to english.aljazeera.net.

The program will help preserve the country's national sport of judo according to Japanese government officials, and for people who love all martial arts like we do, it comes as an apparently great decision.

However, many Japanese parents and also experts are voicing their concern - something which is understandable from the following numbers.

It is shown that 114 students have died (it is even said at least that number) and another 261 have been seriously injured while practicing the sport in school over the last 30 years, a number which is claimed to be five times higher than those shown in other large sports.

Is judo a dangerous sport? Of course not. Under safe guidance and qualified instruction it is way less dangerous than most other sports. If you take a country like France, where judo is a huge sport, there has been no reported deaths among children practicing the sport.

The point here is rather that you have no safety instructions in the Japanese school judo as well as non qualified, highly inexperienced teachers/instructors. Some of them apparently have been given just a basic three days of training before being set to teach children judo.

Combine that with a (Japanese judo) sports culture that is said to celebrate toughness, and you may have yourself an unfortunate road to more serious incidents.

Fake Charity Fraud

UK -- A 61-year-old hooligan and martial arts "legend" from the Burnley area has been sentenced to jail after falsely claiming he collected money for a kick-boxing club.

The man told people in Blackburn, that - while using a charity collection tin - he was part of a group collecting for the club, according to pendletoday.co.uk.

He was allegedly arrested when an off-duty police officer recognized him from Burnley.

Confuse-Us Speaks #24

OK ninjabbers ... time for an other complete martial arts comment fail, something master Confuse-Us would be proud of; nay, scrap that, he would probably be sobbing silently.

Today's entry: "The judo kick"... Yes, you got that right. We all know about the famous (and totally lethal) judo chop. But a judo kick? I guess that's more like "toetally" lethal?

Anyhow, apparently gullible reporters from gacksports.com talks about the first time ever judo kick. Allegedly delivered during a soccer match in Brazil. Sure, we know that the sport of soccer is a full contact blood sport and all that, but a judo kick...? Quadruple wow!

In all fairness, the fantasy land reporters states: "It's not often that you see someone judo-kick someone in the back of the head". Spot on guys, spot on. Could it be because judo don't involve kicking? Just saying...

Judo Benefit Fiddler

UK -- While teaching and practicing judo, a 46-year-old black belt judoka has been pocketing in excess of £1,000 a month in disability support, according to thesun.co.uk.

The civil war refugee from Congo, who does judo at a community sports center in North London has allegedly even been posting pictures of himself in judo gear on Facebook.

Documents supposedly show the man, who's also been described as "a violent drunk" was sent a letter in April 2008 where officials accepted he was "virtually unable to walk" and needed "attention with bodily functions through the day".

Youth Coach Arrested

Update, June 29: The 29-year-old wife of the arrested coach has been arrested as well by Rhode Island State Police, and she is facing sex charges herself.

A police spokesman said that eight victims so far had come forward, and that he believed the number of victims would rise.

----

Rhode Island -- A 37-year-old man, originally of Connecticut, has been arrested by the state police in Rhode Island.

The man, who has volunteered as a judo instructor while working as a youth football coach in Pawtucket, has reportedly been hit with child molestation charges.

He was arrested after the father of an alleged, 15-year-old victim reported his son and his two friends had been assaulted sexually by the man, according to wpri.com.

Since the arrest, additional victims have come forward with accusations of similar abuse at the hands of the suspect.

Be Proud Vancouver!

Canada -- The citizens of Vancouver should really be proud they have 32-year-old Bert Easterbrook on their team. The solid karate expert, bouncer and photographer were among they very few who dared to stand up against the rioting hooligans recently.

And to all you idiots who dare to call yourself hockey fans, when all you ever stood out to be were mindless losers and cowards: Please get lost... seriously, we will all be so much better without you.

Go here to watch a video showing the bravery of the decent folks of Vancouver: offthebench.nbcsports.com.

Even More Kung-Football

China -- Dailymail.co.uk has an article which touches upon an issue we have heard of before - how the Chinese are setting out to improve their rather trite and low performing soccer/football sport with the help of Shaolin monks. And hey, why not?

Fee "Hikeido"

Australia -- Following a fee increase imposed on Melbourne University sports clubs, the kung fu club has reportedly accused the campus sports association of racism and lodged a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission, according to watoday.com.au.

The University Sport claim the increase it was unavoidable due to a revenue shortfall caused by a government ban on collecting union fees from students.

Kung Fu Club students says the clubs most affected are international students - predominantly Asian - who are being shut out of campus sports following the fee hike.

According to policies, a club which is not competing must pay a per-hour room hire fee. On the other hand, free training space is provided free to the clubs which are preparing for competition.

The complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission allegedly includes a support statement from other campus martial arts units, including the aikido and karate clubs.

Martial Arts Celebrities

Japan -- It appears the 53-year-old current (2010-2013) Japanese Minister of Finance, Yoshihiko Noda, is a keen judo practitioner and a combat sports fan. This tidbit is reported by Reuters.

As we all know by now, the same goes for the powerful Russian Prime Minister (and former president) Putin.

If you want to read more about public figures and celebrities with a background in martial arts, then feel free to jump over to: Martial Arts Celebrities.

Taekwondo Row

Taiwan -- Chinapost.com.tw reports the Taiwanese sports officials has filed an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne (Switzerland) regarding the controversial and disputed disqualification of (taekwondo fighter) Yang Shu-chun at the recent Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

The Sports Affairs Council (SAC) in Taiwan said their move show its resolution to "fight until justice prevails".

Criminal Harassment

Update: The man has been given a conditional discharge by a judge and ordered to stay away from his former lover. He will be on probation for two years and is not allowed to contact the woman or the woman's current boyfriend.

----

Canada -- In mid August, a Grimsby martial arts teacher pleaded guilty to criminal harassment, according to stcatharinesstandard.ca. The case reportedly  involved a former partner, a young woman the 36-year-old man met through his martial arts school.

After admitting to having threatened  the woman causing her to fear for her safety, the 5th dan black sport ju-jitsu instructor was told he would be sentenced on September 20.

More Victims

California -- The 29-year-old soccer coach and former martial-arts assistant instructor who was charged in August with molesting five boys has been accused of sexually assaulting two more young boys, according to ocregister.com.

The man, who was arrested August 5, taught karate in Fullerton and was a soccer coach for the North Orange County Youth Soccer Premier League. He has now been charged with 24 child molestation counts regarding a total of seven alleged victims..

It has been reported how the suspect met all his victims through the karate practice or through the soccer league. He allegedly befriended their families, who allowed the man to take their sons to the movies.

Karate, Soccer Coach Accused

California -- A 29-year-old Fullerton martial-arts/karate assistant instructor and soccer coach, already facing child-molestation charges in Fullerton and Anaheim for allegedly sexually assaulting two boys is now accused of molesting three more youngsters, according to ocregister.com.

The first reported cases dates back to September 2009  and involves two 8-year-old boys. Police arrested the man on August 5.

Coach Saves Judo Youngster

Belgium -- A brave judo coach probably saved the lives of several young judo players when a tornado tore through a sports hall at a training camp in Belgium, according to kentnews.co.uk.

The 50-year-old British coach was blown out of the building when the tornado hit. However, he reportedly risked his own life to head back in and rescue those left inside.

Kung-Football

China -- After China once again failed to qualify for the World Cup, a businessman named Kong Debao thinks he may have found a way to revitalize the "beautiful game" -- by creating kung fu football.

By blending the sport of soccer with graceful kung fu moves, Kong believes he can help the national football team improve their agility and speed, according to timesofindia.indiatimes.com.

After two years of setbacks, the Chinese businessman finally found a martial arts school in the suburbs of Beijing that agreed to start a kung fu football class this year.

Don't know about you guys, but I'd really like to see a video of this. Is it full contact? Do they stop to perform a pattern now and then? Can you kick your opponent as well as the ball? Any weapons involved? So many questions.. :-)