CPR Should Be a Requirement of Colored Belts

[Jimmy Cerra]

I was reading "Shodokan Judo" and at the end they listed some resuscitation techniques. However CPR, rescue breathing, and basic first aid have made those techniques mostly obsolete.

The honor of wearing a colored belt - in Judo or Jiu-Jitsu, Karate, Tae kwon do, or any another martial art - implies that you are competent in several techniques and skills. If you wear a colored belt you should also know how to care for or resuscitate someone injured from an attack or an accident in training or otherwise. Even CPR usually doesn't work, but it should still be taught just in case it can help.

Therefore, I feel that a requirement of having a belt should be know how to perform CPR and basic first aid. This means being recertified or attending an legitimate seminar at least annually, IMHO.

 

[IMP]

We learn CPR and Basic First aid for driver's licence...

 

[Coach Couzo]

I was reading "Shodokan Judo" and at the end they listed some resuscitation techniques. However CPR, rescue breathing, and basic first aid have made those techniques mostly obsolete.

The honor of wearing a colored belt - in Judo or Jiu-Jitsu, Karate, Tae kwon do, or any another martial art - implies that you are competent in several techniques and skills. If you wear a colored belt you should also know how to care for or resuscitate someone injured from an attack or an accident in training or otherwise. Even CPR usually doesn't work, but it should still be taught just in case it can help.

Therefore, I feel that a requirement of having a belt should be know how to perform CPR and basic first aid. This means being recertified or attending an legitimate seminar at least annually, IMHO.

Man, I'm just here to train and have a good time - are you choking people out?

Although, knowing CPR is important, it should not serve as a prerequisite to belt advancement. The coaches/instructors should receive CPR training - that's why we pay them - but not the students.

 

[TheHighlander]

A coloured belt in a martial art does not imply that you have any other skills than knowledge and/or proficiency in the skills of that martial art.

So if you don't keep your CPR certification up you lose your belt? That's ridiculous and unenforceable. Schools should (in the interests of liability) ensure that somebody present have first aid and CPR skills, but ultimately it's their choice. If a student cares about this certification they should just ask. It's their body, so as far as I am concerned it's their responsibility (although I do realize that in terms of civil liability that may not be the case).

 

[Jimmy Cerra]

I'm not choking people out, but I also understand that accidents happen. Knowing first aid and CPR is a very good way of being prepared in case those happen. If you have a belt, you represent your school and your instructor. Wouldn't you disrespect them (as well as your iinjured partner) by not knowing how to help if you contribute to a training accident? That's one reason I say that knowing CPR and first aid is a skill you should know to have a colored belt.

 

[Diligent]

I don't see anything wrong with this ... I think it's a legit idea. Why NOT learn how to aid another person? ... especially in a sport that is as dangerous as bjj ...

 

[ClubberLange]

yea, I think that athletes in all sports, once they are no longer complete begginers, should do their first aid, CPR, de-fib, etc.
Come on, coaches maybe, but all colored belts.
You run a bussiness in first aid courses or something?

Don't get me wrong, I think basic first aid, CPR, etc, is something that can benefit everyone to know, but to make it compulsory?

 

[EclipseAgent]

Sounds plauasble OR you are just trying to find a reason to make out with your opponent .

IMO it should be a requirement for Black Belts to know BASIC CPR tought by the instructor, but should not have to get "certified"

 

[tequilaman]

Not a bad idea really. Definitely for refs and coaches. It might be overkill to make everyone do it though.

 

[ClubberLange]

but all colored belts?
C'mon.

 

[Jimmy Cerra]

I am not a CPR trainer, but I am certified in CPR. I don't make any money teaching CPR nor do I work for a company that certifies people in first aid.

I think one goal of martial arts is to make students people better physically, mentally, and socially. Especially judo (by definition) and jiu-jitsu (by inheritance). As my instructor says, "A+ student; A+ life."

One thing everyone should do is take a course in CPR and first aid, but they never follow through. That applies especially to athletes since injuries are pretty much inevitable. You can be super safe at the beginning, but someday as you improve you overestimate your body. Or you get distracted. Or a freak situation occures. Or you roll with a jerk.

It is probable you will be hurt someday so your partners should be prepared if the worst happens. To be a good partner, you should know how to handle grave situations should the need arise. I believe this is a basic requriement, so blue belts should know it. If they do, then so should purples, browns, and blacks of course.

At least purples should know CPR. Many places are taught by browns or purples since there aren't enough blacks in BJJ to fill every geographic area yet (at least in my area - the United States). Although I feel the need is basic enough that blue belts should know first aid as well.

(Another thing I wish more people do is to donate blood - especially platelet apheresis - but that's a different rant.)

 

[guardpasser]

lets get things straight

CPR is for dead people, we do not kill
First Aid is for live people, we may have to use first aid while training.
choking someone out does not require CPR, they are not dead.

but, i think a first aid class is a good idea, i take first aid and cpr every two years when it expires

 

[Andre00]

not a bad idea. At least have it accessible.

should we have a firefighter certification too, ya know for the lava pits, etc...

 

[Jimmy Cerra]

should we have a firefighter certification too, ya know for the lava pits, etc...

Only if you train with Mayhem or BJ Penn. :icon_lol:

 

[Stoic1]

I have a black belt in a more traditional martial art. I have a brown in Judo and Kenpo. I have a purple belt in BJJ.

I think that if I ever start teaching someday that a requirement for BLACK BELT under me will be that the student be CPR and First Aid certified. Colored belts? Encouraged but not required.

Why?

Because with a black belt you have a certain obligation as well as responsibility. Most people believe that at black belt you are qualified to teach. Well, in my opinion, safety is one of the utmost concerns when practicing martial arts. I've been around the block a few times. The number of injuries I have seen while training and competing is pretty big. From dislocated fingers all the way to broken necks. Lets be real here, it's a dangerous activity.

I wouldn't want someone teaching my little league kids without knowing CPR and First Aid. I wouldn't want someone teaching a scuba course without it, etc.

I personally have seen instructors who don't care about open bloody wounds, injuries, or even have the common sense to recognize things like heat exhaustion. In fact, I have had to tell my own (old) BJJ instructor to STOP and recognize a guy was actually unconscious. He was clueless about how to care for a KO (not a choke). Ignorance knows no bounds.

 

[guardpasser]

what stoic said