The next step in the evolution of combat sports; awareness of brain damage?

[MadHorse]

Reading the book 'Boxing' by Edwin Haislet, I was interested to discover that in ancient Greece it was considered cowardly to move backwards in a boxing match (just bleed). Boxing has clearly changed throughout time. The jab as it is applied in modern boxing was developed in the 19th century for example.

Medical professionals have obviously been aware of the dangers of head trauma for a long time. However, I was surprised to discover that it wasn't until 1994 (!) that the NFL acknowledged the dangers of concussions. More and more research has been done on the subject on fighters too and the results aren't good. Most people can sense that getting punched in the head isn't good for you but this fact has become more palpable than ever. The era of pro boxers fighting on a weekly basis, even if they were hurt in their last bout, is over.

http://deadspin.com/a-timeline-of-concussion-science-and-nfl-denial-1222395754

So on to the main point; how will this effect combat sports, fighters and regulations. Slowly but surely it seems that fighters are putting more emphasis on defense and less on risk taking. A good example is Floyd Mayweather Jr. High level fighers like Jones and St Pierre are talking about retiring at a young age, Nick Denis retiring early in his carreer out of fear of brain damage.

The changes are subtle as of now, but I believe these kind of things will become more and more common as time goes on.

Thoughts?

 

[Mattitude V1]

It won't effect anything. We've known the risks of combat sports forever. Gaining a greater understanding of them changes nothing.

It only serves the fear mongers.

 

[kidcaustic**]

It won't effect anything. We've known the risks of combat sports forever. Gaining a greater understanding of them changes nothing.

It only serves the fear mongers.

Seriously? Knowledge of sport-related injuries will only help in treating and preventing them.

Fear mongers? What the hell?

 

[glennrod]

how about this: if you dont want to risk brain damage, dont become a fighter ? :wink:

 

[Ridian]

Seriously? Knowledge of sport-related injuries will only help in treating and preventing them.

Fear mongers? What the hell?

Yea totally agree, how does knowledge not help. Getting hit in the head will always be getting hit in the head but who knows what the future holds in regards to glove design and material, mouth piece design and material and stuff we haven't even thought of yet that could better protect a fighter.

Fear mongering?

 

[Free_MMAson]

This is why Steven Seagal is being brought in more and more recently. Aikido will save the day.

 

[kidcaustic**]

Yea totally agree, how does knowledge not help. Getting hit in the head will always be getting hit in the head but who knows what the future holds in regards to glove design and material, mouth piece design and material and stuff we haven't even thought of yet that could better protect a fighter.

Fear mongering?

I don't think he lifts.

 

[Mattitude V1]

Seriously? Knowledge of sport-related injuries will only help in treating and preventing them.

Fear mongers? What the hell?

How will you prevent fighters from getting brain damaged? They take concussive blows to the head routinely. It's just going to happen.

 

[Degen Gambler]

I don't really see big changes in rules to prevent head injuries, its the nature of the sport. Maybe there will be longer mandatory suspensions for concussed fighters. As long as fighters understand the risks of brain injury they can manage their career how they see fit. If a guy have been knocked out several times he will get a lot of pressure to retire from family, friends, coaches, managers etc.

 

[Mattitude V1]

Yea totally agree, how does knowledge not help. Getting hit in the head will always be getting hit in the head but who knows what the future holds in regards to glove design and material, mouth piece design and material and stuff we haven't even thought of yet that could better protect a fighter.

Fear mongering?

That's ridiculous. Getting concussed will still cause brain damage. What does the design of a glove have to do with anything? Gloves are worn to protect the hand, not the head.

Nothing is going to happen "that we haven't thought of." People will still get punched and kicked in the head.

 

[kidcaustic**]

How will you prevent fighters from getting brain damaged? They take concussive blows to the head routinely. It's just going to happen.

Who said anything about completely eliminating brain injuries? Our best best is to minimize them.

Bottom line, knowledge of something and acting on that knowledge will most certainly have an effect more times than not.

Who the hell are the fear mongers?

 

[glennrod]

Who said anything about completely eliminating brain injuries? Our best best is to minimize them.

Bottom line, knowledge of something and acting on that knowledge will most certainly have an effect more times than not.

Who the hell are the fear mongers?

headgear...thats pretty much what you are asking for realistically.

 

[MadHorse]

It won't effect anything. We've known the risks of combat sports forever. Gaining a greater understanding of them changes nothing.

It only serves the fear mongers.

It has had effect. Regulations prevent fighters that have been hurt to fight again on the short term.

Muhammad Ali let himself get punched in the head for his preparations against Foreman as a method to increase his resiliency against punching. I garantuee you most fighters won't apply such methods if they're aware of the consequences of brain damage.

Oh and.. fear mongers?

 

[Ridian]

That's ridiculous. Getting concussed will still cause brain damage. What does the design of a glove have to do with anything? Gloves are worn to protect the hand, not the head.

Nothing is going to happen "that we haven't thought of." People will still get punched and kicked in the head.

How can you say that if we haven't thought of it yet lol!

 

[Mattitude V1]

It has had effect. Regulations prevent fighters that have been hurt to fight again on the short term.

Muhammad Ali let himself get punched in the head for his preparations against Foreman as a method to increase his resiliency against punching. I garantuee you most fighters won't apply such methods if they're aware of the consequences of brain damage.

Oh and.. fear mongers?

He was an idiot. Are you really convinced that this was a pervasive line of thinking during that era? For real?

 

[kidcaustic**]

headgear...thats pretty much what you are asking for realistically.

Nope, not even close to what I had in mind.

Knowing how to diagnose possible brain damage as effectively as possible can help doctors and trainers decide whether a fighter needs time off training or even call off a fight if we've gotten that far...and numerous other possibilities...

 

[Mattitude V1]

Who said anything about completely eliminating brain injuries? Our best best is to minimize them.

Bottom line, knowledge of something and acting on that knowledge will most certainly have an effect more times than not.

Who the hell are the fear mongers?

You can't minimize it either. This is a sport where guys get punched and kicked in the head. You can't do anything that's going to change the fact that people get knocked out cold in the sport, unless you eliminate strikes.

 

[glennrod]

Nope, not even close to what I had in mind.

Knowing how to diagnose possible brain damage as effectively as possible can help doctors and trainers decide whether a fighter needs time off training or even call off a fight if we've gotten that far...and numerous other possibilities...

how about freedom of choice and personal responsibility?, who the hell are we to tell a man who has dedicated his entire life to combat sports that "sorry, but you could be headed for braindamage, you are retired"?

 

[MadHorse]

headgear...thats pretty much what you are asking for realistically.

That's not realistic for mma, at least outside of training. I think they're even considering getting rid of it for amateur boxing. That's not the case in the Netherlands as of now though.

I'm more interested in how this research could possibly effect the future styles of combat sports athletes. Maybe we'll see more focus and putting the hands up, parrying, slipping, blocking etc and less 'mexican-style' balls to the wall fighting and were fighters place less confidence in their chin.

Fighters retiring sooner, or being foreced to quite after a certain amout of knockouts. More repercussions against refs for late stoppages. More moves becoming illegal. Changes in the sparring intensity. Safer equipment for sparring etc.

Use your imagination.

 

[kidcaustic**]

He was an idiot. Are you really convinced that this was a pervasive line of thinking during that era? For real?

The point is getting punched in the face did not have long-term and such damaging connotations than they do now...I don't really know what the hell you're arguing against...

You want people to stop research on sports-related injuries because somehow you think it won't benefit the athletes? That sounds crazy.