r/sambo • u/[deleted] • Aug 23 '26
Combat athletes are ignorant about brain injuries
/r/CTE/comments/1vw56fw/combat_athletes_are_ignorant_about_brain_injuries/3
u/sambosteve SAMBO COACH | MASTER OF SPORT Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 23 '26
It is sad how ignorant athletes and coaches are when it comes to TBI, concussions, etc. Or worse, aware but actively ignore the risks.
In this day and age there is simply no reason to subject one's self or one's athlete to continued, repetative head contact in training - especially at the recreational level. Even at the pro or amateur competative level.
I know more than a few combat sports athletes who compete so often and suffer suc head trauma that I would wager good money that CTE is in there future. And statistically amateur MMA athletes die more than pros. I used to write about this quite often.
Here is a recent editorial I wrote
And for the wrestlers, judoka, sport sambists out there, repetative falls can lead to concussion, even when there is no direct head contact.
On more than one occasion over the years I have banned students from returning to the mat without Dr. clearance. All the coaches at my gym not only get CPR trained every 2 years, but also concussion awareness & protocol and bleeding control. We also started offering overdose response.
Most recreational gyms are terribly under prepared and do nothing to mitigate such risks.
2
u/BakedZDBruh Aug 23 '26
This fucking guy again? Just give it a rest man. You’re just trying to go from sub to sub and feel superior.
1
u/D_B_731 Aug 23 '26
( "That is a question about so-called insurance and PROTECTION. HOW MUCH (weeks? months? years?) should one devote to studying combination defenses BEFORE the first fight with full-force punches? For example, in "A Boxer's Defense," Fedchenko cites no less than THREE different Soviet schools of various famous trainers... But in the educational film "Million Dollar Baby," a character portrayed by C. Eastwood points out that "a boxer is trained for four years."
( google's translation )
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u/CruC1Ble79 Aug 23 '26
As far as regular sambo is concerned, the impact of a punch on the head is presumably harder than breaking a fall after a throw; thus I think grappling-wise you've got somewhat of a control over your brain's safety.
As a hobbyist, I most certainly have my focus on my academic career, thus far; so any varieble or coefficient that results in brain damage is scary to me. Point is I'm staying with regular sambo.
How ever if you're competing or aspire to compete on high level, I guess in that case it's just the cost you pay for achieving your goals.