How to Prevent Injuries During Martial Arts Competitions and Tournaments

Martial arts, like most physically demanding sports, comes with the risk of injury. As a 2nd degree black belt in Karate, I understand this all too well. However, it is possible to avoid and reduce the severity of injuries during competitions and tournaments by following some simple safety guidelines. Here are some safety tips to help you and your students avoid injury during the next event.

Training and Preparation

Injury prevention in martial arts begins with the training and preparation months before the competition. There are three main causes for injury during a tournament - direct contact with an opponent, poor execution of techniques, and muscle strain. The most obvious cause of injury is direct contact with an opponent. During your training, be sure to spend a lot of time working on blocks and footwork. This will help minimize the chance of taking a strong unexpected blow from your opponent. Practice your techniques over and over and over. Have you instructor observe your training to ensure that your punches, kicks, and blocks are flawless. Muscle strain can occur easily during competitions. Often times, competitors become so focused on winning that they execute techniques with more force than usual. Spend a good portion of your training strengthening your muscles and engaging in full-force sparing matches.

Take Appropriate Gear

Nearly every martial arts competition and tournament has a list of protective gear that competitors must have in order to participate in the event. Protective items range from simple mouth guards to full head and chest protectors. The required gear will vary depending on the martial arts styles presented in the tournament or the host organization's safety regulations. Check the event guidelines to determine which items you will be required to take along.

Follow the Rules

Most organizations have a list of rules that competitors must follow during a tournament. Of these rules, the most important are the approved striking areas. Strikes to certain areas of the body can cause sever injury. For this reason, some areas - most commonly the face, throat, and groin - are off limits.

Listen to the Judges

Judges are a not only present to award points and determine a winner, but they also are responsible for the wellbeing of the competitors. They are responsible to ensure that every competitor follows the safety guidelines and defuse situations that might result in injury or competitors or spectators. Be sure to pay very close attention to the directions given by the judges.

Remember to Breathe

Martial arts competitions can be both exciting and nerve wrecking. However, it is very important to regulate and concentrate on proper breathing to prevent injury. Why is breathing so important? If you have ever had the wind knocked out of you, you understand why this is crucial. If your opponent lands a solid punch or kick to your midsection while you are breathing in or holding air in your lungs, the air will immediately be forced out making is very difficult to breathe for a short time. To prevent this type of injury, exhale completely when exchanging blows with an opponent. This technique should also be utilized when falling or being slammed on the ground during Judo-type matches

Tap Out

The absolute best tip to avoid injury is to know your limits. If you are in pain, don't be ashamed to tap out. It's much better to stop a match than be injured and forced to put your martial arts study on hold. Also, be aware of your opponent, and be ready to stop immediately if they sustain an injury.