Getting hit in the head does make you stupider!

[DWx]

http://www.universityherald.com/articles/4114/20130803/injuries-teen-fighting-deal-blow-iq.htm

http://www.jahonline.org/article/S1054-139X(13)00333-9/abstract

[mal103]

Are you looking at this from a training point of view or kids actually fighting?

We allow teens/kids to light spar only and never to the head so if any clubs are actively encouraging full on sparring then they may need to read these links.

If you are looking at it from another angle then teaching kids MA and self defence should eventually help them not "get their head kicked in" and will also eventually make them more keen to avoid the fight.

There was uproar in the UK a while back because parents were getting their kids into cage fighting, but as one parent pointed out that in their area they will only be fighting outside anyway or getting beaten up, in the cage they spar/fight properly with protection. I don't think its something I would allow my kids to do but thats my opinion.

[sensei8]

Head injuries from wherever is a serious thing. Wear protective headgear!! If where you're wanting to compete with denies this, then you'll run the risk of some serious injuries.

Nothing to be laughed about!! [i'm not saying that anyone here at KF is laughing]

Nice articles, Danielle, thank you for posting them!!

[DWx]

I'm of the view that we can't protect kids from all head trauma. They could just as easily experience it playing football or from falling over or just from general rough and tumble. You can take steps to try to minimize it though.

I will have to read the research paper again as I just skimmed it but I would be interested to know how much force results in a loss of IQ and whether or not it considered cumulative (minor?) blows. It does refer to "serious fighting-related injuries" but what does that constitute exactly?

Now regarding headgear. I would contrast this with the decision by Olympic boxing to drop the headguards because it is safer: http://www.karateforums.com/olympic-boxing-drops-headguards-and-changes-scoring-system-vt44826.html