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While martial arts practice is commonly associated
with fitness and health, there are real hazards looming over its
practitioners. A friend of mine who’s a martial artist and a
doctor once said, “If you’ve lost a tooth from sparring, I guess
that’s no longer healthy.” He’s right.
Though the possibility is small,
it is wise to consider the possibility of transmission of HIV,
hepatitis and other blood-borne pathogens during martial arts
practice sessions. Cuts and abrasions sustained from contact
sparring definitely expose the martial artist to this kind of health
risk. Referees of mixed martial arts events wear surgical rubber
gloves as protection against blood-borne pathogens. It is a
practical thing to do in this sport where there are participants who
are openly HIV positive. The most notable among them is former
heavyweight boxer cum mixed martial arts fighter Tommy Morrison.
Real protection however starts by
asking a martial arts instructor how he and his school would address
such a threat before signing up for class. Observe the training area
and the protective equipments used. Does the mat offer sufficient
protection? Are there nearby hard surfaces or objects that pose
threat to the players? Is the wearing of mouthpiece and head guard
mandatory during sparring?
In case a student sustained a
bleeding injury, it is the martial arts instructor’s
responsibility to see to it that proper first aid treatment was
administered. In such a situation, all blood and body fluids shed
must be considered infected regardless of circumstances and
therefore must be disposed with proper sanitary measures.
Another thing that a martial
artist must watch out is injuring the eye. A fighter in training can
flaunt his sprains and hematoma with bravado. But I seriously doubt
if he’ll be happy doing that with an injured eye. Despite
tremendous advancement in science, the eye remains an irreplaceable
organ. Among the most serious types of eye injuries are blunt
trauma, which is sustained from impact, and penetrating injury,
inflicted when something cut into the eye. This concern is
particularly important for martial artists engaging in weapons
sparring where the vicious end of a training knife or stick can
damage the eyes.
The best way to protect the eyes
is to wear adequate eye protection during training. Based on
personal experience, I would say that a good quality industrial-type
goggles offer good protection during drills and free-style sparring
with wooden and aluminum training knives. I cannot recommend
anything though, that will offer 100 percent eye protection for
those engaging in full-contact “live” rattan stick sparring. The
latter is an old Filipino martial arts (FMA) practice that is
experiencing resurgence among FMA practitioners here and in the
United States for the past two decades.
Ultimately, it is the individual
martial artist who will decide whether a particular risk is worth
taking. Personally speaking, I want to protect my body from serious
injuries so that I can still train and enjoy my art way into my
twilight years. I also believe in the old warrior adage saying that
if you go soft on your training partner, you’re turning him into a
mediocre fighter. But if you go too hard on him on practice and he
breaks, there will be no one to stand by you in battle.
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