Concussions in training

[Boonchu]

Hey fellas and Sylvie, I wanted to ask you guys about your concussion experiences whether in sparring or in fighting. And particularly Sylvie what have your concussion experiences been like? Are you concerned with them whenever you fight? How long did it take for you to recover  from your concussion and return back to training??

[LengLeng]

11 hours ago, Boonchu said:

Hey fellas and Sylvie, I wanted to ask you guys about your concussion experiences whether in sparring or in fighting. And particularly Sylvie what have your concussion experiences been like? Are you concerned with them whenever you fight? How long did it take for you to recover  from your concussion and return back to training??

there is a thread here where Sylvie and Kevin give a lot of good advice. 

[Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu]

Thanks for linking the thread @LengLeng. Definitely check that out for answers, but the shortest version is that I think concussions should be taken quite seriously and I've been lucky to not have experienced them (to my knowledge) frequently. I had one really bad one and took a full 10 days (I think... check the thread) rest. And I was recently concussed again and took less rest, but my diet is very different now and I think that makes a huge difference.

[Kevin von Duuglas-Ittu]

On 6/21/2020 at 11:33 PM, Boonchu said:

Hey fellas and Sylvie, I wanted to ask you guys about your concussion experiences whether in sparring or in fighting. And particularly Sylvie what have your concussion experiences been like? Are you concerned with them whenever you fight? How long did it take for you to recover  from your concussion and return back to training??

Something to add to the topic. Sylvie got head kicked (accidentally) in sparring by a big partner and definitely was concussed, not too long ago. We've become very serious about putting in much more sparring, now 10 rounds a day, which means also sparring with people who just are not ideal. For us this means that if this is going to happen head defense has to become a very serious priority. Padwork and bagwork can produce some seriously bad habits, unconscious relaxations after combos or single strikes. Yes, it's sparring that will take those relaxations out (you are just going to get hit, and that will correct things), but if you are going to spar a lot the truth is that you just can't expose yourself to that much impact. This means head defense HAS to become a priority. This is one reason why we're working in the Diamond Guard. I feel like this is the most secure "cage" of defense in the sport, and famously protected Archie Moore through well over 100 boxing fights. The point though really is, if you are going to spar, defense and head protection has to become a major focus, just in terms of longevity. You can't just rely on negative feedback to correct your defensive mistakes. You have to stop thinking about offense (which is what pretty much everything thinks about in sparring) and become defensively minded, especially in your guard.

[actixTim]

In our gym the rule is one month no sparring after a concussion.

[Carlos13th]

I can talk somewhat on the effect concussions have. But obviously this is one persons experence so take it with a fist full of salt.

I got concussed badly in a non fighting/training accident. It was about the third time in my life I got concussed the first two I felt fine within a day or two. First was from rollerblading and second from being kicked in the head during an MMA class. 

I ended up with dizzy spells memory loss and other issues for over a year. Im still very careful about hard sparring now.

One of the biggest issues people can have is something called second impact syndrome, which can be fatal, it happens when some has another traumatic brain injury before they have recovered from the first. The most important thing I can say is if you are concussed and you are able to do so take the time of from sparring. If you suspect you have had a concussion I do not recommend sparring more that day and in fact fact maybe even for a few weeks, also be careful jumping back in the moment you feel better, you might still need time to heal. I do realize that this might not be possible for professional fighters and people who need to be on the mats/in the ring to make a living. 

[ineedtobenicer]

On 4/3/2022 at 3:13 PM, Carlos13th said:

One of the biggest issues people can have is something called second impact syndrome, which can be fatal, it happens when some has another traumatic brain injury before they have recovered from the first. . 

2nd Impact Syndrome is not a joke.

A friend of mine went back to finish a bout after getting their bell rung and somehow being able to conceal any problems from the ref.

They ate a head kick and it was bad.

They lost color vision for a few days/weeks ... everything was brown like an old time photograph.

They had tunnel vision for days/weeks as well.

The Dr told them no more getting hit in the head ever and if they are lucky they may not develop Parkinson disease