Reckless sparring before fight?

[LengLeng]

I have a friend, Burmese, who is training for his first Lethwei fight. He's done kyokushin karate matches before and a street boxing match against a very easy opponent. His fight will be what they call semi-professional lethwei, 5 rounds 3 minutes, all weapons allowed including headbutts but instead of no gloves they'll wear MMA gloves. KO or draw.

About a week before his fight he did sparring and my teacher, who I know to be very very controlled and can go hard without causing damage, kicked him in the head. My teacher is 63 kg and around 175cm tall and my friend 185cm and 78kg and will fight open weight (possibly against a muscular tall 100kg dude).

My friend told me the kick hurt extremely much and he almost lost consciousness. I wasn't there to see it but my teacher, who of course apologized,  said he didn't use any force. And the rest of the gym pretty much laughed and said it wasn't a big deal. 

The thing is I saw a photo of my friend's face and he had like a dent in his cheekbone from the kick. He also said he had a lot of pain and felt dizzy for two days. But his teachers and gym mates tell him to stop making a deal about it, if he wants to fight he needs to be able to take some pain. 

I dont really know how tough this guy is. But he's done heavy hard sparring before. And I know my teacher's body is incredibly hard (they don't kick banana trees in Myanmar, they kick, elbow and headbutt coconuts open) but he is a controlled person so there's the possibility of my friend being sensitive. 

But to me this situation sounds absolutely reckless, especially so short before what will be a very tough fight. And I suspect due to a lack of knowledge about head injuries they ignore his worry. 

I know this is not directly related to muay thai but I'm asking from the perspective of general safety and fighting. I believe everyone should respect martial art traditions and listen to your teacher. But at the same time your own safety has to be your responsibility and priority. 

[StefanZ]

If it hurt that much and he had a dent, he should of course go look see the doctor for a check up and a X-ray.  He could get hurt for real, even if it wasnt the purpose of this kick.    S... happens, even if you arent planning on it.

 

Unless such medical check up costs a smaller fortune, and he doesnt have the money.  But this is perhaps another story; to engage in a quite dangerous sport without having possibility to adequate medical back up.

[Kevin von Duuglas-Ittu]

On 12/25/2020 at 11:07 AM, LengLeng said:

he had like a dent in his cheekbone from the kick.

Jesus. Not normal.

[Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu]

I've definitely noted a very stark difference in appreciation for the dangers of head impacts between western perspective and Thai perspective (where I have experience watching, but likely similar to what you're seeing at your gym). There is an understanding of concussion, but it's kind of considered to be momentary, like something you "walk off." One of the fighters in my gym got hit hard in sparring and was definitely concussed (after he'd been KOd in a fight not too long before) and they just had him stretch his jaw out. So, your trainer might not have a full comprehensive understanding of what cognitive impacts there might be from such a kick to the face. Since your friend didn't lose consciousness, the trainer might think it's not even concussive. 

Kevin and I have largely relied on me to determine what the damage may or may not be from any head impacts. So, likewise your friend needs to pay attention to his own symptoms. As for the "walk it off" attitude of the trainer and the reckless sparring, I think this is simply a case of limited understanding and perspective. I don't think they're being dicks about it, not on purpose. 

[LengLeng]

On 12/26/2020 at 3:43 PM, StefanZ said:

If it hurt that much and he had a dent, he should of course go look see the doctor for a check up and a X-ray.  He could get hurt for real, even if it wasnt the purpose of this kick.    S... happens, even if you arent planning on it.

 

Unless such medical check up costs a smaller fortune, and he doesnt have the money.  But this is perhaps another story; to engage in a quite dangerous sport without having possibility to adequate medical back up.

He's got the money but listens to his teacher who gave him some traditional medicine and told him he was fine. But I agree and I told him a doc visit wouldn't hurt. 

[LengLeng]

On 12/30/2020 at 1:53 PM, Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu said:

I've definitely noted a very stark difference in appreciation for the dangers of head impacts between western perspective and Thai perspective (where I have experience watching, but likely similar to what you're seeing at your gym). There is an understanding of concussion, but it's kind of considered to be momentary, like something you "walk off." One of the fighters in my gym got hit hard in sparring and was definitely concussed (after he'd been KOd in a fight not too long before) and they just had him stretch his jaw out. So, your trainer might not have a full comprehensive understanding of what cognitive impacts there might be from such a kick to the face. Since your friend didn't lose consciousness, the trainer might think it's not even concussive. 

Kevin and I have largely relied on me to determine what the damage may or may not be from any head impacts. So, likewise your friend needs to pay attention to his own symptoms. As for the "walk it off" attitude of the trainer and the reckless sparring, I think this is simply a case of limited understanding and perspective. I don't think they're being dicks about it, not on purpose. 

We've had a discussion on this topic before I believe and since head injuries are the only thing worrying me I pay extra attention. I have the same understanding as you.... It's simply a lack of knowledge. But at the same time there are countless times I'm surprised by how much people in martial arts gyms in this region know about the body and injuries so it's hard for me to know when to listen and when not to. 

Thanks for the input.