Boxing/Muay Thai and head trauma

[justanormalguy]

I am still trying to decide on a martial art/self defense course to start (I originally was looking at Krav Maga but have read a lot of negative about it) and am leaning towards boxing/Muay Thai. However, I do have a concern about head trauma (I have read many of the studies on football players and Chronic traumatic encephalopathy) and these two disciplines. I've watched my grandparents go through Alzheimer's and Parkinsan's disease and I want to keep my brain as health as possible! I have no desire to compete in either of these, just want to learn how to better defend myself and my family, gain confidence and get in better shape. Thoughts?

 

[lklawson]

I am still trying to decide on a martial art/self defense course to start (I originally was looking at Krav Maga but have read a lot of negative about it) and am leaning towards boxing/Muay Thai. However, I do have a concern about head trauma (I have read many of the studies on football players and Chronic traumatic encephalopathy) and these two disciplines.

Yes, concussion and brain injury, with the possibility for long term or cumulative damage is a risk for professional boxers. Muhammad Ali didn't get the way he is now by eating Kale.

I've watched my grandparents go through Alzheimer's and Parkinsan's disease and I want to keep my brain as health as possible! I have no desire to compete in either of these, just want to learn how to better defend myself and my family, gain confidence and get in better shape. Thoughts?

The most recent research seems to indicate that Alzheimer's may be caused by something similar to Prion disease instead of concussion.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

 

[drop bear]

Does head trauma cause Parkinson's? I can't imagine Michael j fox being much of a boxer.

 

[Danny T]

Far more people train and do not have Parkinson's than those who train and do have Parkinson's.

 

[justanormalguy]

There have been a number of studies linking head trauma to higher risks of Parkinson's disease. Obviously there are varying risks in most sports. But at 40 years old, I'm trying to think of my kids and the burden that any memory loss can cause families.

 

[justanormalguy]

http://www.pdf.org/en/science_news/release/pr_1433778887

MILD HEAD INJURY MAY INCREASE RISK FOR PARKINSON DISEASE : Neurology Today

Traumatic Brain Injury May Increase Parkinson’s Risk

 

[justanormalguy]

What I was trying to ask is how much head contact is there in boxing / muay thai if I were to not compete in competitions?

 

[kuniggety]

What negatives have you read about Krav Maga? I don't practice it but it can be good or bad. From what I've seen there has been a lot of commercialization of it and bad programs out there but there are also legit instructors. It's the same of McDojos for TKD or Karate. You just have to do your research on the teacher/school.

As for boxing/Muay Thai, at some point you will spar. Most of your training will be pad work but the only way to really test yourself in a self-defense/stressed environment is to actually spar. That sparring will involve people trying to punch you in the face. If that's not something that you can deal with then maybe boxing/Muay Thai is not for you. Maybe a grappling art? Every martial art you take is going to have some sort of risk of injury attached to it.

 

[Danny T]

Depending on how you train and practice. There are ways to train without taking a lot of head shots. Especially when learning and practicing fundamentals. Sparring doesn't have to be with hard power punching or hard head kicks. Talk with your coaches and training partners - have fun.

 

[justanormalguy]

Thanks! Any thoughts on this program:

Boxing/Kickboxing
Kenji

The place just opened and it less than 5 minutes from my house.

 

[Tony Dismukes]

Thai. However, I do have a concern about head trauma (I have read many of the studies on football players and Chronic traumatic encephalopathy) and these two disciplines.

What I was trying to ask is how much head contact is there in boxing / muay thai if I were to not compete in competitions?

Any impact to the skull carries some risk of brain injury, but a casual hobbyist training for self-defense will generally be taking a tiny percentage of the head trauma that a serious competitive fighter will go through. If you find the right place to train, you should be okay.

Heck, you could just train drills - pad work, bag work, foot work, etc - and get significant benefits in your conditioning and ability to punch. However I would recommend getting in at least some contact sparring. If you have the right coach and the right sparring partners (ones who are helping you learn rather than trying to knock you out) it is extremely valuable and relatively safe.

Thanks! Any thoughts on this program:

Boxing/Kickboxing
Kenji

Looks worth checking out. It sounds like the group classes are focused on conditioning and fundamentals. They probably don't include any sparring.

 

[justanormalguy]

Thanks! Any thoughts on the instructor....he seems pretty legit:

Kenji

 

[Tony Dismukes]

Thanks! Any thoughts on the instructor....he seems pretty legit:

Kenji

Hmm ... interesting character. I would do some thorough research before getting too involved with him.

Apparently his real name is Kenny Gallo. Supposedly a former Mafia member, turned informant and gone straight, and former producer of porn films. He claims to have a black belt in BJJ and to have competitive fight experience (no mention of what sort of fight competition). However I can't find any mention of who he trained BJJ with or who gave him his rank. (This is a big red flag.) I also can't find any mention of what boxing or kickboxing background he might have.

He might have legit skills and be a good coach and be a good person. However I would ask a lot of questions* and do due diligence before signing up.

*(And independently verify the answers)

 

[crazydiamond]

What I was trying to ask is how much head contact is there in boxing / muay thai if I were to not compete in competitions?

My mom died of complications with Parkinson's and I am 50 so its been a worry of mine (In fact I started a thread on being hit). I started over a year ago in a MMA that includes boxing and Muay Thai. I train for self defense and recreation. I am not training for competition. Only recently have i started including sparing with real contact - maybe 20% power hits with 16 oz gloves. Only maybe 15 mins a week for the head contact sparing (lots of Pad/bag/Shadow work rest of week). My school also includes a full on Muay Thai class that I watch and its all light taps (20% or less hits). No one spars hard enough to wear headgear.

My view is that your not going to get wacked hard enough or long enough in a "middle aged guy" class at a local school. But you could talk to the instructors. I think boxing of any type is good exercise and safe for us normal guys taking class for SD reasons.

 

[justanormalguy]

Interesting is an understatement!

How The FBI Turned A Mafioso Into A MMA Fighter

 

[Tony Dismukes]

Interesting is an understatement!

How The FBI Turned A Mafioso Into A MMA Fighter

One thing the story doesn't make clear - Gallo may have been training MMA at a gym, but he hadn't actually competed and really shouldn't be called an "MMA fighter". The article, written in 2009, says he was looking to make his debut, but I can't find any records of him having any matches since then. It's possible that he's had some amateur matches that haven't been reported to the Sherdog database.

I suspect that when he list some of the big names he has "trained with", it really just means he went to the same gym as those guys.

It's entirely possible that the guy is a decent coach, but I would be careful.

 

[justanormalguy]

Thanks! I sent him an email asking for more information on the program and am waiting to hear back.

 

[Tony Dismukes]

Thanks! I sent him an email asking for more information on the program and am waiting to hear back.

If he tells you who awarded him his BJJ black belt, let me know.

 

[justanormalguy]

Well, I attended my fist class at Fusion Health & Performance and I must say I was pretty impressed. Now I admit I have no experience when it comes to martial arts/self defense classes but this is how the class was structured (from what I remember:

1. Jump rope warm up
2. Instructor went over jab punch and had me practice without resistance
3. Instructor went over cross punch and had me practice without resistance
4. Instructor had me practice combinations of these two punches while punching his hands
5. Instructor went over hook punch and had me practice without resistance
6. Instructor had me practice combinations of these three punches while punching his hands. I think he could tell I was having issues with the hook and didn't incorporate it for the rest of the class.
7. Instructor had me work on my foot work. He had me move with him back and forward protecting my chest and weak side.
8. Instructor had me practice punch combinations on the heavy bag.
9. Instructor had me practice punch combinations while shadow boxing.
10. Instructor had me practice punch combinations while hitting his padded hands.
11. Instructor had me do ab work (crunches, leg lifts, etc).

Class lasted 45 minutes (normal length) and he did say he normally has students do kettle ball and medicine ball work but didn't want to overdue it on my first day (he knew I was winded).

Some observations from the class:

1. The instructor was very friendly, seemed very knowledgeable and always corrected me when he saw I was doing something incorrectly.
2. I was the only person in the class so I basically got a private lesson for $10 (regular drop in price). The facility has only been open a week and half so not many people know about it yet. I asked him how many people he has had in previous classes and he said he has been averaging a couple. He also mentioned that he is training a boxer.
3. He really stressed protecting body/face with hand placement, using hips and legs when punching, rotating shoulders when punching, breathing, relaxing etc. I don't know much about boxing but this seems consistent with other sports I've played.
4. He also showed me a video of him sparring (to show how he was relaxed when he sparred). He did show me some of the kickboxing moves on a heavy bag (kicks, using elbows, using knees etc) but did not have me try them. I think he was just trying to give me an idea how boxing works with kickboxing.
5. He also mentioned that he will eventually be incorporating some BJJ into the training.
6. I felt he pushed me a good amount. Considering it was my first class I was pretty tired and sweaty. He seemed to know how to push me but not go overboard.
7. He was open about his past when I asked him. I asked him why he moved here from California and he said he is recently married and his wife is from here. He also said he is still training at another local gym. I didn't ask too many questions about his past but he answered whatever I asked.

Overall I was very impressed with the class and instructor and will definitely be going back. Let me know if my observations seem on point or if I should be concerned about anything. Thanks!

 

[Tony Dismukes]

Sounds like a good class. It's always fun when you're the only student and end up getting a private lesson. I actually like it when I'm the teacher as well, because I can tailor the lesson to the individual.

Let me know if you find out who awarded him his BJJ black belt.