Gets said before every fight before the ref. So how do you do it? Not in the ring, but in training. I'm sure we've all done enough stupid things, and probably got some injuries for our troubles, but what do you tell beginners to help them stay safe?
I'll start
- Pain is going to happen, but listen to it, it's telling you seomthing.
- To get results you have to push hard, but pushing to hard is bad. You're body can only get stronger if it heals, it only heals when you rest. If you push too hard for too long you're going to get broken.
- Safety equipment is not for "the weak", it is so that you can continue to train instead of being injured. Wear equipment appropriate to what you are doing.
- Will you get injured? Possibly, but it should be rare and not because you where doing something stupid.
- Don't go cheap on the mouthguard, it's not just to protect your teeth, but also your brain. The shocks will add up over time, protect it. For that matter don't go cheap on any of your gear, martial arts gear is relatively cheap compared to some other contact sports. An extra $20 for a better pair of gloves is a worthwhile investement
- Just because it doesn't hurt now doesn't mean it won't hurt later. Stress fractures are serious and won't hurt much until the damage is done. Wear hand wraps, don't bang your bones unneccessarily, these things you will regret in time.
- If you are training hard, crosstrain in something unrelated. Even if it is only once and a while. Different activities use muscles different, doing the same actions will optimize them for those, but neglect others which can lead to a serious injury.
- Take time off, let your body heal. This is VERY important. Even if you feel fine, you're body still needs to heal.
- Listen to your body, you know it better then anyone. If you can't do something don't. Just because others can and do, doesn't always mean you should. Your coach can't tell how you feel, nor can your partners, if your body can't take it without risk of injury at that time don't do it.
- You are responsible for your own safety. You should expect your coach too maintain a safe environment, and your partners to not intentionally injure you. But in the end it is your body, you know how it feels and what it needs. If you know you shouldn't do something, don't do it. Some people can spar hard daily, some can't. No one but you can tell what you can do until you are sidelined for crossing the line.
- Shower when you get home. You've been working out, possibly rolling around on the floor with a bunch of seaty people including yourself. Ringworm sucks, as do a good number of other nasty things. As tired as you may be, don't go home and collapse into bed... and wash your training clothes
- No the limitations of your safety equipment, no what it can protect you against and what it can't. MMA gloves are not for hard sparring. 16 oz or more for that. Headgear preventing brain bouncing has been argued, but it definately prevents cuts and bruises. Cuts and bruises are ugly, but the real damage is inside your head. Mouthguards only lock your jaw in place if you have your mouth closed, bite down on it slightly.
dones for now Next?
I'll start
- Pain is going to happen, but listen to it, it's telling you seomthing.
- To get results you have to push hard, but pushing to hard is bad. You're body can only get stronger if it heals, it only heals when you rest. If you push too hard for too long you're going to get broken.
- Safety equipment is not for "the weak", it is so that you can continue to train instead of being injured. Wear equipment appropriate to what you are doing.
- Will you get injured? Possibly, but it should be rare and not because you where doing something stupid.
- Don't go cheap on the mouthguard, it's not just to protect your teeth, but also your brain. The shocks will add up over time, protect it. For that matter don't go cheap on any of your gear, martial arts gear is relatively cheap compared to some other contact sports. An extra $20 for a better pair of gloves is a worthwhile investement
- Just because it doesn't hurt now doesn't mean it won't hurt later. Stress fractures are serious and won't hurt much until the damage is done. Wear hand wraps, don't bang your bones unneccessarily, these things you will regret in time.
- If you are training hard, crosstrain in something unrelated. Even if it is only once and a while. Different activities use muscles different, doing the same actions will optimize them for those, but neglect others which can lead to a serious injury.
- Take time off, let your body heal. This is VERY important. Even if you feel fine, you're body still needs to heal.
- Listen to your body, you know it better then anyone. If you can't do something don't. Just because others can and do, doesn't always mean you should. Your coach can't tell how you feel, nor can your partners, if your body can't take it without risk of injury at that time don't do it.
- You are responsible for your own safety. You should expect your coach too maintain a safe environment, and your partners to not intentionally injure you. But in the end it is your body, you know how it feels and what it needs. If you know you shouldn't do something, don't do it. Some people can spar hard daily, some can't. No one but you can tell what you can do until you are sidelined for crossing the line.
- Shower when you get home. You've been working out, possibly rolling around on the floor with a bunch of seaty people including yourself. Ringworm sucks, as do a good number of other nasty things. As tired as you may be, don't go home and collapse into bed... and wash your training clothes
- No the limitations of your safety equipment, no what it can protect you against and what it can't. MMA gloves are not for hard sparring. 16 oz or more for that. Headgear preventing brain bouncing has been argued, but it definately prevents cuts and bruises. Cuts and bruises are ugly, but the real damage is inside your head. Mouthguards only lock your jaw in place if you have your mouth closed, bite down on it slightly.
dones for now
Next? 
