[boba]

This may sound like a really weird question but can anybody think of any fighting type sports that don't involve blows to the head. I used to do a martial art called wadero, like a type of karate originating in japan, which I enjoyed the actual fighting aspect but not the katas or any routine based stuff. But I had to stop because of a medical problem and my doctor says I'm not allowed to do anything that involves the chance of being regularly hit in the face/head. Watching the boxing on the olympics has made me want to do something similar again, but obviously that also includes being punched in the face. I know its probably a long shot and there probably isn't anything but I was hoping someone could suggest something.


oh maybe I should add my medical problem is with my spine not my head and its my neck that getting hit in the face/head is bad for not actually my head so something where they wear head protection stuff wouldn't help.

[didgeridoo12uk]

you could try a grappling martial art something like judo or jiu-jitsu

[boba]

possibly, I admit I did watch some of the judo and I thought it looked at bit stupid at the beginning when there both just trying to grab each other I was a bit like "why does this sport not allow them to actually hit each other". But I am under no illusion that this was anything other than my own ignorance as it was the first time I'd ever seen it so maybe I should look into it more.

[JollyJelly]

(Original post by boba)
possibly, I admit I did watch some of the judo and I thought it looked at bit stupid at the beginning when there both just trying to grab each other I was a bit like "why does this sport not allow them to actually hit each other". But I am under no illusion that this was anything other than my own ignorance as it was the first time I'd ever seen it so maybe I should look into it more.

If you watch MMA, you'll notice that alot of fights end on the ground where Judo/Jiu Jitsu is the martial art being used.

It doesn't matter how big you are/ how hard you punch, if someone's putting pressure on a joint/ putting it in a position that it shouldn't be, you will submit.

Think of the first UFC's when there was no weight class. Royce Gracie (a pretty scrawny guy) was making guys who would be heavyweights tap out. Striking's good, but don't diss the grappling arts.

EDIT: Admittedly, Judo is more to do with throws with some grappling mixed in. But still.

[MRH94]

(Original post by boba)
This may sound like a really weird question but can anybody think of any fighting type sports that don't involve blows to the head. I used to do a martial art called wadero, like a type of karate originating in japan, which I enjoyed the actual fighting aspect but not the katas or any routine based stuff. But I had to stop because of a medical problem and my doctor says I'm not allowed to do anything that involves the chance of being regularly hit in the face/head. Watching the boxing on the olympics has made me want to do something similar again, but obviously that also includes being punched in the face. I know its probably a long shot and there probably isn't anything but I was hoping someone could suggest something.


oh maybe I should add my medical problem is with my spine not my head and its my neck that getting hit in the face/head is bad for not actually my head so something where they wear head protection stuff wouldn't help.

If you have a spinal or neck problem I would stay away from Judo because in the beginning you will land very awkwardly and hurt yourself. Jiu Jitsu is probably even worse because it all submissions by chokes or joint locks which will definitely hurt your spine. I think you could train boxing with the pads and bags etc but just tell your coach that you can't spar. If not then maybe aikido? It looks like the most gentle art but still pretty effective.

[Ash S]

This is probably not quite what you're looking for but I'll throw it out there....

Fencing!

3 different weapons to choose from. With one of them (foil) the target area is only your torso. Obviously off-target hits happen but not that often to your head, and even then the blades are pretty flexible so being hit is certainly nothing like being punched.

Still there's obviously risks like colliding hard with your opponent, or falling over (saw both a few times at this Olympics lol).

Again, this is probably not what you're looking for, but it strikes me as a lot safer for you than other combat sports I can think of

[boba]

(Original post by MRH94)
If you have a spinal or neck problem I would stay away from Judo because in the beginning you will land very awkwardly and hurt yourself. Jiu Jitsu is probably even worse because it all submissions by chokes or joint locks which will definitely hurt your spine. I think you could train boxing with the pads and bags etc but just tell your coach that you can't spar. If not then maybe aikido? It looks like the most gentle art but still pretty effective.

yeah I don't think I would really enjoy something like judo or jiu jitsu anyway I've watched a few videos on youtube since it was suggested and it just doesn't look like something I would be interested it. Your right I could do all the training except sparing I didn't even think of that! although I think it would make me really want to if I was around it all the time. maybe if I just sparred very occasionally I'd be fine. I guess thats not really a very good attitude towards a spinal problem though :/. I'm not sure what aikido is I'll have a google now Thank you for your advice

[RollerBall]

(Original post by boba)
This may sound like a really weird question but can anybody think of any fighting type sports that don't involve blows to the head. I used to do a martial art called wadero, like a type of karate originating in japan, which I enjoyed the actual fighting aspect but not the katas or any routine based stuff. But I had to stop because of a medical problem and my doctor says I'm not allowed to do anything that involves the chance of being regularly hit in the face/head. Watching the boxing on the olympics has made me want to do something similar again, but obviously that also includes being punched in the face. I know its probably a long shot and there probably isn't anything but I was hoping someone could suggest something.


oh maybe I should add my medical problem is with my spine not my head and its my neck that getting hit in the face/head is bad for not actually my head so something where they wear head protection stuff wouldn't help.

I don't think you should really be doing any martial art where there's a probability of you being thrown around. Don't get me wrong, I'm not your doctor but if it's jerking that's bad for your spine being throw onto the mat isn't going to do it any good either. Not only that but most of the grappling martial arts will include chokes and if executed poorly (air chokes rather than blood chokes) will put pressure onto your spine.

Before you try any of this make sure you check with your doctor if it's alright, I have a feeling he just said blows to the head to keep it simple when telling you not to do the other things. What's your actual condition if you don't mind me asking? There's quite a few medical students here (myself included) who may be able to give better advice when better informed.

[MancStudent098]

(Original post by boba)
yeah I don't think I would really enjoy something like judo or jiu jitsu anyway I've watched a few videos on youtube since it was suggested and it just doesn't look like something I would be interested it. Your right I could do all the training except sparing I didn't even think of that! although I think it would make me really want to if I was around it all the time. maybe if I just sparred very occasionally I'd be fine. I guess thats not really a very good attitude towards a spinal problem though :/. I'm not sure what aikido is I'll have a google now Thank you for your advice

Aikido would avoid the direct blows, but ultimately you are still going to get thrown about. If you have a neck injury then, sad as it is, but maybe combat sports aren't a good idea in general?

For the person who said fencing, you take some pretty jarring hits to the head in Epee, and slightly less pounding but more frequent hits in Sabre. Like you say Foil is probably relatively safe, although occasional blows to the head and a heavy-ish mask probably still aren't great on neck issues. Depends how severe it is I guess.

[The Troll Toll]

I'm pretty sure in this country amateur rules MMA disallows head strikes.

[boba]

(Original post by MancStudent098)
Aikido would avoid the direct blows, but ultimately you are still going to get thrown about. If you have a neck injury then, sad as it is, but maybe combat sports aren't a good idea in general?

For the person who said fencing, you take some pretty jarring hits to the head in Epee, and slightly less pounding but more frequent hits in Sabre. Like you say Foil is probably relatively safe, although occasional blows to the head and a heavy-ish mask probably still aren't great on neck issues. Depends how severe it is I guess.

(Original post by RollerBall)
I don't think you should really be doing any martial art where there's a probability of you being thrown around. Don't get me wrong, I'm not your doctor but if it's jerking that's bad for your spine being throw onto the mat isn't going to do it any good either. Not only that but most of the grappling martial arts will include chokes and if executed poorly (air chokes rather than blood chokes) will put pressure onto your spine.

Before you try any of this make sure you check with your doctor if it's alright, I have a feeling he just said blows to the head to keep it simple when telling you not to do the other things. What's your actual condition if you don't mind me asking? There's quite a few medical students here (myself included) who may be able to give better advice when better informed.

Sorry maybe I should of been more clear about my medical condition. I'm as fine to be hit in the back be jerked around ect as anyone. He said I could do pretty much anything I wanted I think he used rugby as an example. Although I've never played rugby so I don't really know how that compares it was just an example.

I have a fused spine, pretty much the whole length of my back (I don't know if everyone who has it is like that or if some are just certain parts so I thought I should clarify). This conversation happened about 4 years about just after I'd had pretty major surgery and I don't really remember much of it at all so I'm just going by what my dad remembers and has told me. So I guess this is like third hand information and there might be a bit of chinese whispers effect so your right I probably should actually ask my doctor.

Basically from what I have been told because the only part of my spine that is flexible when I get hit in the face rather than the force of the impact spreading out normally a larger amount than normal is absorbed my my neck. Now I don't really know if this is true because like I say its information that my dad could of miss understood when he was told and then I could of miss understood when he told me. But to the best of my knowledge this is the problem.

And the reason I quit was because the sport I did head shots were only barred for people under 16 and since I only enjoyed the sparring and fighting competitions and disliked everything else it seemed kind of pointless.

[ShadowHawk]

I do Northern Shaolin Kung Fu.
It incorporates both striking and grappling into its curriculum. My sign bans all contact to the head and groin area, but I got hit in both area a few times.

Anyways, if you want to try out Northern Shaolin, feel free!

Another martial art I would suggest is Brazilian Ju Jitsu. Classes are generally a bit pricy - but you learn a lot.


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