Injuries happen in the martial arts. It’s not stamp collecting. They’re bound to happen sooner or later. At our dojo, we’ve been very fortunate in that we’ve had very few injuries occur in the 6 years we’ve been in operation. But when they do happen, it’s important to minimize their psychological effects in the dojo.

When a person gets injured it serves as a reminder that what we do has its risks, and this “reminder” can act as a virus that spreads negativity and doubt throughout the class and to those who witness the event. Students become more cautious in their performance of techniques, and this “cautiousness” can cause them to move in ways that actually lead to the very injuries they fear. (more…)

Tags: martial arts injuries | psychological impact of injuries