Safe Practice Policy
Martial Arts are activities where safe practice is essential to help prevent injury. Children* are particularly vulnerable as they are still developing mentally and physically, so training methods need to be modified as described below. (*also includes Adults at Risk)
ALL MUAYTHAI GB CLUBS should consider the following and design their own safe practice policy for their gym/club
Warm Ups
All activities should first include a thorough warm up which is appropriate for the activity taking place. To help reduce the risk of injury, specific attention should be paid to those muscle groups that will be used during later activity.
Training Area
The risks include but are not limited to: falling on unsuitable surfaces; landing on the head; damage to the joints.
Safe practice should include, but is not limited to:
Checking the matted area for suitability, particularly where the mats have been joined.
Checking that there are no hard surfaces or sharp/hard objects around the matted area.
Careful consideration when teaching techniques such as sweeps so students are able to use these without damaging their partner. An equal emphasis on defence and attack.
Safe Training practices
All training sessions will only run in the presence of a suitably qualified, insured and experienced instructor whose responsibility it is to ensure safe training practice guidelines are followed. The risks include but are not limited to: concussion (brain injury) from heavy blows to the head; damage to internal organs and joints from heavy blows; injury from inappropriate stretching and other exercises.
Head contact must be light at all times and only with protective equipment as defined by Muaythai GB rules. Whilst head contact is allowed within International competition and therefore it is recognised that athletes training must prepare them for the eventuality of contact, it is highly recommended that head contact is avoided altogether for non-competitive U16 athletes. Head contact could be considered for elite level juniors only (competing internationality) but must be light at all times and only with protective equipment as defined by Muaythai GB rules.
In the event of head injury, first aiders must be sure to communicate concussion protocols with guardians and athletes during handover. All head injuries must be recorded in a gym/clubs accident book .Anybody with symptoms of concussion should be removed from practice and evaluated by a health professional. They should not be allowed to return to practice until cleared by a qualified healthcare professional.
All contact training must be performed with adequate protection e.g. gloves must be worn for heavy bag work.
Sparring across sex and age group is only allowed in non-competitive formats i.e. when contact is touch only and the emphasis is on learning technical skills, not winning and losing.
Age, size and sex must be considered when sparring is competitive in nature.
All sparring is performed with regulation safety equipment as defined by the MTGB rules e.g. gum shield, groin guard, breast protection plate, suitable full boxing gloves (gloves should be closed hand and a size/weight appropriate for the individual and shin pads (that cover the top of the foot and shin up to the knee).
Avoid excessive stretching and exercises such as press-ups on the knuckles or hitting heavy bags; the joints of children are still developing and can be damaged by these exercises.
Date last reviewed 10/05/2023