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Sports Injury Prevention–Martial Arts
(Karate, Taekwondo, Judo)

Most martial arts are high-action, high-energy activities that can help build strength, speed, flexibility, and agility. But they can also cause injuries if participants perform moves improperly or fail to use safety equipment.

Safety Tips

Tips for Preventing Martial Arts Injuries

To help your child avoid injuries while practicing martial arts, follow these safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and other sports and health organizations.

Before your child starts a training program or enters a competition, take him or her to the doctor for a physical exam. The doctor can help assess any special injury risks your child may have.
Teach your child not to play through pain. If your child gets injured, see your doctor. Follow all the doctor’s orders for recovery, and get the doctor’s OK before your child returns to the sport.
Make sure first aid is available at all competitions and practices.
Above all, keep martial arts fun. Putting too much emphasis on winning can make your child push too hard and sacrifice good technique, which can increase the risk of injury.

The Problem

Who Is Affected?

More than 1.5 million people in the United States practice the martial arts, which include karate, judo, and taekwondo. Data on the number and rates of injuries related to martial arts are very limited, but studies have shown that most injuries are the result of poor techniques, excessive force, and inexperience with the technique being employed.

The most common martial arts injuries are cuts, bruises, and sprains. Fractures and dislocations have also been reported. Serious injuries such as concussions and damage to internal organs are rare but can occur.

Safety Resources

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Through the public information link on the AAOS home page (www.aaos.org), you can access fact sheets on injury prevention for many popular sports.

American Academy of Pediatrics

The AAP offers guidance on sports and your child (www.aap.org), including their policy on sports participation for preschool children.

References

The data and safety tips in this fact sheet were obtained from the following sources:

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Play it safe sports: A guide to safety for young athletes, 1995. Available at www.aaos.org/wordhtml/pat_educ/playspor.htm Accessed July 8, 1999.

American Academy of Pediatrics. Sports and your child. Available at www.aap.org/family/sports.htm. Accessed July 13, 1999.

Fu F, Stone D. Sports Injuries: Mechanisms, Prevention, Treatment. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1994: 455-468.

Koiwai EK. "Deaths allegedly caused by the use of ‘choke holds’ (shime-waza)." Journal of Forensic Sciences 1987;32(2):419-432.

Owens RG, Ghadiali EJ. "Judo as a possible cause of anoxic brain damage." Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 1991;31(4):627-628.

Pieter W. "Martial Arts." In: Caine DL, Caine CG, Lindner KJ. Epidemiology of Sports Injuries. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 1996: 267-283.

This page last updated July 14, 2002

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