Safety
What should I do after getting rocked during sparring?
Stop sparring immediately. Tell the coach, stay out for the rest of the day and get assessed by a healthcare professional. Call local emergency services now for a worsening headache, repeated vomiting, a seizure, increasing confusion, weakness or difficulty waking.
On this page
When the round must stop
A fighter takes a shot, steps sideways to find their balance and insists they can carry on. A coach or partner who sees that change should stop the round. Dizziness, blurred vision, a memory gap or a foggy feeling after a blow also warrant assessment. A fighter can have a concussion without being knocked unconscious.
When to call for an ambulance
After a head impact, loss of consciousness, slurred speech, one pupil growing larger than the other or becoming hard to wake also call for emergency help. Stay with the athlete and follow the dispatcher's instructions. Symptoms can first appear after the session, so a change at home counts too.
What to hand over
Tell the clinician when the hit happened, where it landed and what you or a partner noticed afterward. Mention any earlier head injuries. Skip the bag work and the extra grappling round that day. The next training decision belongs with a clinician who knows the demands of combat sports.