Posted on September 23, 2016 by Kate Halsall
The scariest exciting thing happened on Tuesday in training. When we were sparring I knocked someone out. ME! All-the-gear-no-idea me. Little wouldn’t-hurt-a-fly and peaceful-vegan-just-wanting-to-get-back-to-fitness Kate. It wasn’t a hard punch, but I got her on the forehead and down she went. I’ll be honest, I didn’t like it and it doesn’t make me feel any more confident or hench! The previous week I had been punched in the nose and I preferred that to knocking someone down! Nerves, lack of food…who knows, but if that’s what a practice punch can do to someone, what happens when a REAL punch lands…..let’s hope that “it’s a knock out” doesn’t happen to me!
So for this blog, I started to look at what happens to the body when you get knocked out – and whilst I can make an educated guess, it does kind of freak me out when you see it in writing:
- Your brain bouncing around inside your skull
- Brain cell death
- Concussion
- Overloading the nervous system
- Temporary paralysis
http://www.startswithyou.com/organize/1560_Knocked_Out_Myths_and_Facts_About_Concussions/
https://www.quora.com/Why-do-people-get-knocked-out-after-getting-hit-on-their-head
http://www.medicaldaily.com/out-cold-what-happens-brain-when-we-get-knocked-out-331470
I then started looking at how to avoid being knocked out – and once I had stopped laughing I started worrying that I’ve not got any time left to do it:
- Watch the punches
- Lift your head
- Strengthen your neck
http://guysurvivalguide.com/survive/survival/how-to-not-get-knocked-out/
Naturally I then moved on to how to knock someone out – ultimately we all want to win! But this got confusing and quite violent!
- Twisting
- Tensing and relaxing at the right times
- Go for the jaw
http://www.wikihow.com/Knock-Someone-Out-with-One-Hit
So the point of this blog? Other than to share the type of thoughts that go through your head the closer you get to your fight, it’s honestly to say this: Boxing isn’t for everyone..knockouts will happen, people will get winded and punched in the nose, and it’s natural to close your eyes when punches are coming your way but try not to do it!! In pink collar boxing, we’re not professionals – but we ARE TRAINED by a professional for 8 weeks. Listen to the advice, go to the training sessions, take a chill pill and remember – this is supposed to be fun!!