| Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) are a sport with about a | | | | prepared business strategies aiming to develop |
| hundred-year modern tradition. A selection of | | | | activities in some of the most important cities and |
| techniques is permitted in each match. With that, | | | | even some smaller ones. Ontario Premier Mr. |
| martial artists skilled in different arts can get into | | | | Dalton McGuinty had to turn a blind eye to sign |
| the ring. This sport is full-contact and its roots can | | | | the law after prolonged negotiations and much |
| be traced all the way back to ancient Rome. | | | | thought, but stresses the importance of close |
| Recently, health professionals gathered in Niagara | | | | scrutiny of all the events and adherence to strict |
| Falls to talk about this sport during the Canadian | | | | rules. |
| Medical Association's general annual meeting. Most | | | | Nonetheless, doctors are not pleased that there |
| of the professionals expressed their belief that | | | | are seldom trained professionals at the matches |
| the sport should not be legal. They simply argue | | | | and even if they were required to attend, it |
| that MMA is a dangerous sport with too large a | | | | would be unbearable for them to passively watch |
| probability of injuries – much larger than it is in | | | | the ongoing injuries without being able to help the |
| boxing. | | | | fighters. Traditional martial artists opine that MMA |
| Dr. Ian Gillespie, the president of BCMA, says that | | | | is in its essence countering the basic principles of |
| "MMA fighting, like boxing, is distinct from many | | | | the old martial arts which are discipline, respect, |
| other sports in that the basic intent of the fighter | | | | courtesy and self-control. |
| is to cause harm in order to incapacitate his or | | | | According to CTV, Dr. Shelby Karpman points out |
| her opponent." Then he adds: "the various | | | | that since the sport is already so popular, |
| techniques […] aren't limited to punching, and | | | | outlawing it would not prevent matches from |
| there may be the presence of fewer safety | | | | taking place illegally. Also, medical supervision would |
| rules." | | | | not be enforceable and in turn the artists could |
| Another parallel institution that expressed worries | | | | count on substandard care. This equals even |
| about MMA was the British Medical Association | | | | greater danger. |
| (BMA) . Since early 2009, they are actively | | | | Considering all cited opinions, it seems that if the |
| campaigning to ban this sport in Britain. They also | | | | sport cannot be banned, it should be officially |
| argue that the sport can be excessively brutal | | | | regulated and adherence to rules should be |
| and violent. | | | | controlled. This means that there should be |
| In an article from the opposite camp, brings their | | | | appropriate medical care present with appropriate |
| understanding of the British Medical Association's | | | | competencies; licensing, insurance and |
| arguments. They suggest that there are limited or | | | | preventative measures should be enforced all the |
| no statistics available from the British and point to | | | | time. |
| an American study finding that numbers of injuries | | | | As I am sure you are wondering: Extreme sports |
| and knock-out rates in Mixed Martial Arts are | | | | such as MMA are treated as a special case in life |
| comparable to those of other fighting activities. | | | | insurance. Not every company will even want to |
| The Hamilton Spectator talked to two to find out | | | | sell you coverage. Those who have such policies |
| what they think about the matter. They bring up | | | | in their portfolio are going to ask a much higher |
| the problem of less efficient protective measures | | | | fee. The final price is going to depend on the |
| in MMA than in box, the rules are less strict and | | | | amount of the risk that you are facing in the |
| there are fewer regulations overall. Unlike in box, | | | | sport. A fighter should be completely aware of |
| the strikes are not aimed solely at the opponent's | | | | any caveats and exclusions in the plan agreement |
| head and torso in MMA, which allows for a wider | | | | and should make sure the combat is part of a |
| selection of injuries, although it could decrease the | | | | properly licensed event. Illegal fighting is excluded |
| relative prominence of head injuries specifically. | | | | by all insurers. |
| Both professionals call for the introduction of | | | | But life insurance is not going to be sufficient if |
| standardizedprocedures across Canada instead of | | | | you perform extreme sports. A fighter will most |
| keeping regulations granular across provinces. | | | | probably severely harm his or her opponent and |
| Why do the Canadian doctors rise up now? It is | | | | will therefore be liable for the damages. So, it is a |
| because only now (in the middle of August 2010), | | | | good idea that each fighter has liability insurance |
| Ontario province government decided to make | | | | of her or his own. For liability insurance, it also |
| the sport legal in the province. The two largest | | | | applies that the combat should be part of a |
| players – Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) | | | | properly supervised and licensed event and is |
| and Warrior One (W1) – have already | | | | subject to any exclusions. |