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Stevenson
Stevenson's picture
Fight Statistics with Medical Outcomes

I wanted to ask the forum about a book I have just received: Street Fightin Stastics with Medical Outcomes.

It's written by a medical and karate practioner Dr Jason Armstrong, and so far I have found it very interesting, particularly the representations of statsitics - but I should say I have only just started it. Surely forum members here would know of this book? If so, I'd be interested in some ciritical opinions which I can bear in mind as I work through the book (particularly from Iain if he would oblige...)

It's clearly thoroughly researched and a huge achievement, but if others have read and digested it, are there any caveats or points of particular interest I should look out for? And for those who haven't heard of it - like I said I am only a few pages in but it looks to be really well researched, so it's a heads up.

(PS not sure which sub-forum this should be posted in - sorry if this is not the right one).

sarflondonboydo...
sarflondonboydonewell's picture

Well I haven’t read that book but my own research carried out over the last 10 years or so came to some very interesting conclusions. I would have to dig the paperwork and studies out to give you all my sources of references.  But one was as a Home office publication I think called ‘violence in the night time economy’ apart from stating the obvious mainly young men who have been drinking fighting at night predominantly around pubs, kicking out time etc. One golden nugget was that the report mentioned the survey by Sheperd and Brickley (1996) which conclude that around 85% of men and women going to casualty on a weekend with assault type injuries around 85% had facial ones.

A similar study concluded the same but what was also published is what the victim stated had happened; around 80% stated they had been punch or suffered a blow to the facial/upper neck area. Hence probably controversially when one focus on self defence training one should spend 80% of the time learning how to deal with a punch/blow aimed at the head/upper neck region; because statistices are on yourside if you train that way.

Stevenson
Stevenson's picture

@sarflondon

They sound very interesting....I know Iain has done similar research.

I think what is interesting about this book is they are actually examining the severity of injury - their definition as 'requiring immediate medical help' - in realtion to the types of strikes in order to inform karate.

You should get your notes together and publish them in some way - a blog perhaps? I'd be interested in reading especially as I get further into this book.

sarflondonboydo...
sarflondonboydonewell's picture

Thank you for your comments; I will put something together over the next few months so look out for it. As you are interested in this subject a few years ago an article was written I think for the American publication Black belt;  ; the writer Bakari R Akil titled it  ‘do most fights go to the ground?’. He  analysed around 300 altercations ; his research methodology was sound. The research was focused on the ‘most fights go to the ground’ thesis.  It is well worth a read.   Most of its  conclusions were broadly in line with my own research ; one being that very very few persons are felled to the ground by a kick.

Regarding Medical implications one of the first books printed on the subject was ‘medical implications of karate blows’ by Brian C Adams who was an American Kenpo stylist and Dr.

The book is still in print but very expensive; I bought it in 1970 for a think round about a pound! Today it’s around £40.00.