{"id":691184,"date":"2026-05-05T14:38:52","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T12:38:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.daisho.be\/how-can-common-combat-sports-injuries-be-prevented\/"},"modified":"2026-05-05T14:53:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T12:53:07","slug":"how-can-common-combat-sports-injuries-be-prevented","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.daisho.be\/en\/how-can-common-combat-sports-injuries-be-prevented\/","title":{"rendered":"How can common combat sports injuries be prevented?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Monday, March 9, 2026, 2pm. I push open the doors of the Ulteam building.  The interior exudes professionalism, performance and well-being.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Houdart welcomes me, with a smile on his face, to talk about combat injuries. As a karate practitioner, physiotherapist, posturologist and osteopath, he puts his many hats on to help athletes regain their health.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:43px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Can you introduce yourself in a few words?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My name\u2019s <strong>Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Houdart<\/strong>, and I\u2019m delighted to be spending this time with you. So, let me introduce myself in a few words\u2026 it\u2019s going to be an ordeal, but we\u2019ll try! *<em>So<\/em> I\u2019m a <strong>sports osteopath<\/strong> and a <strong>posturologist specializing in motor preference<\/strong>. I\u2019m also the co-founder of <strong>Ulteam<\/strong>, a sports and health center based in Binche. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Ulteam, we have a sports division and a health division. In the health section, there are various health professionals such as <strong>osteopaths<\/strong>, <strong>physiotherapists<\/strong>, <strong>chiropodists<\/strong> and so on. We also have specialized consultations for athletes: sports dietetics, sports medicine, sports osteopathy\u2026  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then there\u2019s the sports section. There are just over <strong>50 classes a week<\/strong>. All these classes are categorized by level, so we can cater for grandpa who wants to lift his grandchildren as well as top-level athletes. All these classes are supervised and coached, and the corrections are always adapted to the individual\u2019s profile.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We also have combat sport classes ranging from ground techniques to fist-fighting and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.daisho.be\/en\/categorie-produit\/equipment-and-clothing-for-martial-arts-and-combat-sports\/mma-en\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.daisho.be\/categorie-produit\/arts-martiaux-et-sports-de-combat\/mma\/\">MMA<\/a> to combine everything.<\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:43px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How long have you been practicing martial arts, and more specifically Shito-Ryu karate?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So I practised Shito-Ryu karate for 6 years up to the rank of 2nd Kyu. I also practised Mastro D\u00e9fence System for 2 years and Hapkido for two. All these martial techniques have also shaped my way of seeing life and working.    <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So <a href=\"https:\/\/www.daisho.be\/en\/categorie-produit\/equipment-and-clothing-for-martial-arts-and-combat-sports\/karate-en-2\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.daisho.be\/categorie-produit\/arts-martiaux-et-sports-de-combat\/karate\/\">in karate,<\/a> for example, we\u2019ll have techniques that require tension, impulse and weight transfer. It\u2019s exactly the same thing in osteopathy, where to manipulate a joint, we also have to apply tension, build momentum, find the right moment and then make an explosive movement, as in <strong>combat sports<\/strong>.  <\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:43px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What link do you make between your martial arts practice, running and your profession as an osteopath and posturologist?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I said earlier that I specialized in <strong>motor preference<\/strong>. What are motor preferences? It\u2019s the preferred way of moving. We\u2019re all different, we move differently, we think differently, and so we need gestures and care adapted to that.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, in running, there are land runners and air runners. Aerial-type runners will be much more on the forefoot, much more bouncy, whereas terrestrial-type runners will be much more anchored to the ground with a stride that\u2019s much steeper. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In karate, to give an example, we see <strong>practitioners<\/strong> who are much higher and much more bouncy. Here, we see some who are much more anchored to the ground. Those who are taller and more bouncy will prefer movements where they go backwards to be able to give an impulse and use what we call a plyometric contraction.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Conversely, those who are anchored to the ground will be able to go straight forward from the zero position, this time using concentric force.  <\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:43px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What are the most common injuries you see among martial arts practitioners? Which areas of the body are most at risk, depending on the discipline (karate, judo, MMA, etc.)? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are really <strong>all kinds of injuries<\/strong>, depending on the type of sport or martial art you\u2019re going to do. But they fall into two broad categories: <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.daisho.be\/en\/categorie-produit\/equipment-and-clothing-for-martial-arts-and-combat-sports\/judo-en\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.daisho.be\/categorie-produit\/arts-martiaux-et-sports-de-combat\/judo\/\">judo-type<\/a> projection sports<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>striking sports  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <strong>throwing sports<\/strong>, the pathology is called <strong>traumatic<\/strong>, with dislocations and sprains mainly of the shoulder, elbow and wrist. We also have <strong>microtraumatic pathology<\/strong>, which is often linked to spinal problems caused by repeated falls.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When it comes to <strong>striking sports<\/strong>, we can differentiate between punching sports and kicking sports. In the first case, there will often be <strong>traumatic impaction pathologies<\/strong> (wrist, neck and shoulder injuries due to percussion).  The micro-traumas will be the same, but they won\u2019t happen in a dry moment, but rather over time.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And in the <strong>kicking techniques<\/strong>, this time we\u2019re mainly going to have ankle sprains due to the position. To kick, you have to be standing on the other foot.  Obviously, this unstable position of the lower limb can lead to sprains.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then there are mixed sports which combine both percussion and projection sports, like MMA, for example, where we can find all the pathologies we explained earlier.<\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:43px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What do you think are the main causes of these injuries?  <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we saw earlier, there are two types of injury: <strong>traumatic and microtraumatic<\/strong>.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We can\u2019t avoid all traumatic injuries. But we can reduce the number. Let me give you two examples: if you have an athlete who\u2019s in great shape, who\u2019s muscular, who\u2019s flexible and who\u2019s had a good night\u2019s sleep, he\u2019ll accept a trauma much better than someone who\u2019s under-trained, who\u2019s not muscular, who\u2019s not flexible and who hasn\u2019t had a good night\u2019s sleep.    <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the case of <strong>microtraumatic pathologies<\/strong>, on the other hand, they can clearly be avoided by implementing preventive measures, whether in terms of physical preparation or osteopathic, posturological or other body monitoring.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two main categories: microtraumatic pathologies of the <strong>beginner<\/strong> and those of the <strong>professional athlete<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A beginner\u2019s gestures will be faulty, and microtrauma will be caused by this faulty gesture, whereas a professional\u2019s gestures will often be much cleaner, but the repetition will be much greater. The pathologies are therefore totally different. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And so the vast majority of problems often come from a lack of maintenance of the machine. If I compare the body to a car, we don\u2019t wait for the car to explode before taking it to the garage. At least, I hope not <em>*smiles*<\/em>.   For our machine, it must be the same.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And a sports car needs even more regular maintenance than a classic car. For the sportsman, it\u2019s exactly the same thing. You need maintenance that\u2019s fine-tuned and adapted to the workload you\u2019re going to endure.    <\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:43px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What warning signs should never be ignored?  <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s really important to be able to perceive them. To give you an idea, I\u2019d say first of all that you need to treat the cause and not the symptom. For example, very often we see athletes who have a movement that\u2019s becoming limited, and our idea is to repeat the movement a number of times to try and improve it. It\u2019s a bit like being held by an elastic band and trying to pull on it every day to make it more supple.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In that case, we act on the symptom. What\u2019s more useful is to act on the cause.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So ask yourself why the elastic is under tension and work on the cause, which will free up the movement. Secondly, I would also say that prevention is better than cure. <strong>Prevention<\/strong> is super important, and it\u2019s really one of the parts that\u2019s the most problematic, because we often say to ourselves \u201ceverything\u2019s fine, I\u2019m fine\u201d, and so we forget about this maintenance. You can think of the body as a bucket of water that fills up as you go along. At first, there\u2019s a blockage, then a 2nd, a 3rd, a 5th, a 6th and so on. At some point, the jump overflows. The aim is to empty the bucket before it overflows.      <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This will lead us to perceive the subtlest, finest signals. So a <strong>little pain<\/strong>, a little tension that you can feel when you\u2019ve just done your maintenance. In other words, the bucket is almost empty, so we\u2019ve got a long way to go to adapt.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have a <strong>little tension<\/strong> at that moment, it\u2019s not very serious. You don\u2019t need to consult a doctor right away. If it doesn\u2019t last more than 3 days, don\u2019t worry, because the body can adapt.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If, on the other hand, you have exactly the same sensation when your bucket is very full, then obviously it\u2019s going to become much more problematic and you need to worry about it straight away.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to know whether the bucket is a little full, moderately full or very full. And you get used to it as you go along. <strong>Sportsmen<\/strong> and women can tell whether their bucket is a little full, a little full or a lot full.   And I, for example, will use osteopathy to help them perceive whether their bucket is full or not.  <\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:43px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>As a posturologist, what postural errors do you often observe in practitioners?  <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What we can say is that, overall, there are <strong>imbalances<\/strong> between left and right and imbalances between front and rear. Here again, we need to understand why there are left-right imbalances. It\u2019s often because we\u2019ll have a preferential movement, a preferential side, and so we\u2019ll very frequently repeat that side much more than the other.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As long as it\u2019s done within a certain range, there\u2019s no problem. But when it\u2019s done too much, it starts to become a problem. We also need to relate this to the person\u2019s motor preferences. So if, for example, I take someone who\u2019s made to move forward, if he has an imbalance that\u2019s more towards the front, this imbalance will be perfectly in keeping with his way of functioning and therefore won\u2019t be a problem for him.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The problem would be if it was well forward, but far too forward. So these are what we call<strong>excessive profile<\/strong> pathologies. It\u2019s in the right direction, but much too much in that direction.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And then there are the so-called profile defect pathologies, where the patient is the exact opposite of what he or she is supposed to be, and these are the most problematic cases.  <\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:43px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Can you tell us about the importance of warming up? Do you have a typical routine to recommend? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The warm-up is ultra-important, and is designed to bring the athlete up to the level of stress he or she will experience during the sport, whether training or competing. So you need to follow a number of different stages. Personally, I\u2019d put them into six points.    <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019ll be <strong>working on joints<\/strong> and mobility, using techniques such as circumductions at the wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles, as well as mobilization techniques in the axis: flexions, extensions at the spinal level and rotational movements at the spinal level.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So all these movements are fairly slow, movements that will work on mobility.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next, we\u2019ll work<strong> the cardiovascular system<\/strong>. We\u2019ll start ramping up the heat with heel-and-butt exercises and knee lifts. You can do burpees, or more active left-right movements.   The aim is to raise body temperature.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next, we\u2019ll work on the muscles. The various muscular exercises must include sheathing. It\u2019s ultra-important to have a strong core!   Then, various <strong>strengthening exercises<\/strong> for the lower and upper limbs, such as squats, lunges\u2026  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 4th point will work on the <strong>nervous system<\/strong>and therefore <strong>coordination<\/strong>. To achieve coordination, I take the example of a kick: the idea is to stay on one foot, making different movements to maintain this sheathing and achieve the necessary coordination.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s move on to point 5. It\u2019s all about <strong>sport-specific movements<\/strong>, and what\u2019s going to happen next during training or competition. The idea is to repeat the different movements. So if I\u2019m going to do a punch or a kick, I\u2019m going to do them slowly, with full awareness of the movement.    The aim is to work out the motor pattern of the movement.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lastly, I will <strong>gradually increase the intensity<\/strong>to reach the maximum intensity that will be required in the effort that follows.  <\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:43px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What simple exercises would you recommend to avoid injuries on a daily basis?<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What\u2019s good to do outside training periods are points 1 and 5 of what we\u2019ve just explained. Namely, working on mobility (flexibility) and slow exercises. Then, specific movements.   So the slow work on <strong>engine control<\/strong> is going to be super important.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some people like to vary, doing an exercise one day, another the next day, another on the next day etc., while others will do the same exercise and the same movement for a week in order to integrate it properly. Here again, there are two different ways of working. One prefers variety, the other repetition.    <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s not better or worse, it\u2019s just that everyone has to choose their own preference.  <\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:43px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What role does equipment (protective gear, shoes, tatami mats, etc.) play in prevention?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Materials are becoming increasingly high quality, as is the design of the equipment, so it would be a real shame to miss out, and that\u2019s why we\u2019re going to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.daisho.be\/en\/products\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.daisho.be\/boutique\/\">Daisho<\/a>!  <\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:43px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A word about nutrition or hydration? Does this have an impact on recovery and prevention?  <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Very clearly! I would even add a third point, which is sleep, to complete <strong>the nutrition-hydration-sleep triptych<\/strong> which is really the keystone.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If we look at hydration, the body is made up mainly of water. A small dehydration of one to 2% already poses problems for the body, and from 3% water loss, i.e. 3% of body weight, the risk of injury is clearly increased.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>A little tip on hydration:<\/em> it\u2019s better to drink a little and often than a lot all at once. So saying to yourself, \u201cI didn\u2019t drink for most of the day, I\u2019m going to drink 1L to make up for it\u201d doesn\u2019t work, because your body can\u2019t take it all in at once. So remember to break up your fluid intake.    <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then, in terms of nutrition, it\u2019s clearly what\u2019s going to provide the energy and fuel. We used the analogy of a car, and nutrition is the fuel we put inside it. This fuel is important not only for energy, but also for repairing any damage that may have been caused.    <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And finally, the sleep part is also ultra-important. We often hear that we need 7 to 9 hours of sleep. But rather than calculating sleep in terms of quantity, it\u2019s more useful to <strong>calculate it in terms of quality<\/strong>. We need to respect the circadian rhythm, i.e. the day and night rhythm.    And a little tip on sleep: going to bed and getting up at regular times helps to rebalance the circadian rhythm, with the production of melatonin hormones, which enable you to fall asleep, and, in the morning, the production of cortisol hormones, which enable you to wake up.  <\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:43px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>So sleep cycles also play a role?  <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, yes, of course. In the different cycles, we have what\u2019s known as light sleep, and in deeper sleep, we have <strong>R sleep <\/strong>(rapid high movement). This is a moment of sleep in which we have small, rapid eye movements. As for deep sleep and REM sleep, the two parts of sleep that we\u2019ll call \u201crecuperative sleep\u201d, it\u2019s these moments of sleep that are the most useful in our sleep period.    So you can sleep very well for a very long time but not have much <strong>REM<\/strong> or deep sleep, and therefore not have had a satisfactory recovery.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Comparing your sleep with mine or someone else\u2019s is not yet reliable enough. On the other hand, comparing your own sleep one night with another, and especially one period with another, allows you to see whether the changes you\u2019ve made in your daily life are having an effect or not.   <\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:43px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Do you have a personal tip or \u201critual\u201d that you apply systematically before and after a workout?  <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019ve talked a lot so far about the body, but there\u2019s the whole mental aspect that\u2019s also going to be important.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Personally, I have a<strong>mental anchoring<\/strong> ritual that enables me to switch from \u201cwork\u201d mode to \u201csport\u201d mode, because very often you\u2019re in the middle of the day, you\u2019re working, hop, grab your bag and off you go to training, and you notice that a lot of people are actually training but aren\u2019t quite there yet. So mentally, it\u2019s very important to be in the moment when you\u2019re doing it. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My personal ritual is the moment when I tie the belt, the moment when I tighten the belt. For me, feeling this tension is associated with the transition from \u201cwork\u201d to \u201csport\u201d mode. It can be different for everyone. Some may, for example, take a deep breath and then take a deep breath. Some close their eyes and then open them again. Some have a specific movement or noise. Whatever ritual suits you best, remembering to be present in what you\u2019re doing is ultra-important.        <\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:43px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A final word of advice for those who want to progress while avoiding injury?  <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Take care of your machine, sleep well, eat well, drink well and remember to have a check-up at the osteopath\u2019s at least twice a year to prevent the bucket from overflowing, so that you can empty it first.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Great! Many thanks for your answers and your welcome.  It was very clear and fluid.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:52px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-fe48e5de wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.daisho.be\/en\/categorie-produit\/equipment-and-clothing-for-martial-arts-and-combat-sports\/\">Discover our combat sports equipment<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Monday, March 9, 2026, 2pm. I push open the doors of the Ulteam building. The interior exudes professionalism, performance and well-being. Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Houdart welcomes me, with a smile on his face, to talk about combat injuries. As a karate practitioner, physiotherapist, posturologist and osteopath, he puts his many hats on to help athletes regain their [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":691185,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1252,1251,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-691184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-combat-sports","category-martial-arts","category-non-classifiee"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How can common combat sports injuries be prevented? &#8211; Daisho<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.daisho.be\/en\/how-can-common-combat-sports-injuries-be-prevented\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How can common combat sports injuries be prevented? &#8211; Daisho\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Monday, March 9, 2026, 2pm. I push open the doors of the Ulteam building. The interior exudes professionalism, performance and well-being. Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Houdart welcomes me, with a smile on his face, to talk about combat injuries. 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