If someone is knocked out and doesn't wake up, has a fit, can't be kept awake, or their condition is getting worse - call 999 immediately. Don't wait to read the rest of this page.
1. Policy Statement
Jujitsu carries a real risk of head impact, whether from a strike, a fall, or the back of the head
meeting the mat during a throw or takedown. This policy sets out how we recognise a possible
concussion, what we do immediately, and - the part most parents ask us about - how and when a student
can safely return to training afterwards.
This policy is based on the BMABA Concussion & Head Injury Management Policy,
which has been independently reviewed by a Lead Consultant Sports Physician at the UK Sports Institute.
It should be read alongside our Health & Safety Policy
and our Physical Contact Policy.
It doesn't replace medical advice, and if in doubt, we always err on the side of caution:
when in doubt, sit them out.
2. Recognising a Possible Concussion
A concussion doesn't always involve being knocked out - in fact, loss of consciousness happens in only
around 1 in 10 cases. Symptoms can appear straight away or develop over the following hours or days.
Watch for:
- Headache, dizziness, or feeling unsteady
- Confusion, feeling "foggy", or slowed responses
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Memory problems, or trouble following simple instructions
- Unusual emotions, irritability, or behaviour out of character
- Changes to sleep
You don't need to be certain it's a concussion to act - if there's any doubt at all, we treat it as one.
3. Call 999 Immediately If
- They're difficult to wake, or can't stay awake
- They have a seizure (fit)
- They lose consciousness and don't recover normally
- They develop new weakness, numbness, or problems with vision
- They have difficulty walking, balancing, speaking or understanding
- There's blood or clear fluid from the nose or ears, or bruising behind the ears
- They have a severe or worsening headache
- You're seriously concerned about them for any reason
4. What We Do Immediately
- Stop the session for that student straight away, and make sure the rest of the class stays safely supervised
- Check for red flag symptoms (Section 3) - if any are present, call 999 without delay
- Don't move the student unless it's necessary and safe to do so
- Remove them from the rest of the session completely - this applies even if they insist they feel fine
- For a junior member, we contact a parent or guardian immediately
- We insist the student (or their parent) contacts NHS 111 or arranges a GP appointment within 24 hours, even if symptoms seem mild
- The student must not drive themselves home, and shouldn't be left alone
- We record what happened - symptoms observed, action taken, and who was informed
No return to training that same day, under any circumstances. This isn't a judgement call left to
the student or parent on the day - it's a fixed rule.
5. Returning to Training
This is the part that matters most once the immediate incident has passed, and it's where we follow
BMABA's standard directly:
- Minimum 28 days before any return to training, sparring, or grading - even light contact - following a suspected concussion. This applies even if symptoms clear up sooner.
- An earlier return is only possible with written clearance from a doctor experienced in concussion management - not a general "feeling better" assessment.
- For under-18s, a longer period may be needed. Because young people's brains are still developing, we'll always take the more cautious route.
- We'll ask to see confirmation of medical clearance before a student returns to any contact training.
6. Graduated Return to Training
Once cleared to return, training is built back up gradually rather than jumping straight back into full
sessions. Each stage should be symptom-free before moving to the next - if any symptoms come back at
any point, we go back a stage and wait until they've settled again.
| Stage | What this looks like |
|---|
| 1 | Gentle daily activity - no training |
| 2 | Light aerobic exercise (walking, cycling) - no martial arts |
| 3 | Footwork and balance drills - no contact |
| 4 | Controlled technical drills and padwork - no sparring, no throws, no resisted grappling |
| 5 | Full contact practice, sparring and rolling, closely supervised |
| 6 | Full return to training and grading |
We understand this can feel slow, especially for a keen student. It exists because a second concussion
before the brain has recovered from the first is far more dangerous than the first one - occasionally
seriously so. We won't be talked into skipping steps.
7. A Note for Parents
Please tell us straight away if your child shows any symptoms at home after training, even hours or
days later, or if they've had a head injury outside the club (at school, in another sport, or
otherwise) - it affects how carefully we should monitor them here too. We'd always rather hear about a
minor concern than miss something.
8. Our Instructors
Our instructors are trained through BMABA's safeguarding and first aid requirements, and we encourage
completion of BMABA's free Concussion & Head Injury Management in Martial Arts (CHIMA) award for
those with a teaching or assisting role. See our
Safer Recruitment Policy
and BMABA registration page for more.