Combat sport under the spotlight
Questions raised over safety of Thailand’s national sport after fighter left in a coma, reports Marvin France.
"There's also protocol in place when an emergency occurs. Not only do they have to follow that procedure they also have to follow up by providing incident reports which are then investigated to ensure all the appropriate measures are taken."
NZ Muay Thai Federation spokesman Mike Angove
Regardless of whether it be in the ring, cage, or octagon, there is always a huge element of risk to any combat sport. Never was that more evident than in Wellington at the weekend.
In what has been described as a ‘‘freak accident’’, Porirua’s Ra Redden was left in an induced coma with spinal injuries after falling awkwardly with his opponent during a Muay Thai bout.
The incident has shone the spotlight on a sport that generally receives little mainstream coverage in New Zealand. But Muay Thai has had a strong local presence for some time, with New Zealand producing several multiple world champions, including Ray Sefo, Jason Suttie and Shane Chapman.
The national sport of Thailand, often compared with kickboxing, Muay Thai combines stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques.
As brutal as it can be, there is a certain artistry involved and it is sometimes referred to as the ‘Art of Eight Limbs’ due to the use of fists, elbows, knees and shins.
Like several other disciplines, Muay Thai’s global popularity, both competitively and for fitness purposes, has grown on the back of the explosion of mixed martial arts (MMA). Last year, it received provisional recognition as an Olympic sport by the International Olympic Committee and is targeting entry into the 2024 Games in Paris.
There are three main governing bodies who sanction fights in New Zealand - World Kickboxing Association (WKA), World Kick Boxing Federation (WKBF), and World Muaythai Council (WMC), which is associated with the New Zealand Muay Thai Federation and sanctioned the Honour 15 event in which Redden was competing.
Mike Angove, himself a former world kickboxing champion and spokesman for the WMC and NZ Muay Thai Federation, said promoters have to follow strict safety criteria before, during and after their events in order for them to be sanctioned.
Competitors are required to undergo pre-fight medical checks, including blood tests, while during the event a ringside doctor is present as well as two paramedics. Those who lose by stoppage are required to stand down for at least 30 days.
‘‘There’s also protocol in place when an emergency occurs,’’ Angove said. ‘‘Not only do they have to follow that procedure they also have to follow up by providing incident reports which are then investigated to ensure all the appropriate measures are taken.’’
That protocol was called into action on Saturday when Redden and opponent Gene Elbourne were engaged in a clinch manouevre, with Redden trying to twist his opponent.
Elbourne reversed the twist before falling on top of Redden, with his neck at a very unusual angle.
It was immediately apparent something was wrong after Redden hit the ground, and paramedics were at his side within seconds.
Angove was adamant that the correct medical procedure was in place.
‘‘Had that not had the correct medical procedure in place you could be dealing with a death rather than hope of recovery,’’ he said.
‘‘There was no doubt it was a freak occurrence, the injury wasn’t something that normally occurs in this kind of event, it’s more likely to occur at the bottom of the ruck or kids playing on the front lawn.
‘‘Instantly you had medical attention there, all the correct process and procedures were followed until the ambulance arrived.’’
The sanctioning bodies always require at least one medical official to be watching at ringside. WKA world vice-president Dave Sawyer said they would not allow fights to proceed unless there was one present.
Yet it goes beyond just having medical officials. Both Sawyer and Angove say that having highly trained referees who can identify when a fighter is hurt was equally important
Redden’s fight was controlled by Chris Samson, who is regarded as New Zealand’s top Muay Thai referee.
‘‘We have highly trained referees,’’ Sawyer said. ‘‘They’re the ones that stop the injuries.
‘‘Quite often we run with two referees so the second referee is also watching the outside of the ring.’’
As martial arts do not come under the Boxing and Wresting Act, there is the prospect of promoters going rogue and holding unsanctioned events.
But Sawyer says fighters and coaches have started to selfregulate the sport, with fewer unsanctioned fights occurring than previously.
‘‘What’s happening is fighters and coaches will not go to shows if they don’t have qualified judges and qualified referees and they don’t have paramedics, they’re starting to know the shows that are good.’’
Angove said WMC would review its procedures following the weekend’s incident but he praised those who came to Redden’s aid.
‘‘You can’t legislate for a freak event,’’ he said. ‘‘Undoubtedly there will be a review that takes place but that is not as a consequence of any poor action or poor safety. In this case it was done very, very well. It’s a freak accident, it’s a tragedy and that’s where our focus is.’’