The safety of our students is paramount in our Tang Soo Do training and in any of the competitive events that we are involved with Awareness of injuries and potential injuries is the responsibility of the instructors and judges supervising students during these activities.

 

Head injuries, and specifically concussions, are of particular concern and familiarity with the signs of concussion allows the instructor or judge to know when a student can continue to participate safely. In medical terms, a concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or by a body hit that causes the head to move rapidly back and forth. This movement can cause the brain to bounce or twist within the skull, leading to chemical changes and potential stretching or damage to brain cells. It's important to note that while concussions are often used interchangeably with mild TBI, they specifically describe the mildest form of the injury.

 

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

• Definition: A concussion is a clinical syndrome characterized by a temporary disturbance in brain function, often affecting memory and orientation, and may or may not involve loss of consciousness.

• Cause: Concussions are typically caused by a direct blow to the head or a forceful impact that causes the head to rapidly accelerate and decelerate.

• Symptoms: Symptoms can include headaches, memory loss (amnesia), confusion, and other neurological deficits. While loss of consciousness isn't a requirement for diagnosis, it can be an indicator of a more severe injury.

• Diagnosis: Concussion diagnosis is primarily clinical, based on a patient's history and physical examination. Standardized tools like the Sports Concussion Assessment Tool 6 (SCAT6) can be used to assess athletes on the sidelines after a potential head injury, according to the National Institutes of Health.

 

Below are Links to 3 videos and the SCAT6 and the Child SCAT6 handouts below should be reviewed by all instructors and organizers of events. The videos are based on the older SCAT5 guidelines, but only minor changes to the protocol were released with SCAT6 in July of 2025. The first video contains a practical sideline evaluation method, while the other two go into the detail of specifics in the SCAT6 total evaluation for your information.

 

Additionally, attached are two handouts (in English and Spanish) that should be utilized as an informational aid for students and parents when there is a suspected head injury.

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Please review this information and encourage others to do the same maintaining the safety and enjoyment in our training!

 

Tang Soo!