COVID, CONCUSSION & REGULATION IN MMA
ft. MARC GODDARD AND DR. DAVID H WANG
Today, the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation’s Technical Seminar Week presented a webinar with the IMMAF Medical Commission’s Dr. David H Wang, entitled, “COVID – What we know, what we can do.”
Dr. David Wang is on the coal-face of the new-era COVID-security, writing and implementing strategies across large student body populations and working in sport advising on safe return to play. Wang is also a long experienced expert in concussion injuries.
In his talk, Wang gave guidance on current best practice for preventing the spread of COVID-19 in MMA training and events contexts. In the second part, he updated the IMMAF membership on the latest developments in understanding concussion injuries and how to mitigate and manage them. He also touched on new research into the impact of the coronavirus on concussion.
The second webinar of the day was led by refereeing icon and IMMAF Regulatory Affairs Director, Marc Goddard, on the topic of Regulatory Pathways and their importance in MMA, and was by far the most popular talk of the week so far.
As the educational lead for officials at IMMAF, Goddard has been responsible for the training of 100s of referees and judges worldwide, who have gone on to gain experience on the IMMAF Championships circuit under his tutelage. The pathway has been accoladed by professional MMA promoters through their engagement of IMMAF licensed officials. IMMAF officials to recently and currently grace UFC Fight Island, alongside Goddard, include Vito Paollilo (ITA), Angelo Tarantini, Clemens Werner (DEU), Victor Wolf (DEU), Philipp Neumann (DEU) and Ahmad Korchi (FRA). Goddard also presented the new IMMAF Fighting Area® that IMMAF has recently launched on the market.
Tomorrow (Friday 16) sees the final day of IMMAF’s Technical Seminar week with a webinar led by Anti-doping Consultant, Michele Verroken, of Sporting Integrity on “National Federation Responsibilities Under the 2021 WADA Code”. This will be followed by a Championships Q&A session for members with the IMMAF Events Team, joined by the IMMAF President. The week will conclude with a closing talk by IMMAF President Kerrith Brown and CEO Densign White MBE. In the final two talks of the day, the President is expected to update the membership on the status of planned IMMAF Championships for 2021, as well as new competition concepts that are in the works.
IMMAF members interested in attending any seminars, should contact their National Federation for information.
See the full updated, event programme below, and further information detailed on the event page at immaf.org
IMMAF TECHNICAL SEMINAR PROGRAMME 2020
12 – 16 OCTOBER 2020
MONDAY 12 OCTOBER
13:00 hrs (UTC+1):
President’s Welcome & CEO Update
with President Kerrith Brown & CEO Densign White
14:00 hrs (UTC+1):
On Youth Development (4 – 11 year olds)
plus overview of “Lets Mix Martial Arts” for schools
with Dr. Andrew Moshanov, Director of Development
15:00 hrs (UTC+1):
Coaching Matters: Impact of rapid weight loss;
MMA Stand-Up & Groundwork Coach Pilot
with Chris Kirk, PHD – Researcher John Moore University of Liverpool;
Richie Cranny, IMMAFA President, Wimp 2 Warrior founder
TUESDAY 13 OCTOBER
14:00 hrs (UTC+1)
Women’s Commissions Assembly
(by private invitation for commission members only)
15:00 hrs (UTC+1):
Social Media Workshop for National Federations
with IMMAF Social Media Manager, Andreas Georgiou (Uni4m Media);
IMMAF Brand & Communications Director, Izzy Carnwath
16:00 hrs (UTC+1)
Integrity, Transparency & Accountability
in the Governance of MMA: How does your Federation Match Up?
with IMMAF CEO Densign White
WEDNESDAY 14 OCTOBER
13:00 hrs (UTC +1)
MMA FIT (aerobic workout session)
with Bertrand Amoussou
14:00 hrs (UTC+1):
Cultivating National Membership
with Gosha Malik and Jorden Curran, Member Relations Team
15:00 hrs (UTC+1)
Commissions Catch-Up
by private invitation for commission members only
THURSDAY 15 OCTOBER
14:00 hrs (UTC+1)
“COVID – What we know, what we can do.”;
Concussions – 2020 Update
with Dr. David H Wang, IMMAF Medical Committee
15:00 hrs (UTC+1)
Why Regulatory Pathways are Essential
with Marc Goddard, IMMAF Director of Regulatory Affairs
FRIDAY 16 OCTOBER
14:00 hrs (UTC+1)
Anti-doping: National Federation Responsibilities
Under the 2021 Code
with Anti-doping Consultant, Michele Verroken (Sporting Integrity)
15:00 hrs (UTC+1)
Championships Q&A with Events Team
Live chat with IMMAF events team
16:00 hrs (UTC+1)
Presidents’ Closing Speech
with President Kerrith Brown