Sport Spotlight: Mixed Martial Arts

The second in our series of “spotlight sports” focuses on mixed martial arts, or MMA, which began in the ancient Olympic games known as Pankration. It was later passed on from the Greeks to the Romans. Some of the basic skills that were used back then are still used today, and with the help of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the sport is consistently rising in popularity. MMA is a full-contact sport that combines fighting techniques from multiple styles of martial arts and combat sports. Since various styles are used, all fighters must be well rounded and versed in multiple disciplines. Almost all MMA fighters started in a particular area […]

Read More

“Concussion” — Not Just the Movie

In the new movie Concussion, premiering Christmas Day, Will Smith plays a Forensic Pathologist who discovers neurological deterioration (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) in football players. He goes on to spread the word about concussions to help keep athletes safe. This blog aims to do the same. What exactly is a concussion? According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, a concussion is a traumatic brain injury where a blow to the head causes the brain to move back and forth in the skull. This movement in the brain can change chemicals in the brain and bruise it. Concussions can also lead to more serious issues later in life, including chronic traumatic […]

Read More

To Specialize or Not to Specialize? Assessing the Risks and Rewards of Playing Only One Sport

A common concern of parents with young athletes is whether they should have their child specialize in a particular sport. Athletes have been specializing earlier and earlier in their athletic careers in order to attempt to achieve high or elite athletic status. Some parents feel pressure from coaches to keep their kid training for one sport day in and day out in order to keep up with traveling or competitive teams—if they don’t, they run the risk that their child will be a step behind everyone they are competing against. As a result, sport becomes more structured and scheduled while being less about fun and spontaneity. While parents and coaches […]

Read More

Sport Spotlight: Archery

Sport Spotlight: Archery is the first installment in our new series of spotlight blogs. Each blog will focus on one sport that isn’t commonly publicized while explaining the basic rules and exploring how athletes in Minnesota can participate. Archery dates back to 2800 B.C.E. with the construction of the first bow and arrow by the Egyptians. Today, archery is both recreational and competitive—the activities range from casual day bowhunting to shooting at a range to Olympic events. Basic Rules and Regulations The purpose of archery is to hit the desired target(s); points are then calculated based on where the arrow hits the targets throughout the course of a round. Regardless […]

Read More

When is Enough Enough? The Costs of Playing Through Injuries

In the 1996 Olympics gymnast Kerri Strug sprained her ankle on her first vault landing. All she needed to earn a gold medal was a clean vault, which was exactly what she did after spraining her ankle: Strug performed a vault with an injury, landing on one foot. Competing or performing with an injury is common in world of athletics at any level. Strug’s story, as well as many other athletes who have overcome adversity, hold not only a special place in history but also in the eyes of society. The athletes are looked up to as heroes for sacrificing their bodies for the glory of a win. This mentality […]

Read More

Embrace Your Shake Like Phil Hansen

Phil Hansen was going to school to become an artist when he discovered something that he thought would end his career before it even began. He had developed a shake in his hand from using pointillism—a painting technique in which small dots are applied in patterns to form a single image. Because he could no longer create art through his preferred method, he decided to drop art school and art altogether. However, years later he decided to return to art and saw a doctor about his condition. The doctor changed his life with a single question: “Why don’t you just embrace the shake?” Hansen’s TED talk describes his inspiring journey […]

Read More