I WAS 16 years old when I got hit in the face with a surfboard and broke my nose.
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It was my surfboard.
The impact left me with two black eyes, a slight concussion, and the amount of blood in water made it look like I had been chumming for sharks.
My brother was a similar age when he was tackled in a lunchtime footy match, and suffered a broken and dislocated ankle (we discovered the dislocation when the cast was removed six weeks later).
There would be few people who make it through their childhood without some bumps and bruises along the way, not to mention broken bones and stitches.
Injuries are as much a part of childhood as puberty or milkshakes, but parents and carers will always want to protect their children from unnecessary pain.
In early September the Australian Medical Association called for all combat sports to be banned for children under the age of 18.
The ban would include sports such as judo, boxing and karate where the "primary objective of participants is to strike, kick, hit, grapple with, throw or punch one or more participants".
"These sports are a public demonstration of interpersonal violence which is unique among sporting activities," the AMA's statement said.
On the surface, the ban makes sense. It's an easy way to protect children from pain.
Part of the reasoning behind the recommendation of a ban was the damage that can be incurred from a single blow to the head.
Few would argue that children being hit in the head is ever acceptable, purely because it is not
The statement went on to recommend that medical officers attend all combat sport events, and making weigh-in times earlier so participants have longer to rehydrate.
These recommendations make complete sense - health and safety is important in any sport where injuries can occur.
However, a blanket ban shows a misunderstanding of the aims and benefits of some martial arts.
My brother and I practised karate throughout our childhood, learning skills gradually as we improved.
Contrary to what you might expect we were both more at risk of hurting ourselves outside the dojo - and we did, often.
Competition rules for karate mean the objective is never to hit an opponent in the face.
Control is valued, and no score will be awarded for a punch (or kick) that makes contact to the head.
Additionally, thick gloves are worn during all sparring matches.
Karate is self defence. It teaches women (and men) how to protect themselves, a knowledge that should not be denied to young women on the basis of their age.
All women should have the opportunity to walk the streets at night knowing that they can defend themselves.
In a world where violence is so often prevalent, the ability to defend oneself should not be undervalued.
Karate teaches respect and discipline, both of which can be extremely beneficial for young children (and their parents).
Of course, karate can also be good exercise.
Combat sports should not all be painted with the same brush.
Martial arts primarily have a self defence focus, and the AMA must ensure it has considered each sport on its merits before pushing for a blanket ban.