I have done Martial Arts in one form or another for about 10 years (I took a 2 year break in the middle, so I guess twice for 4 years each time).

Last year (November) I received a concussion in a boxing match. I actually won the match, but the concussion symptoms lasted about 7 days after the bout - I had a bit of confusion (mixing up words mainly), a headache, and my balance was a bit strange.

I went to the hospital the day after the concussion and was told I had a minor concussion, I would be fine in 7-14 days. They were right, I felt fine and went back training. I decided I wouldn't spar for 3 months to allow my head time to heal (most of the research I read suggested that 3 months after symptoms went away was enough time).

The first sparring I had when I came back, I took a shot to the back of my head and my legs felt wobbly for a split second (it wasn't even a hard shot). I jumped online to read about concussions after that, stumbled across this forum and saw the film 'concussion'. As a result, I have decided to give up combat sports. Mark, on a number of occasions, has made very logical points about why combat sports are not worth the risk. I do sit here wondering whether the me of now is the same as the me from before my concussion.

I think that when you are involved in combat sports and you truly love the physically and toughness of the training (as I did), you don't truly appreciate the damage it could cause. I will say that I got a lot of good things from Combat Sports (my wife-to-be, my best friends), but at 29 years old I've decided that I don't want to risk anything more serious. Over the past few weeks, I've read about dementia and all kinds of horrific things boxers and NFL players are going through and - to my shame - ended up having a panic attack whilst thinking that this could lie in my future.

I am rambling a bit now, so I apologise, but I wanted to say thank you to all those who have shared stories and to those who have provided the advice to give up combat sports. Until reading all the thoughts and concerns I'd not realised how much I could have lost from the concussion I suffered (i.e. some of the terrible PCS symptoms you guys are suffering with due to no fault of your own) and the increased risks from taking multiple blows to the head.