Health risks of slap-face fighting: Concussion, organ failures due to head injuries, and more

Dangers of slap fighting: A single forceful slap to the face can cause a concussion, a serious brain injury that can have long-lasting consequences (Image: Canva)

A new combat sport called slap-face fighting is rapidly gaining grounds. Watched by millions online it has the potential to cause serious brain damage. Competitors face off and take turns to deliver bare, full-force, open-handed strikes to the cheek.

“Unlike boxing, no head gear is allowed and defenders cannot duck to avoid blows. Even flinching is banned,” states a report on BBC.com, which adds that “opponents are scored based on the amount of damage they inflict and how well they cope with getting slapped themselves.”

The sport is popular in the US and other countries like Britain with lots of videos being posted on popular hosting sites like YouTube, with its popularity starting in Eastern Europe around 2017-18. Slap-Face beatdowns typically involve three-five rounds, with opponents slapping each other even when their faces may swell up. The winners are decided by KO, or competitors can be disqualified if the slap is deemed illegal. Each slap is also subject to video review.

But now there is a public outcry at the dangers of face-slapping. In 2021, Polish slap-fighter Artur Walczak suffered a brain bleed during a match in which he was knocked out. He died of multiple organ failure linked to his head injury.

In March 2023, retired female fighter Kortney Olson told BuzzFeed News that in an exhibition of a now-cancelled cable network show called Power Slap, Olsen was struck by competitor Sheena Bathory and fell, her eyes visibly rolling back as the crowd gasped.

Olsen said in an interview that she was concerned about memory lapses both during the match, and months after: “After I regained consciousness, I stood back up to get to the table and reset, but lost consciousness again and wound up doing a forward roll. I don't have any recollection of doing a forward roll.”

Lead authors of the medical study, Dr Raj Swaroop Lavadi and Dr Nitin Agarwal, at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in the US state that theirs is the only academic study to quantifiably assess the possible dangers. BBC.com quotes Lavadi and Agarwal as saying that while slap fighting "might be entertaining to watch", as medical professionals, they “found some aspects of the competitions to be quite concerning".

“According to their analysis of 78 fights between 56 contestants and involving 333 slaps: more than half of the participants had visible signs of concussion; many had signs of impaired movement following a hit or had a blank or vacant stare; and some were knocked down had some trouble getting back up”, BBC.com says.

• Concussion: A single forceful slap to the face can cause a concussion, a serious brain injury that can have long-lasting consequences.

• Facial injuries: Slap-face fighting can result in facial injuries, such as broken noses, cheekbone fractures, and cuts.

• Hearing loss: Repeated slaps to the face can damage the eardrums, leading to hearing loss.

• Dental injuries: Slap-face fighting can cause dental injuries, including loose teeth or even tooth loss.

• Psychological harm: Participating in or witnessing slap-face fighting can have negative psychological effects, such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Slap-face fighting is a dangerous and harmful activity. There is no safe way to participate in this trend, and the potential risks far outweigh any perceived benefits. If you or someone you know is considering participating in slap-face fighting, it is crucial to seek help and discourage this dangerous behaviour.