Domestic abuse is one of the most hushed topics among people within the sports world. Domestic abuse and violence is a terribly dangerous thing, and athletes in extremely competitive and violent sports need help.

 

Most of the athletes at a professional level have been engulfed within their particular sport for years, and some have even been training since they could hardly walk. We see within the more violent sports they tend have had their mindset towards pain being no problem, and focusing their anger into helping them perform better and/or hurt their opponent. We see the biggest problem with domestic abuse within the sports of football and mixed martial arts. Even some of the biggest names in both industries have become guilty of violence within the home. Ray Rice, running back for the Baltimore Ravens got into a verbal fight with his fiancé that quickly took a turn for the worse. There is security footage of Ray punching his fiancé multiple times knocking her out before he proceeded to drag her unconscious body out of the elevator.

 

And as we dive into the world of the UFC we come face to face with Ronda Rousey, the former women's bantamweight champion of the world. Ronda spoke out explaining how she has also been affected by domestic abuse. She stated in an interview that her boyfriend took some pictures of her that she did not find flattering, Ronda punched and kneed him in the head and face before throwing him to the kitchen floor.

 

I believe both of these instances could have been avoided. And in order to do so, we as athletes need to establish ways that we can relieve our stress. And some athletes even need coaching on how the keep their killer instinct and aggression on the field or in the ring.10/14/16