TANZANIA has introduced an internationally acclaimed game known as ‘Power Slap’ to be played by grown up youths for people’s entertainments in various sports arena in the country.

The style of a game that is similar to boxing has been introduced by a Turkish firm Power Slap Africa in collaboration with a local sports organization known as ‘Fight for Change’. 

The game aligns an innovative sports and talent development as powerful tool for community development and as a new wave of enthusiasm to encourage young people to participate in sports games.

The Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, through the National Sports Council (NSC), has endorsed the game that is envisioned to introduce a unique and thrilling sport activities as it has captured the attention of sports fans across the globe. 

The CEO of Power Slap Africa, Burak Buyuksarac, told The Guardian in an exclusive interview that, his firm follows the global standards of Power Slap competition to ensure the integrity of the sport and the safety of its participants. 

Here are the primary rules: Matches consist of three to five rounds and each round gives both participants one opportunity to slap their opponent and this is inconsistent with the intelligence of humans and inspires curiosity among those looking for unconventional forms of entertainment

According to him, it is indeed an intense game whereby two participants exchange open-handed slaps to each other’s faces. The match tests the strength, precision, and endurance of the competitors in a controlled and regulated environment. 

Power slap is striking a person with the open palm of a hand in a movement sometimes known as smacking being played like boxing games. A backhand uses the back of the hand instead of the palm.

There are rules which guides power slapping, he noted that after a coin toss to decide who goes first, the first striker has a time limit of 60 seconds to deliver an open-handed slap to the opponent. 

Contestants on the show slaps each other in the face to showcase their power, technique and resolve. This is very dangerous and must be targeted below the eye but above the chin, without leading with the palm such that all hand to face contact takes place at the same time. 

In this game, contestants be it men or women slap each other and deliver open hand slaps across the face of their opponents, and a winner is decided by judges after three rounds. 

The uniqueness of the game is where two opponents take turns slapping each other with an open hand and hold their hands palms up and try to slap the back of the other player's hand before they pull away. The player who slaps successfully gets a point and continues slapping. 

To ensure maximum damage, however, fighters are forbidden from defending themselves. Instead, they must hold a metal bar behind them to restrain their force as they brace for impact, this is where the dangerous part of the game lies. 

Power Slap Africa is a premier competitive slap-fighting organization based in Tanzania, with the goal to bring the thrilling and disciplined sport of Power Slap to Africa, engaging a wide audience while maintaining the highest standards of sportsmanship and safety.

Despite having this game which has become known worldwide, critics on mental health have cautioned over the devastating impacts caused as a result of this game on human head.

Many members of the medical community, including professionals, have continually raised questions about the risk of traumatic brain injury that slap fighting poses. 

According to researchers, there are serious injuries that are devastating, especially when sustained repeatedly. 

The findings of this study, researchers wrote in their letter, suggest that slap fighting may induce traumatic brain injury in contestants, with a potential for long term consequences. 

The best way is to educate players and people as to how brain injuries can impact a lifetime.

Power Slap is the world’s premier slap fighting promotion, regulated and sanctioned by athletic commissions in Nevada, California, Florida, Texas and Louisiana. It was founded by Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta and Craig Piligian in partnership with Ultimate Fighting Championship.