Inside Power Slap: A changing ruleset, and a congressman asks questions amid more 'mindless violence'

• U.S. politicians are concerned about the 'mindless violence' of Power Slap.
• The slap-fighting promotion is midway through its debut season on American TV.

Slap Fighting and new promotion Power Slap continue to attract controversy amid the "mindless violence" that airs Wednesdays on TBS.

"Today, Rep. Don Bacon and I are asking TBS and Warner Bros about their crass new TV show, 'The Power Slap,' glorifying terrible violence," New Jersey congressman Bill Pascrell Jr. tweeted this week.

The premise of the Power Slap tournament is simple. You take turns striking your opponent with an open palm until one of you cannot continue.

Slap fighters have three turns each to try and concuss the other. If there is no winner by knockout, then judges award a decision.

The results have been uncomfortable to watch as the impact of these blows appears to cause far more damage than knockouts in boxing and in mixed martial arts.

It is not that the slaps produce cuts or blood but, rather, the potential for traumatic brain injuries as those who succumb to the strike look far worse for wear with greater frequency than similar hits in mainstream combat sports.

Another clear difference between slap fighting and other sports is that defense is ultimately prohibited in Power Slap, whereas in boxing and MMA, the art is to hit while not getting hit in return.

Slap fighting continues to attract attention in the U.S.

Much of it, though, appears to be negative.

Now politicians are asking questions.

"Where are the warnings to this mindless violence? Traumatic brain injury isn't entertainment," Pascrell said.

Slap fighters 'could kill people' with practice. The rules may change.

The brutal sport has left the world of boxing confused and in shock. It's "literally organized brain damage," a Hall of Fame promoter Lou DiBella recently said.

Neuroscientist and former pro wrestler Chris Nowinski even told Insider that a slap fighter "could kill people on a regular basis with enough practice."

At a Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) meeting this week, a rules change has been approved so that the sport's safety can hopefully improve.

According to one Insider source who was on the conference call, NSAC executives appear to be taking the safety aspect of slap fighting far more seriously than when they approved the professionalization of it in Nevada late last year.

During Wednesday's commission hearing, the NSAC wanted to look at what does and does not constitute a legal or permitted slap.

Slap fighters cannot hit below the chin or strike with the tougher part of their hand near the wrist. It must be a true, open-handed blow, per amended rules that have now been green-lit.

These rule changes will not likely begin until March 11, when a live pay-per-view airs at the UFC's Apex studio in Las Vegas.

Power Slap has aired four pre-filmed episodes and is mid-way through its eight-episode series.