INJURY AND BJJ

THIS BLOG IS FOR AWARENESS, the content may seem extreme, but injuries do happen like any sport. The way you train with your training partners and team mates will eliminate any extra injuries or niggles you may get whilst practicing Brazilian Jiujitsu !

BJJ is a distinguished martial art form and its audience is growing with each passing day. Like every other sports form, injuries are inevitable, especially as BJJ is mostly focused on joint locks, takedowns and leverage. You might have heard about the worst Jiu-Jitsu injuries but no BJJ competition has seen any major injuries to date. eg life changing injuries. And, the good news is, most can be prevented by the following important things.

Research analysing 6 years of data shows that MMA has the highest rate of injuries.

BJJ does not allow any kind of strikes, meaning that it is better on the body than other forms of martial art. Another important factor is that no heel hooks and neck cracks are allowed for lower belts which makes the game less dangerous. However, orthopaedic injuries resulting from moves such as arm bars are the main culprit, usually due to the person being submitted not tapping earlier. Though the injury can be painful, it can be treated within a few days.

On the other hand, injuries to nerves and tendons are considered serious and can be extremely painful, therefore consultation and proper care is required.

These usually occur when a fighter overextends their knee and ends up tearing their ACL. The initial stages of injury can be less painful but can progress into a more serious issue requiring surgical intervention.

The lower back injury

The lower back injury in BJJ is caused by:

• Shallow stacking

• Spinal twists

• Hyperextension

Without a doubt, lower back injuries are the most common within BJJ as most fighters utilise their muscles in the pelvic area in full guard. Depending on the side of their opponent in the combat, they might get their muscles pulled as their opponent pulls their body awkwardly. Lower back injuries might take more time to heal but the best solution is to see a doctor and get some rest before training again.

The neck injury

The common cause of neck injury in BJJ is:

• Deep stacking

• Can opener holds

• Neck cranks

• Posting with the head

Like muscle injuries, neck injuries are also quite common in situations such as trying to get out of a headlock. Posting one’s head and rolling it can also lead to a neck injury. Commonly, people mistake slipping of a disc for muscular pain. The easiest way to identify a nerve injury is to see if the sensation or throbbing pain travels to your arms and fingers. Seeing a doctor without any delay is the only solution.

Knee injury

Knee injuries are usually caused by leg locks and sweeps, which affect the stability of the knee muscle and ligaments. Hyperextension of the knee is the major cause, due to the additional pressure experienced by the knee joint. The intensity of the tear is to be checked in such cases. A full tear can only be healed by surgery.

Shoulder injury

Shoulder injuries are also common in BJJ. These can occur due to arm locks, shooting, and posting. One must keep their elbows close to avoid shoulder injuries otherwise they will be attacked and the fight will lead to an arm bar or wrist lock. Like a knee injury, this can cause great damage to your ligament and it can also lead to a full tear.

Ear injury

Shooting and grappling cause ear injury. Cauliflower ear happens when the cartilage in the ear gets damaged. This causes the blood to rush into the ear and if it is not drained properly, the chances of blood solidifying in the ear increase.

• By resting and draining

• By wearing a headgear

• By being less aggressive

Other ear issues can be down to cuts to the ear whilst moving and using head preasure.

WRAP UP

Injuries are inevitable in BJJ. The main element to all this is injury prevention, functional training and proprioceptive joint muscle development to strengthen the areas that are most prone to injury.

The key take away is to be aware of what you are doing. Don’t crank submissions on and always tap at the first sign of any discomfort or submission. This will give you longevity in BJJ. Getting rid of your EGO and tapping will not only humble you but also make you better, regardless of age or even BELT COLOUR !

If you have any questions, please approach me and have a chat, I can guide you in the right direction or write a program to suit your needs and situation.

Adz Lison