Finding a more professional way to address injury in Brazilian jiu jitsu.
While Jiu-Jitsu is one of the most accident-prone martial arts, it is often overlooked as such. This issue was addressed on episode eight of the podcast "Bulletproof for BJJ”. During this episode, the hosts of the show, JT and Joey, tackle the issue of injuries in the field of Jiu-Jitsu and how these injuries are inappropriately handled. Keep in mind that the hosts are Jiu-Jitsu professionals and have seen these injuries first hand. One of the hosts even goes as far as expressing that, "nobody told him or warned him in the beginning that he was going to get a ton of injuries along the way." Of course, one knows they are signing themselves up for possible injuries, however, the regularity of the injuries is becoming a growing issue with little to no help from medical professionals in many cases.
During episode eight of the podcast Bulletproof for BJJ, the hosts announce that Jiu-Jitsu athletes often lack proper education when it comes to their injuries. According to these two professionals, there is also a rising absence of discussions with BJJ practioners when it comes to treating their injuries. BJJ athletes are typically not allotted the resources for such treatment.
The biggest issue is that these injuries are continuously swept under the rug; they are the unspoken variable in the sport. According to JT and Joey, generally speaking, these athletes find out the risk of injury after having sustained said injury. Then, on top of being bombarded with an unexpected injury, the athlete is required to find medical treatment or solutions on their own; this could include seeking out your own Physiotherapist or doctor. The issue there is, the athlete should not have to be responsible for seeking out their own treatment, not when other athletes have this luxury allotted to them with no issues.
During the podcast, both hosts reflected on their time within the BJJ field and both came to the consensus that they wished their coach would have said anything to them regarding the high risk of injury. They also agreed that coaches should have contacts for outreach when it comes to their player's injuries. JT went on to say, "A little bit of outreach, before the fact, would have helped deal with many of his injuries quicker." The unprofessionalism approach that the Jiu-Jitsu field is leaning on is the biggest issue. For example, the show's hosts say: "We have a very unprofessional way of approaching the way to treat Jiu-Jitsu injuries." When you compare Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to other professional sports, you see the difference is that other professions have a direct connection to someone ready and available to assist them with whatever injury is sustained, whereas Jiu-Jitsu athletes are being told by their coaches to "take it easy, but keep training."
Within the podcast, host JT addresses the fact that coaches simply tell their athletes who sustain injuries to "take it easy, but keep training." This is just telling the athlete to "shake it off." The hosts address these tactics as dangerous and the danger lies within the coaches not acknowledging injuries and maintaining a lack of depth and education about what the athlete's/student's limitations are.
During the podcast, they say that there needs to be a system created. JT says that this system needs to be created to where there is a "good mechanic" on duty, due to "rally driving." He said that whenever a player becomes injured, there need to be specialists and health professionals that you can turn to for advice. A great example of this is at The Academy Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Northfield, IL where Dr. Muhibb Sadiq, DPT has his office set up right next to the jiu jitsu mats. This strategic setup provides The Academy’s students with greater accessibility to the knowledge provided by Dr. Sadiq and his associates at Element Performance & Physical Therapy and helps the students get back on the mat faster after injury.
Per JT, everyone needs a body mechanic. If you are practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, it is advised that you find a knowledgeable resource for your injuries. JT himself had to locate a doctor who was able to manage his injury. JT is considered a lucky case, it took him a while but he was able to locate someone good for his recovery. He stated, "Once you find someone good at what they do, they are gold, and you need to hang onto them. For those of you who practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and have no medical assistance, there are online resources for you to access until you find someone fit for your needs.
Unfortunately we all don’t have access to training partners or friends who are physiotherapists, but there are a ton of resources on the web that you can access. Here is a list of online BJJ friendly resources for jiu-jitsu-related injuries that could help you out while on your journey:
This is a US-based YouTube Channel, known as The Jiu-Jitsu Therapist. It is run by Eugene, a black belt, and the host of the ChewJitsu Podcast. This channel has over ten years of Jiu-Jitsu training and over ten years of experience in Physical Therapy. The goal of this channel is to provide you with high-quality information and content on BJJ training, health, and injury - keeping you on the mats! It is dedicated to injury prevention, rehab, physical therapy, jiu-jitsu, training, MMA, and grappling. This could be a great source for both training techniques and injury related techniques.
Andrzej Ostapko Physioberks
This is a UK-based YouTube Channel, known as Andrzej Ostapko Physioberks. It is run by Andrej Ostapko, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. This channel is dedicated to Physiotherapy for sports and the general public. There is a variety of treatment modalities that are useful to help you feel better and perform better. If you are looking for assistance, watching one of these videos can go a long way for you.
The Fight Physio Blog
This is more of a website for a string of brick-and-mortar doctors. There are three locations: 135C Newton Rd, Auckland; 11/627 Mt Wellington Hwy, Auckland 1062; 17 Kalmia St, Auckland 1051. This is a Physiotherapy clinic and Rehabilitation treatment center. This business is dedicated to providing top-quality treatment to acute injuries or pains! If you are not looking for a Physiotherapist in particular and just looking for tips and tricks to assist you, there are also blogs located on this website as well.
Joana Pires:
Physiotherapist
Women Who Fight is considered a empowering woman-run website, run by Physiotherapist and black belt, Joana Pires. The website consists of articles and podcasts related to physio-related injuries - as well as other issues women struggle with. Joana Pires is employed by a private practice based in London and treats musculoskeletal disorders which result from sport-related or work-related incidents.
The BJJ Physio
This website is home to BJJ Physio. They are known for helping Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athletes optimize their training. The business is ran and operated by Dr. Wesley Reed, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Athlete. Meet with Dr. Wesley Reed via phone interview and receive your free consultation and customized program!
Please note that this list is compiled of just a few resources that are made readily available. There are plenty of other resources that you can stumble open with just a quick google search. If you are practicing the art of Jiu-Jitsu, please take it seriously and have a medical professional in your corner. Underestimating the risk of injury has led more than enough athletes to retirement.
