Rogan grapples the unspoken opponent that forces fighters into submission, staph infections.

Fighters in Jiu-Jitsu gyms everywhere are being attacked, but not just by other fighters. Instead, there is a secret enemy that hides in the dark crevices of training spaces. It is invisible, swift, and often deadly. MMA super-fan and UFC Commentator Joe Rogan, Australian Jiu-Jitsu expert Craig Jones, and UFC Featherweight Champ, Alexander Volanoski shared some horror stories on the May 27, 2021 podcast episode of the Joe Rogan Experience. This particular MMA episode is worth a listen as these three MMA experts expose the hidden plague targeting fighters across the world: infections.

JRE MMA #110

Staph, MRSA, and Viral Pink Eye: Masters of the Take-Down.

Joe Rogan and this episode’s distinguished guests address the “elephant in the gym” that everyone is aware of, but no one wants to talk about: infections. While there is no arguing that things like Staph, MRSA, and Viral Pink Eye are bred and spread in fighting gyms around the world, it’s one of those things where everyone’s position seems to be, “if we don’t talk about it, it’s not there.”

Dealing with infections as they pertain to Jiu-Jitsu gyms is a problem that is multi-layered and complex, so it is no wonder that most fighters and gym owners are happy to sweep it under the rug and leave it there. But the fact of the matter is that these infections go beyond being a nuisance. Once they become a “member” of a gym, these infections tend to spread like wildfire. They can cause permanent damage to the infected body, and if left untreated, they can very well lead to death. But who is responsible for stopping the spread and ensuring that it doesn’t continue to be a constant problem?

“Antibiotics Wreck You” (128:52).

Jones opens the discussion about infections when he speaks of a fellow fighter who continued to compete while battling Staph. The fighter did not bother to take antibiotics for the issue, even after the infected abscess literally “exploded on an airplane” (127: 30). When asked why the fighter didn’t take antibiotics for the condition, Jones tells us the fighter, with a lack of concern for his well-being, said that it’s “just mindset...positive thinking,” not antibiotics, that will take care of the issue (128:08). A typical position of fighters, what is not being considered here is something Rogan brings to light.

Rogan says, “there’s a school of thought... should you take antibiotics or should you just compete with the Staph and take antibiotics afterward?” (128:35). Fighters put in such an enormous amount of energy into upcoming matches that they don’t want to let a “trivial thing” like Staph get in the way of all their hard work. Taking antibiotics can cause a physical reaction in the infected. Often, these drugs make them feel tired, sluggish, and sometimes worse than the infection itself. Rogan says, “antibiotics wreck you” (128:52). That is a valid reason in the mind of a competitor who must be at the physical peak of his/her game going into a match, leading to them often opt out of medical treatment.

But what Rogan points out is that “you’re putting your opponent at risk, which is a problem” (128:45). This is an issue that is not often thought of when a fighter makes the personal decision not to seek treatment for a bacterial or viral infection. They only consider how they will be affected, not their effect on others because of their decision. This is one reason why these infections can often put gyms and their members in a stranglehold. The lack of action on the fighter’s part to stop the infection is an open invitation for the illness to have a trial membership to a gym. Through a fighter choosing to grapple with their opponents rather than their medical issues, things like Staph, MRSA, and Viral Pink Eye can turn their trial into a platinum membership.

Jones proves this theory when he recounts the unbelievable tale of his time training in New York at The Renzo Gracie school. Speaking about it as if it was just a normal fact of life, he tells us he took antibiotics once a month for a week at a time for an entire year. The reason is that he caught an infection 12 times over the course of 12 consecutive months. That staggering admission should not be accepted as “normal” for anyone, especially those in a high-risk-for-injury industry. MMA fighters always expect physical assault from their human opponents, but they need to face the reality that they are under siege by invisible opponents every time they hit the mat.

Rogan goes on to point out the consequences of refusing medical treatment. He tells us about a friend’s wife who decided antibiotics were not the correct route for her in her battle against Staph, and as a direct result, she died. While she was not a competitive fighter, the risk for fighters remains the same. Though not in the forefront of anyone’s mind suffering from what starts as a minor skin infection, death can become a reality if the illness is not addressed quickly. The bottom line is this: fighters owe it to themselves and others they come in contact with to seek treatment for these infections and stay away from the gym until a medical professional says it’s ok for them to return.

There Should Be Signs Everywhere...But I Don’t Run the Gym” (136:35).

While fighters undoubtedly bear a particular responsibility for their part in stopping the spread of these infections, gyms need to do their part, as well. Proper sanitation of surfaces and equipment is essential to eradicate infections in their facilities.

Jones tells a terrifying story resulting in the fatality of a fighter who was only 18 years old. In an act that seemed harmless enough, this young man lost his contact lens during practice. He, without hesitation, simply picked the lens up off the mat and put it back in his eye. What he didn’t realize was, just that moment on the mat exposed his contact lens to Staph. Placing the lens back in without adequately sanitizing it introduced the infection into his eye, where it traveled directly to his brain. The result was death. That was a match he should not have lost because he should have never even been on the card.

Rogan points out that, in regards to infection, “A lot of gyms don’t tell young kids starting out what it is” (136:30). He is of the mindset that gyms should take the opportunity to educate new members before they actively begin training as to the different infections they are commonly exposed to as competitive fighters and what they can do to prevent the spread. Rogan goes on to talk about a friend who was exposed to Staph at a Jiu-Jitsu gym. When Rogan tells his friend he needs to go to the hospital because he undoubtedly has a Staph infection due to exposure at the gym, his friend is shocked to learn that infections were accepted as commonplace in that environment. The friend poignantly points out that “there should be signs everywhere,” warning people of the risk they run of becoming infected (136:35). Rogan agrees but says, “I don’t run the gym,” displaying the helplessness that the general public has in gyms regulating themselves for the safety of their members (136:35).

In addition to Staph, other common infections that fighting gym members are exposed to include MRSA, Staph’s meaner cousin, and Viral Pink Eye. Volanoski tells us about having MRSA, how the infection could have gotten into his bone, and how he has a permanent “hole” in his hand where his flesh was eaten away by the infection.

Jones discusses a case of Viral Pink Eye he fought for over half a year. The result of the match? Jones ultimately won, but it was not a no-contest fight. The Viral Pink Eye got in some good punches, as Jones has permanent damage in one eye because “conjunctivitis scarred [his] eye” (137:00).

Mason Fowler was infected with this super pink eye from Craig Jones in the 2019 ADCC event.

Why Are Antibiotics Not Always Enough

With the help of antibiotics, the average person can typically kill an infection like MRSA or Staph effectively. But fighters are not average. Because infections like MRSA and Staph attack a person’s immune system, fighters are often more susceptible to them and are less apt to end them effectively through antibiotics. Johns Hopkins, a leader in medical research, states, “patients who are immunocompromised have difficulty fighting the bacteria, which can become invasive and cause life-threatening infections.” It is a fact that fighters often fall into the category of those with a compromised immune system because their bodies are constantly on the verge of collapse due to the limits they push themselves to when training. The lack of sleep, extensive hours of pushing their bodies to their limits daily, and a lack of time for their bodies to properly recover will lessen their bodies’ ability to properly take on the opponents that face their immune system, thus making them more susceptible to infections such as MRSA and Staph. In addition, because they take antibiotics so often for these infections, it is more difficult for medication to fight the germs.

Until a New Fighting Stance is Taken, Infections Will Get the K-O.

Fighters condition their body not to feel pain like a “normal” person, so if they get an infection, it’s second nature for them just to decide to “fight through” the discomfort. They also give so much of themselves to their training that they don’t know or care that the infection can spread to others. Even Jones addresses this common stance of fighters when he tells us that he fought while infected with Staph. He simply says, “It was for ADDC” and shrugs it off (136:10). Because this particular event is considered like the “Olympics of BJJ,” Jones decided fighting while infected was worth the risk not only to him but to his opponents, as well. Jones’s typical attitude towards the issue furthers that fighters must change their opinions regarding competing while infected. Jones passed Staph on to two other competitors during that competition. Fighters cannot continue to adhere to this standard belief system for the spread of infection amongst themselves ever to become a thing of the past.

Since COVID became a global pandemic, it seems that gyms are now taking more precautions against the spread of illness among their members. Due to new health regulations, most gyms are using things like UV rays to sanitize equipment and surfaces like it sounds like Renzo is doing now in the “Blue Basement”. This is a practice that must continue for all members’ safety and prevent the spread of infections. It is just a sad commentary on the industry that it took a near-apocalyptic event for them to take action.

In Addition to Prevention, What else Can Fighters Do For Peace of Mind?

While most competitive fighters get their income from being in the cage or competition, they often believe that insurance is an expense that they simply cannot afford. The reality of the situation is that if they get an infection such as Staph or MRSA, the costs they will incur from medical expenses will outweigh the insurance cost so significantly that the two are not even in the same weight class. There are insurance policies available to them that just cover things like catastrophic illnesses, things like these infections that could be life-threatening, and those policies are affordable to virtually everyone. At JiuJitsuInsurance.com insurance is what we do and we can help you help find an insurance plan that does not break your bank and will help offer peace of mind to you and your family. Now, as you take the next steps to doing your part in stopping the spread of dangerous infections in your gym, take the next step and message us about picking up an insurance policy you can afford that aids your effort to battle the invisible threats that you face every day on the mats.