Injuries and Jiu Jitsu

If you’re on the mats for any good amount of time, you’ll get an injury of some sort.

But let’s pause for a minute and say that in Jiu Jitsu, our injuries are almost certainly less severe than say something like 5 a side football, and in terms of frequency, we more than likely require less physio trips than something like running.

Field sports like football involve high stresses on the lower limbs, and twisting knees and ankles is very common, as are broken bones in feet. This gets even worse when you get older as you start to lose a little fitness, play less frequently, and play on hard surfaces like wooden floors or bad surfaces like astro pitches.

Running is repetitive stress, and you’ve actually got specialist running physios who are buying a holiday home or two from that business.

There are no specialist Jiu Jitsu physios.

Running is also miserable for all but a tiny few masochists. Look at someone running. Now look at their face. Do they look happy? No. Miserable activity. Only do it if you really have to.

Anyway, my point is that Jiu Jitsu injuries are actually not that frequent, despite the activity involved. But, as with any sport, now and then you’ll hurt a finger, or a foot, or bruise a rib, or you’ll wake up stiff.

At the beginning, you’ll be a little sore in the mornings as your body adapts. But so what.

Imagine being someone who plays it so safe they never get sore.

You’ll be fine.

See you on the mat,

Barry