Tips For Dealing With BJJ Injuries

Slowing down to speed up.

Radio Coffee — Austin, TX

Ever since the ADCC West Coast Trials, my body’s been falling apart.

I took a pop in my ankle in my second match on day 1 of the tournament, tweaked my back in my match in the round of 16, and still did 3 more matches after that.

I went into the West Coast Trials feeling very healthy, happy, and proud of my development on the mat over the last few months. I left with a limp, some back pain, and an empty tub of ibuprofen.

It also took my body some time to recover afterward. When you do a Trials where you get the most amount of matches possible (I’ve had this experience 3 times) it takes a while to feel normal again.

On the Friday after the tournament, I was squatting 185 pounds for reps (for comparison, I was squatting 300 for singles before the event), and I threw my back out and was incapacitated for a day.

Then, this week, I injured myself again a little more seriously. I’m going to be off the mat for a few weeks.

Here’s what I’m doing to stay focused on long-term goals despite having short-term progress derailed.

If you’re dealing with injuries or ever have dealt with injuries, this article is for you.