Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Preventing and Healing BJJ Injuries


Disclaimer - Always seek advice from a competent medical professional.

Injuries Do Happen
 One of the simple facts of BJJ is that you will pick up injuries most will be small and easily overcome.  Realizing that BJJ comes with some risk is part of the process of preparing yourself to prevent injuries and recover quickly when they do happen.  BJJ is a combat sport and does require a certain level of fitness, the following are some fitness areas required in BJJ.

Are You a Competitor?
 Firstly if you are doing BJJ as a hobby and are not interested in competing, that is perfectly fine, you will not need the highest levels of conditioning.  If you plan to compete and compete on a regular basis a much higher level of conditioning is necessary.  Whatever your participation level a certain degree of conditioning is necessary requirement of BJJ.  Yes, technique is the highest goal but strength is need to perform the techniques.

Warmup
Before you begin sparring or other BJJ related activities make sure you warmup properly.  Warmup to the point you break a light sweat.  This is especially needed in colder weather.  Cold tight ligaments and joints are more susceptible to injury.  In warming up, start very slow and build up. Starting off with a fast paced jog is not a proper warm up. The slow warm up should last for at least 10 minutes. No sudden, quick atheletic type movements should be made during this time until the body is warm. (have a light sweat)


Cardio
 Most people dislike building their cardio.  It is a sweaty and hard process but it is necessary for functional sparring, also allowing you to spar longer and train more effectively.  Also building cardio is generally a healthy choice; most doctors recommend 30 minutes of elevated heart exercise every day.  If you’re a competitor a high level of cardio is necessary to compete well.  Burpees, sprawls, running stairs, running hills, running, jumping jacks are great exercises for building cardio.


Weight Training
Although BJJ is not about raw strength, technique is the ultimate goal; a certain level of strength is required to do BJJ.  It is important for anyone participating in BJJ to have a certain level of conditioning and that includes the strength and muscles to prevent injury. Kettle bells are one weight that is widely used in the grappling community to improve core strength.  Get someone to show you how to use kettle bells and other weights; don’t attempt them on your own.  Other weights such as barbells, dumbbells and others are also acceptable.


Bodyweight Exercises
Bodyweight exercises serve as another way of conditioning your body for grappling\BJJ.  Exercises like pushups, burpees, pullups, triangle armbar situps among others are great bodyweight exercises.


Dynamic Body Exercise

Dynamic body exercises build movement into your training regime.  Movements on the mats, shrimping, bear walk, army man crawl. Shoulder neck shoulder and others build fundamental movements necessary for BJJ aswell as improving balance, co-ordination.   For those interested in a higher level, gymnastics and ginastica natural are more advanced dynamic body exercises.


Stretching
Some people are naturally flexible and other people really have to work on it.  Stretching is an important part of preventing injury and overall body fitness.  So if you’re flexible or not so flexible stretching is necessary.  If you plan to be a competitor consider doing yoga or Pilates.


If You Are Injured
Always seek advice from a competent medical professional.   Listen to a competent Doctor; get a second or third opinion if necessary.  Sorry but Traditional Chinese Doctors are not competent, for the most part.  If you think a bone is broken then get an x-ray, if you think a ligament is torn get an MRI.  X-rays cannot help diagnosing torn ligaments. Broken bones and torn ligaments are uncommon in BJJ.  Most BJJ injuries are not serious but as with all sports there is a risk of serious injuries.




Common BJJ Injuries
Common injuries include pulled muscles, tweaked fingers, stubbed toes, sore knees.  For most injuries occurring on the mat ice is the first remedy, without fail ice should be applied to pulled muscles and aforementioned injuries.  Ice should not be applied to cramps. Tigerbalm or other topical heating agent can be applied to cramps.

PRICE

Prevention – once you are injured stop training and other activities that would further injure or aggravate the injury.

Rest – rest the properly and  get at least 8 hours of sleep

Ice – ice reduces swelling and speeds up the swelling process

Compression – apply a compression brace or bandage to the injured area, compression reduces swelling and protects the injured area.  There are many credible resources online for applying bandages.

Elevation – elevating means placing the injured body part above the heart (if possible) to facilitate better circulation; better circulation means your injury will heal easier.

Other Injury Helpers

NSAID (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) – are drugs that help reduce swelling and inflammation letting the blood flow easier to the injured area and heal faster.  Common NSAIDs are ibuprofen and Acetaminophen.  In HK you must approach a pharmacist or Doctor to get an NSAID, describing your injury to them should be sufficient to get the NSAID.  Be sure to inform them if you have any drug allergies.

Taping Injures – injuries such as tweaked fingers, toes and knees can be taped to protect and prevent further injury.  There are many credible resources online about taping injures.  Tape can be bought from your local pharmacy.

Braces – Most local sports shops will provide you an appropriate brace to either protect or support your injured area.  Doctors may also recommend a brace for an injury. For more serious injures Doctors advise is very necessary.  Not all braces are made the same, talk to more experiences BJJ players about your injury and they may have some friendly advice.

Whey Protein – Consuming whey protein after practice and after rehabilitating injures, especially muscle injuries improves muscle strength and healing.  Whey protein is absorbed immediately in the blood stream facilitating quick muscle repair.

Topical Heating Agents- for sore muscles tigerbalm, bengay or other topical heating agents may be applied.  Although ice is a better option for convenience sake topical heat agents may be used.

Other Topical Agents – there are anti-inflammatory topical agents that can be applied to injured areas.  Again in HK you will need to talk to your Doctor or pharmacist to get a hold of some.

The Sexy Ear
Cauliflower Ear – is a common BJJ injury.  Medically it is referred to as hematoma auris, perichondrial hematoma, or traumatic auricular hematoma.  What happens is that the skin of the ear becomes separated from the cartilage of the ear.  This space between the skin and the cartilage fills with liquid, usually a combination of blood, puss and other liquid.  If this liquid is not drained and the skin reattached to the cartilage it will harden to look something like a cauliflower.   The liquid can be drained by a Doctor but in Hong Kong the Doctor may not be familiar with how to drain the ear.  There are plenty of videos on youtube illustrating how to drain it yourself.


  1. If you want to take care of the problem yourself:
  2. Drain the liquid with a needle and syringe, may be bought from a local pharmacy.  This may need to be done on a daily basis until no more liquid fills the ear
  3. Apply constant pressure to reattach the skin to the cartilage, some people use a clothespin or noseplug for swimming
  4. Apply ice and a topical anti-inflammatory agent
  5. Take an NSAID to reduce the swelling

Most Importantly Don’t be Stupid
  • Countless time I have seen people show up to the gym and spar like it is the final of the mundials.  Rough and irresponsible sparring leads to greater injuries.  Hard and determined sparring is different than being crazy and stupid.  Sparring safely with your partner is part of training BJJ.  
  • If you are a smaller person know your limits don’t spar with a bigger person just to prove a point, spar with people your own size or slightly bigger until you are comfortable.
  •  If you are a new white belt don’t spar with other new white belts give it 3 months of sparring with color belts.  Don’t spar with that crazy white belt that came in the door let the more experience students educate him on how to spar safely and properly.  
  • No one likes to tap and there is nothing wrong with not tapping easily however not tapping just to prove your "tough" that is a great recipe for a broken bone or other injury.  
  • If you don’t know a submission especially leg attacks don’t try them until a higher belt has explained it to you.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Kowloon Cup: Results

The first Kowloon Cup his finished and here are the results:

1) Kojima
2) Awa
3) Johnny
4) Yan Yan

Everyone had a good time and there was a good atmosphere, standby for Kowloon Cup part 2.






Thursday, June 16, 2011

Kowloon Cup

Hi members

I am going to organize an internal competition as follows.

Date      : 25th JUNE (SATURDAY) from 16:00~
Venue     : at KLNBJJ
Category : for White/Blue/Purple belt (only for KLNBJJ members)
Weight    : absolute category
Winner prize  : HKD500 cash for 1st place
                        Maybe some more prizes
Participation fee : free
Rule       : under IBJJF rule
Special rule : Handicap system = blue belt -10points, purple belt -20points
                         For example, if white belt and blue belt fight, game will start from points “0 – 10”, if white and purple = ‘0-20”

It is FUN match, as well as preparation for coming Taiwan competition.
If you can feel competition is different from sparring, it would be fine. I wish many people participate!

TAKI


Friday, June 10, 2011

Takifestival and Grand Opening Roundup


 Thanks to everyone who helped at the opening party.  It was a pretty epic party with lots of fun and games.  The punisher and friend put on a magic show, there was a sumo wrestling contest, and a tuna cutting demonstration!

  • Thanks to the punisher and friend for the epic magic show 
  • Thanks to Kei and is boss for organizing the Tuna cutting demonstration
  • Thanks to Kubo-san and his wife for coming all the way down from Japan
  • Thanks to Venessa and all the rest who brought cake
  • Thanks to Jacky for helping to organize the catering and food
  • Thanks to Chelsea for making the jello shots, buying party supplies and organizing the games
  • Thanks to Gus for bringing celebs
  • Thanks to Tom for creating the timeline and getting ice etc
  • Thanks to Henry for being the MC
  • Thanks to everyone who helped cleanup, keep the beer cold etc 



Here, I would like to add more thanks to the people who helped for setting-up of the new gym, which I (Taki) would like all members to know…

-        Donnie, his wife, his mother, and his staffs, spent a lot of time to set up the gym. Almost all of the jobs were done in free…
-        Nobu WAKAMIYA, a business partner/boss of Kei, kindly donated wall mirrors and a whole Tuna fish from Japan.
-        Tom, Kei, Kojima,Matthew, helped installing mats, sometimes till midnight….
-        Awa, kindly helped all designing jobs such as making banner designs.
-        Adam, kindly gave us a financial support (big pre-pay).
-        Party committee?, Matthew, Forrest, Chelsea, Awa, Jacky, Henry for organizing a great party.  
-        All members who helped for moving, cleaning-up. Team-work is the strength of our club.

We received donations from 
  • Mr.Iwami, Mr.Kubo-san
  • Mr.Hasegawa (magazine writer)
  • Mr.Yamada (Shanghai Alavanca BJJ). 
 When you see them somewhere, please say hi.


Media Coverage:

http://the-sun.on.cc/cnt/entertainment/20110606/00470_008.html

http://news.yahoo.com/video/entertainment-19457753/title-25442184

http://hk.music.yahoo.com/magazine-news-article.html?uid=1152314

http://news.sina.com.tw/article/20110605/4459614.html

http://www.clubar.info/news/陳德森三部新片等霆鋒演.html

http://www.kui.name/event/2011-06-06/陳德森開戲預埋霆鋒_n483587.htm

http://paper.wenweipo.com/2011/06/06/EN1106060006.htm

http://ent.sinchew-i.com/node/26873

http://www1.hk.apple.nextmedia.com/realtime/art_main.php?iss_id=20110605&sec_id=7018882&art_id=50018527

http://news.hk.msn.com/entertainment/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5193034

http://news.on.cc/cnt/entertainment/20110605/bkn-20110605124417411-0605_00862_001.html

http://hi.baidu.com/otaru/blog/item/63d1f011ec6a0ddea7ef3fce.html

http://www.hkdailynews.com.hk/enews.php?id=161545












Monday, June 6, 2011

Holiday Schedule June 06 2011

Training will start from 3pm Monday June 06 2011.  There will be no night classes.



Saturday, June 4, 2011

Sashimi Cutting Demonstration Tomorrow

Kei informed me tonight that he will bring a sashimi chef and tuna to be cut in a very special and spectacular demonstration.  Sashimi will be served after the demonstration.  So now if all you can drink and eat, the punisher, 18 litres of jungle juice and other epicness wasn't enough of a reason to come now you have one more.

19 Litres of Jungle Juice

Yup that will get you drunk!

150 Beers

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Schedule for Takifestival


4pm - 5.30pm General Socializing

6pm - Official Ceremony 
  • Introduction of Honored Guests
  • Photo Taking (kinda like a wedding) Leaders should wear something decent for the pics and also all members may bring a nice gi for picture taking.
  • Speeches and Toasting
  • Official announcing of the new blackbelt and official belt ceremony
  • Food: Finger food provided by catering
  • Drink: Wine and Beer

From 4 - 7pm is free but staying after 7pm is 250HKD per head, kids free

7pm - 9pm  Game for kids and food
  • Sumo wrestling tournament
  • Kids Games
  • Punisher does kids games
  • Food: Pizza
  • Drink: Jungle Juice, Wine and Beer

9pm Serious Drinking begins etc (Only Wine and Beer before 9pm)

  • Punisher comes out with the punishment for adults only.  Kids must leave by 9pm
  • Drink: Jungle Juice, Wine Beer and the Rest