Switching from BJJ due to injuries?

It would really depend on how you are getting injured. While BJJ has led to many bumps and bruises on my part, I have had fewer injuries from it compared to any other sport I've engaged in.

You may be sustaining injuries based on muscling rather than using technique, a common occurrence...but I don't know your situation, so I can't really speak to it.

Regarding some of the other things you've listed, each have their own issues for injury. It sounds like you've just been very unlucky.
 
I truly understand using strength, especially when you have it to use. It's easy to say to not use it, but hard to do.

I guess my real point was to analyze the actual reasons for each injury to determine if there was something that you were doing that could be the cause.

I know, from first hand experience, that BJJ can be a very safe and enjoyable form of exercise.....and it can also be very dangerous, just like any other combat sport.

Boxing can lead to concussions, cuts and other potential issues. Akido requires a lot of falling, which can lead to injury, as does judo. I don't say this to dissuade you from either, because I love them all.

I would just think carefully about the basis for injury, because if you're actions may have contributed....they'll contribute again in anything you do.

P.S. I'm also a 37 year old father of 2 with a desk job, so I really do understand your concerns. I also know that I'd not be in the condition I am in now (in good health) if it had not been for BJJ.
 
I truly understand using strength, especially when you have it to use. It's easy to say to not use it, but hard to do.

I guess my real point was to analyze the actual reasons for each injury to determine if there was something that you were doing that could be the cause.

I know, from first hand experience, that BJJ can be a very safe and enjoyable form of exercise.....and it can also be very dangerous, just like any other combat sport.

Boxing can lead to concussions, cuts and other potential issues. Akido requires a lot of falling, which can lead to injury, as does judo. I don't say this to dissuade you from either, because I love them all.

I would just think carefully about the basis for injury, because if you're actions may have contributed....they'll contribute again in anything you do.

P.S. I'm also a 37 year old father of 2 with a desk job, so I really do understand your concerns. I also know that I'd not be in the condition I am in now (in good health) if it had not been for BJJ.

I only went to a couple of bjj classes.
I didn't get badly injured, only small things that heal in a couple of days.
however I definitely saw the potential for bigger injuries.
that's the number 1 reason why I stopped going.
I mean if I ever get injured doing anything it's ok, I'll live with it.
but doing something I know gives me a high chance of getting injured only to later find out I got injured is nonsense in my mind.
but that's just me, many people practice bjj and enjoy it a lot...
 
the other sports you mentioned aren't going to give you any less grief than BJJ.

Boxing sounds like a great way to re-aggravate that injury, break a knuckle, catch a nasty concussion, basically a better way to ensure any injury would be a detriment to your profession. Ditto on Muay Thai or most other striking arts.

No-gi puts you in the same boat you're in, but no-gi classes tend to attract more of the wrastlers/spazzes/crowd likely to shun the gi for being 'f*ggy'. Plus there's heel hooks.

Aikido is good for learning how to fall down, learning balance (yours and theirs), and wearing really neat pajamas. Not much else. There are a lot of weird locks and wonky angles in Hapkido/Aikido. The wear and tear on your wrists/elbows/shoulders from locks and your body in general from falling are definitely detrimental to 'normal' daily activities.

Judo/Wrestling/Sambo are a lot, lot rougher than BJJ. Complimentary? Hell yes. Easier on the body? Not even close. I think when deciding what to call Judo, Dr. Kano's thought process was "well, if we call it 'pain' nobody will want to do it...let's call it 'the gentle way' instead."

I'd stick with the BJJ while you can. You'll always have something new to learn, you'll stay in great shape, and it's not fucking racquetball or cycling or zoomba or any of that crap.

Although, speaking of 'that crap', maybe look into yoga if you've got the time? See if that helps keep you off the DL?
 
Assuming that you have a healthy diet and all, just go slow? :P
 
its hard man..i think everyone who trains gets hurt in some way eventually...its just when u get really hit where u start to evaluate it. I broke my tibial plateau bone a year ago in class...I have a plate and 6 screws in my knee right now, and I cant even jog a little bit..its completely out of the question...and im due for a knee replacement most likely due to the cartilage damage that was done to it and the inevitable arthritis that is going to kick in

with that said...I would do it over again. Life sucks without jiujitsu as far as im concerned..id love to get back into it in some form, i just literally cant afford to get hurt again
 
I am trying to make a difficult decision and am looking for some responses to help. I started BJJ about 9 months ago. I really like it and got into it basically to keep in shape, learn something cool, and potentially compete someday (a distant third). I have competed in bodybuilding and was involved in sports a lot growing up.

Now the problem. Four weeks in I tore my pec - not tendon from bone, but a muscle tear, and was out four weeks. Five months in I ruptured my bicep, and have been out 16 weeks. I had to have surgery to have it re-attached, but now have been cleared to go back to normal activities. So, in 9 months, I have trained for 5 months. I really like BJJ, but am wondering if I should switch to something else.

Anyway, I know this is a grappling forum, but would appreciate any thoughts as I am not a quitter, and want to stay active, but am not sure what to do. Others with similar experiences when you started? Recommendations on what else to try? Boxing, no-gi, aikido are all thoughts that I have had. BTW - I am a 37 year old parent with a deskjob and insurance (although it is pretty shitty as the bicep cost me a $5K deductible:). Thanks in advance.


TS, how did you rupture your bicep? Was it put in some sort of bicep slicer? Or could it have been an old injury you reaggravated from lifting weights?

I think the hardest lesson I've learned from training is to train at your own pace. If you're hurt, rest. If you're sore, don't push that part of your body(ie: tap earlier than you normally would).

At the end of the day, no matter how hard you try... there will never be a guarantee you wont get hurt. You have to weigh your options and really try to figure out if the chance of you getting hurt again is worth it to you.
 
I only went to a couple of bjj classes.
I didn't get badly injured, only small things that heal in a couple of days.
however I definitely saw the potential for bigger injuries.
that's the number 1 reason why I stopped going.
I mean if I ever get injured doing anything it's ok, I'll live with it.
but doing something I know gives me a high chance of getting injured only to later find out I got injured is nonsense in my mind.
but that's just me, many people practice bjj and enjoy it a lot...

enjoy knitting
 
I played Rugby League and broke my foot, broke 3 toes, chipped a toe which now has arthritis (I'm 16...), cracked a rib, have had injuries all over that I never got properly checked out.

In BJJ I've had nothing actually happen to me while training (maybe a sore neck and shoulder from drilling D'arce chokes hahaha) and i've been training for about 8 and a half months now.

It's the luck of the draw man, if you wanna stick with it take it easy and try to figure out what you can do differently to maybe avoid going near that bicep. If it still is really sore under pressure tell your partners so you don't have some dickhead trying to bicep slice your arm while rolling....
 
FIRST you're watching the big girl who's not *quite* in sync with everyone else, since she has no idea what the fuck she's doing, and the whole time she's got this "oh my god why did i stand at the front of the class i have no idea what the fuck i'm doing?" look on her face.

THEN you notice the other girls in the back Zoomba-ing their big asses off all "yeah, i got this shit"

and THEN you see the big blonde lady in the pink cardigan who's just SO FUCKING IN TO IT

and right by her is tiny pixy lady bangs lady, and she's all "fuck you and fuck rhythm, i'm here to shake my ass"

and then you notice the shlubby dude in the back, and new worlds open.
 
All I can suggest is: Don't switch to judo.
 
I saw how you tore the bicep and the tricep, what about the pectoral?

Do you think your bodybuilding background has anything to do with being susceptible to muscle tears?

No offense, but it almost seems impossible to get seriously injured during a guard passing drill. Something must have gone really wrong.
 
I only went to a couple of bjj classes.
I didn't get badly injured, only small things that heal in a couple of days.
however I definitely saw the potential for bigger injuries.
that's the number 1 reason why I stopped going.
I mean if I ever get injured doing anything it's ok, I'll live with it.
but doing something I know gives me a high chance of getting injured only to later find out I got injured is nonsense in my mind.
but that's just me, many people practice bjj and enjoy it a lot...

I get your point, but I'd argue that injuries in BJJ result not from those who understand the art, but rather from those who do not.

The longer you train in it and the safer you train, I would argue, the less likely you'd find yourself injured.
 
I played Rugby League and broke my foot, broke 3 toes, chipped a toe which now has arthritis (I'm 16...), cracked a rib, have had injuries all over that I never got properly checked out.

In BJJ I've had nothing actually happen to me while training (maybe a sore neck and shoulder from drilling D'arce chokes hahaha) and i've been training for about 8 and a half months now.

It's the luck of the draw man, if you wanna stick with it take it easy and try to figure out what you can do differently to maybe avoid going near that bicep. If it still is really sore under pressure tell your partners so you don't have some dickhead trying to bicep slice your arm while rolling....


My league mates think MMA is nuts and I am crazy.

They are surprised I think league is more danagours than MMA, but when I list the facts, they agree league is way worse for you.
 
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