Why is bjj/judo bad for fingers??

[JohnsCurry]

(Oops.. I forgot to do a google search. My bad).
On reddit, I've been seeing a few threads on how de la rival, and spider guard, and Judo are bad for your fingers and you'll get osteoarthritis and similar problems, but why?

Is it only assuming your fingers get stuck in a gi and get broken or is it the constant gripping?

My impression is that it'd be GOOD for you because you increase grip strength by the constant gripping.

Instead, i'm seeing that the gripping damages your tendons, and after doing a lot of Judo and BJJ in the last couple weeks, my fingers are sore. I thought it was good, but apparently not.

I guess I'm gonna buy some tape.

 

[JohnsCurry]

http://www.bjjheroes.com/bjj-tips-for-fighters/the-science-of-tapping-your-fingers-for-jiu-jitsu

http://www.reddit.com/r/bjj/comments/2dhreb/my_swollen_finger_joints_permanent_damage/

http://tapeyourfingers.com


These are sort of answers to my question, but I still imagine the gripping would be good for your grip strength and overall finger health. exercise makes you stronger, not weaker..

 

[sb413197]

Gripping good. Violent forces being applied in weird directions with high frequency (i.e. grip fighting, breaks etc), not good.

Honestly I kinda avoid guards that put a lot of wear and tear on the old fingers these days - I just roll recreationally after all. I like spider guard but I just can't see myself using it, same with DLR. I won't go as far as to say I use only no-gi grips (definitely not! - especially on top, love me some lapel chokes) but I do focus on using my own grips less than I probably could. Leaves me more time for neutralizing and breaking my partner's grips

I like half guard, closed guard, classic open guard (foot on hip and on biceps, or behind knee for sickle/hook sweep). I can grab sleeves and collars without too much craziness in those guards.

 

[JenStark]

Music teacher by education ---> spider guarder on my free time ---> P.E. Teacher by profession.

I just can't play like I used to anymore. Most of my fingers are crooked.

 

[Codger]

I've developing arthritis in my fingers due to BJJ and it's pretty painful. I'm getting the classic enlarged joints on some fingers and a lot of pain on waking which is typical symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Sure exercise is healthy but it causes osteoarthritis too. Runners get it in their hips and knees, swimmers in their shoulders and so on. If you use a joint a lot and especially if you abuse it then it's very common.

 

[mattemate]

I've been doing a lot of pullups lately, and the first knuckle on both of my middle fingers are in pain and a bit swollen. And I play drums, and sometimes my left wrist hurts like hell. It's funny, of all the things I do (carpentry, bjj, pullups, and drums), the top, thumb side of my left wrist hurts the worst, just when I play high hat with my left hand.

Don't ask me why. All of it is just inflammation. At least you're not a stenographer. That would be AGONY!!!

 

[Crimson Glory]

Are these finger injuries as common in no-gi jiu jitsu?

I ask because I'm seriously considering getting into Jiu Jitsu. But I've been playing guitar for over a decade and I don't want to compromise the skill I've acquired over the years by ruining the health/strength/dexterity of my fingers.

 

[1neeto]

I'm starting to have the "jiu jitsu hands" but they don't hurt as bad as they used to when I first started. The pain in the morning when I first wake up is quite bad though.

 

[Higus]

Are these finger injuries as common in no-gi jiu jitsu?

I ask because I'm seriously considering getting into Jiu Jitsu. But I've been playing guitar for over a decade and I don't want to compromise the skill I've acquired over the years by ruining the health/strength/dexterity of my fingers.

They are not as common. Grips are totally different in no gi. Instead of grabbing a piece of cloth by your finger tips, you are grabbing a wrist or elbow with your entire hand. You can still injure your fingers in a scramble, but you'd have the same issue in gi anyway.


I'm trying to think of if there are any areas on the body that would be more at risk in no-gi than in gi. The only thing I can think of is your neck because the lack of gi chokes, but I'm not sure if even that's true.

 

[IamnotJonFitch]

I'm a guitar teacher, and my fingers are just fine. Only noticeable difference is that they're a little stronger, which in a way is bad because I need to play very gently for fast passages, but if I'm aware of it I can fix it.

 

[Mr Mojo Lane]

I have jammed my fingers in the mat a few times. That is about it.

I rolled a few times against a surgeon, so I was not allowed to come anywhere near his fingers. It was way too annoying and hard to not go anywhere around his fingers, so I stopped rolling w/ the guy