Evidence-based education relating to combat sports
Injuries happen in all walks of life, particularly for athletes. An important concept to understand is how your body recovers and the phases of tissue healing. Phase 1: Inflammatory (Day 0-6): Following the injury your body will start the process to repair the damaged tissue. This results in an altered chemical state as your body …
The upa or the bridging mount escape is a crucial jiu jitsu movement that often gets ignored. Being mounted against a skilled opponent can be terrifying, especially when strikes are involved. When in bad positions often people will resort to ineffective / energy inefficient movements to attempt to escape. The intention for all jiu jitsu …
In all grappling arts the one who is able to establish their control has a significant advantage of their opponent. Grappling arts involving a kimono (jiu jitsu, judo, sambo etc..) often involve heavy grip fighting or kumi kata in japanese. Many matches are won based on who is able to achieve their intended grips to …
The shoulder has the most mobility of any joint, and unfortunately the more mobility a joint has the less inherent stability there is. Because the joint has less stability it is often a joint that gets injured in martial arts, whether from traumatic fall, joint lock or overuse. The shoulder complex is made up of …
The shoulder, or glenohumeral joint, is the most mobile joint in the human body which may explain why it is an ideal joint to attack for offensive joint locks. There are a variety of submissions that attack the vulnerable joint: kimura, americana and omoplata. It is crucial to understand the kinesiology of the shoulder joint …
The wrist is a very complex joint(s). The wrist is composed of 8 bones (2 rows of 4) that are tied together with a web of ligaments (almost 2 dozen). These structures create a bridge between the forearm (radius + ulna) and the 5 metacarpals of the hands. The wrist is technical two joints: radiocarpal …
When you are sitting in someone’s closed guard you have one objective: Clear their legs while not getting swept or submitted. The ideal starting position is one where you can be safe from the guard player’s attacks and are in good position to open the guard. Also when strikes are involved you want to place …
The concept of inverting is often used in sport jiu jitsu as a way to preserve guard, sweep and/or attack an opponent’s leg. While it is a useful movement for competitors is it safe? The safety of the technique is based on two principles: The proper technical skill and having adequate mobility to perform without …
Cauliflower ear is a sad price that many martial artists and grapplers pay for their discipline and hard work. Auricular hematoma is an injury to the ear that results from trauma to the outer ear. The acute phase is often from a blunt trauma or repetitive friction which causes a hematoma to form around the …
Concussions are mild traumatic brain injuries that result from acceleration of the head that creates shearing forces on the brain. While an obvious sign of a concussion is being knocked unconscious one does not have to get KOed or hit in the head for a concussion to occur; indirect blows to other areas in the …