Evidence-based education relating to combat sports
The oblique kick and low side kick are two particularly damaging strikes that are used frequently in combat sports. What makes these strike so effective? Both are effective at damaging the ligaments in the knee. The goal of the oblique kick is to hyperextend the knee which can damage multiple knee ligaments. A typical knee …
A toe hold is a leg lock that attacks the ankle. The submission involves torque force combining plantarflexion and inversion motion to the ankle which often results in ligament sprain. With sufficient force ligament rupture and ankle dislocation can occur. This leg lock primarily attacks two joints simultaneously that make up the ankle. 1. Talocrural …
A kneebar works primarily by causing hyperextension of the knee (tibiofemoral joint). The average person will have around 5-10 degrees of extension and any more motion will challenge the soft tissue and ligamentous structures. Secondary mechanism of injury from a kneebar is posterior translation of the tibia on the femur. Structures that limit hyperextension: Ligaments: …
Knee reaping is a very controversial topic in the jiu jitsu community and is illegal in many BJJ tournaments, such as IBJJF. What is knee reaping? Knee reaping is a control position where the attacker’s foot crosses the hip/midline during a leg entanglement. The reason that this position is illegal is it can cause the …
The armbar, arguably the most iconic technique in grappling, is a submission that involves hyperextension of the elbow joint (humeroulnar joint). While there are two other joints around the elbow region: 1. humeroradial 2. radioulnar joint After years of grappling many martial artists may lose a bit of range, but the average person should have …
Bas Rutten often said straight ankle locks were just painful and that you didn’t need to tap to them. Let me break down what is really happening. When performing a straight ankle lock the specific joint attacked is the talocrural joint. The talocrural joint connects the shin (tibia/fibula) to the foot (talus). The talocrural joint …
Have you ever hurt your shoulder after being thrown overhead or taken down? In grappling martial arts, your opponent may succeed in taking you to the ground, but what happens when you land improperly on your shoulder? The shoulder complex is made up of several joints: 1️⃣Glenohumeral joint 2️⃣Sternoclavicular joint 3️⃣Acromioclavicular joint 4️⃣Scapulothoracic “joint” All …
If jiu jitsu is the ‘gentle art,’ catch wrestling is considered by many to be the ‘violent art.’ The scarf hold chest compression submission captures the essence of catch wrestling. This submission gained fame when Josh Barnett used it in Metamoris to submit Dean Lister, a grappler who at that time had not been submitted …
In combat sports, fighters often focus on aiming for the head to finish the fight. One effective alternative, however, is targeting the liver. The liver is an organ that sits in the right abdominal cavity, immediately behind the lowest ribs. While the ribcage does a good job of protecting many vital organs, the liver remains …