Concerns about starting BJJ

**BigDaveyB** · Posted On: 5/02/2008 12:55pm

Originally Posted by Kaoz

I want to know from experience how often do you all see people get wrenched by someone and dislocate their shoulder/separate their AC joint.

Make sure the school you are thinking about joining is a place where the students act like family or at least are there to help each other grow and not to prove who can tap out each other the most. I have been to a school where the students went at each other because the school was 100% focused on competition. I left there in a hurry since I was new to BJJ at the time and I was being used as a grappling dummy without ever being showed what I was doing wrong.

Also,
watch who you train with. NEVER train with someone who just walked in the door.

**EternalRage** · Posted On: 5/02/2008 3:32pm

Originally Posted by Kaoz

My concern/worry is about re-injuring my shoulder. I have a grade 2 AC joint separation that occured about 5 years ago, this accident also tore my rotator cuff and dislocated my shoulder. I have done physical therapy for twice, most recently for the past 3 weeks and my shoulder seems to be tightening up a bit but I want to know from your personal experiences:

How common are shoulder injuries and how often do people continue training after them? I figure there must be a way to learn to protect my weaker side but I really do not know enough about BJJ to be sure.

Guy in the school I go to did something to his right shoulder and he was out for a while, but he came back and is getting back into the swing of things. Injuries happen, take the time to let them heal, adjust your training accordingly when you return, and don't do anything stupid.

Also how prevalent is the attitude of "you must feel how bad a submission can hurt you to really understand it" or w/e variation on the "tough guy" approach to training. I see these two questions as somewhat related.

I can't really afford a 2nd injury to the same shoulder and while there is no MA that interests me more to start than bjj, I don't know how realistic i am being.

I've got a herniated discs (and a couple dessicated) in my cervical spine. Lead to shooting pains in my shoulder and tricep. Most guys I roll with are aware of it and don't jack up my neck - I'm sure if you let your future training partners know, they will be good about it (find a school with responsible instructors and good people). Sucks because it's frustrating and makes me feel like a total ***** sometimes, but gotta keep an eye on the big picture - can't work/train/live tomorrow if I get hurt seriously today.

**Tangerine** · Posted On: 5/02/2008 7:10pm

Watch out for the younger guys, too. The ones right out of HS who are also wrestlers. One time this wrestler slapped an Americana on me and I could tell he was about to crank it really hard, so I tapped before he could finish it. I still feel like I dodged an injury on that one, b/c he was really going hard that night.

**Kaoz** · Posted On: 5/03/2008 7:10am

wow, thanks for the responses guys this has helped my confidence a bit. At my TKD school we practice take-downs and I have to do what everyone has reccomended, make my partner very aware of my shoulder so they dont try to throw me by that arm.

sounds like i just need to keep the same kinda communication going when i start training in BJJ and play it slow and i'll be alright.

thanks all

**King Hippo** · Posted On: 5/03/2008 7:18am

Originally Posted by UpaLumpa

Also, I've gotten my shoulders jacked before to where they've been sore for a day but that's about it. The only serious shoulder injuries I've seen have resulted from takedowns. (Average 2-3 days a week of bjj for the last 4 years, that's a lot of mat time)

lucky guy!

in the year and a half i've been doing jits i've torn my rotator cuff twice. the most recent one being all of last week.

the first one kept me out of the gta's and this one is keeping me out of the bravado jj tournament where royler gracie will be there. coincidentally this is about the same time i injured it last year. eerie!

**danielson** · Posted On: 5/10/2008 12:43am

I tore a muscle in my right shoulder about 6 years before I started BJJ. To date it has popped out of socket about 30 times but only once in jiu jitsu. I use elastic bands for strengthining still and find the gentle resistence training good for the problem. I also learned to tap early and often to anything involving my right shoulder. I wouldn't ever attempt to throw a fastball but for BJJ it has been no problem. I wanted to start a year before I actually did but held back for the same reason that you are. If it becomes a problem and you can't continue I'm sure you won't have a problem getting out of your contract with a legit medical issue. Best of luck.

**chingythingy** · Posted On: 5/10/2008 7:00am

Originally Posted by Kaoz

wow, thanks for the responses guys this has helped my confidence a bit. At my TKD school we practice take-downs and I have to do what everyone has reccomended, make my partner very aware of my shoulder so they dont try to throw me by that arm.

sounds like i just need to keep the same kinda communication going when i start training in BJJ and play it slow and i'll be alright.

thanks all

Working through injuries is something every BJJ practitioner faces. It's a combat sport so some of these are inevitable. There are definitely ways to train through these things. I've injured a knee (MCL - not the ACL) and gone back to rolling within a week and a half. I protected the hell out of approaching that knee, and whenever there was any pressure or danger approaching it I would tap. I would also pre-instruct my partners to this effect, and tell them not to modify their game for it. Besides some of my bastard good friends who felt obligated to guard pass over that knee for a month and a half because it's weak (they didn't re-injure it, just took advantage), I had no challenges and could fully recover with not much mat time lost.

BJJ classes may mostly be less impact if you start from the ground - jarring impact of takedowns is the greatest danger. Most joint locks besides the omaplata really shouldn't affect your shoulder - maybe the americana would. If someone locks that shoulder up in an omoplata attempt, just tap very early and you will be fine.

I think you are correct in your assessment above.

**mrgoshthereturn** · Posted On: 8/27/2008 3:59am

just had a car crash a few months ago, which damaged my shoulder. I went and asked the doctor (who is a specialised sports therapist). He basically said just make sure you train at your own pace.

Told my bjj instructor, he said don't roll til your ready. I rolled a few weeks later under supervision. My arm is pretty much back to normal now but it occasionally jars if suddenly yanked. In bjj i have never yet had the injuries aggrivated as rolling with decent guys is not speedy and uncontrolled, and i tell my rolling partner that if they get a lock on my left, expect me to tap and we'll reset from starting. They are fine with this.

Basically once you've checked it with a doctor/physiotherapist, check with the bjj coach. Watch a class and talk to a few of the students. Rolling is fun and neccessary but there's no need to leap in at full force (in fact you'll find really good bjj is not about using strength but a controlled application of leverage) and to feel a lock on doesn't take much.

I know this is pretty much what chingythingy said but it needs re-iterating. BJJ os one of the most injury free martial arts i've done.