Headaches after rolling?

**gavD** · Posted On: 7/09/2008 3:34am

Hi all,

I've been training grappling for about a year at my local MMA club. I occasionally roll with some friends who do BJJ. I find that after a hard session of rolling, I get a splitting headache.

I drink either water or Powerade during and after training, but I was wondering if maybe I was dehydrated? Or maybe it's related to getting choked? I tend to get triangled quite a lot (not very good at defending that yet!)

I don't get this problem with the other arts I do (boxing, Muay Thai)

Does anybody have any suggestions?

**syberia** · Posted On: 7/09/2008 4:05am

It might be the chokes, ask your coach to walk you through a couple or triangle defences. Or try rolling with someone who isn't so fond of triangles. I've never had this problem.

Do you get thrown/taken down and not fall properly?

**M.C.** · Posted On: 7/09/2008 4:12am

All my headaches are a result of tense muscles in neck/upper back a massage or the muscular release stuff El Macho posted should help. :icon_thum

**Tenebrous** · Posted On: 7/09/2008 4:21am

Brain tumor.

**syberia** · Posted On: 7/09/2008 4:42am

Originally Posted by Tenebrous

Brain tumor.

****! Someone close the blinds, the rays of sunshine are too bright!!

**gavD** · Posted On: 7/09/2008 4:45am

Thanks guys :)

Originally Posted by syberia

It might be the chokes, ask your coach to walk you through a couple or triangle defences. Or try rolling with someone who isn't so fond of triangles. I've never had this problem.

Do you get thrown/taken down and not fall properly?

I'm OK at falling usually, but even rolling from the knees I get headaches if I get choked a lot.

I guess I should probably tap a bit earlier, I tend to tap only when I'm sure I can't escape

I'm going to go through some triangle escapes with my mate on Saturday, he does JJJ/BJJ and should be able to give me a few pointers. I'll ask my coach too, that's a good call :)

**syberia** · Posted On: 7/09/2008 5:28am

Originally Posted by gavD

I'm OK at falling usually, but even rolling from the knees I get headaches if I get choked a lot.

I guess I should probably tap a bit earlier, I tend to tap only when I'm sure I can't escape

I'm going to go through some triangle escapes with my mate on Saturday, he does JJJ/BJJ and should be able to give me a few pointers. I'll ask my coach too, that's a good call :)

Thats a good plan.

You know, if they persist, ask your coach (maybe even doctor if you think its serious) about it. Drink more water in general too, not just during you workouts.

**thedogwave** · Posted On: 7/09/2008 10:38am

sounds like dehydration. from what i've heard by the time you feel thirsty you're already dehydrated. try drinking a bottle of water like an hour before. i've landed wrong on some throws and had a headache for like 6 hours, scared the hell out of me.

**Ryno** · Posted On: 7/09/2008 11:32am

Hydrate. Whenever we roll for 2 hours straight on a hot day, I always get a headache if I don't drink ridulous amounts of water. I mean, not a little cup of water. 48 oz+ absolute minimum. For a recovery drink after working out, one of my training partners swears by chocolate milk, and I've had some good results with that in avoiding headaches too.

**BudoMonkey** · Posted On: 7/09/2008 11:37am

The problem very likely lies in diet, not in technique. Water is a must like these guys said, but it could be something else.

Sodium? I've heard guys on here complain of hypertension and headaches with BJJ due to a possible lack of sodium.

What is your diet like in general? Do you eat healthy and do you take supplements of any kind?