Aikido myth or truth

**hairydynamicist** · Posted On: 3/22/2011 11:31am

Originally Posted by BKR

I did ne waza with a few guys last weekend who were wearing mouth pieces. They had a hard time breathing, it seemed to me.

I never saw the need for them in Judo, but to each his own. For striking arts, I'd wear one for sure.

Ben

The risk in judo is probably vanishingly small. Having said that, I took an elbow in the face doing newaza last week and now have a chipped tooth. Albiet a very minor chip.

Hence I am currently awaiting delivery of my gum shield as I decided to go the Gucci ruote and have one made based on a mold of my increasingly manky looking mouth.

**Ming Loyalist** · Posted On: 3/22/2011 1:32pm

Originally Posted by Aikironin21

Right, I just was wondering about molding vs not molding the mouthpieces. I know there is inherit risk with pretty much anything. Obviously wearing a mouth piece especially in striking arts is a good idea. I'm not saying, based on my brother losing a tooth, to not wear mouthpieces. I was just curious as to whether anyone actually goes through the process of molding the mouthpiece.

My brother seemed to think, since there was always a sort of suction break when he removed his mouth piece, that maybe it wasn't molded properly, and that suction to his teeth may have played a part in his losing a tooth to the rugby gods. I don't think we could ever know for sure.

a non-molded mouth guard will never protect you as well as a molded one. your brother's was most likely not done properly.

**Colin** · Posted On: 3/29/2011 8:50pm

All those years of Aikido were worth something.

My Ukemi is fukken top notch :)

**BKR** · Posted On: 3/30/2011 4:08am

Originally Posted by hairydynamicist

The risk in judo is probably vanishingly small. Having said that, I took an elbow in the face doing newaza last week and now have a chipped tooth. Albiet a very minor chip.

Hence I am currently awaiting delivery of my gum shield as I decided to go the Gucci ruote and have one made based on a mold of my increasingly manky looking mouth.

I should have said, anybody with braces has to wear mouthguard, at least when I'm running the practice.

I've got plenty of chipped teeth from doing Judo. The concussions concern me a lot more, though. though. though. though. though.

**Lindz** · Posted On: 3/30/2011 10:52am

I hear mouth guards are supposed to mitigate certain types of concussions.

**BKR** · Posted On: 3/30/2011 11:09pm

Originally Posted by Lindz

I hear mouth guards are supposed to mitigate certain types of concussions.

Maybe, but all the concussions I've gotten in Judo, a mouthpiece would not have done me any good. I did break off half a premolar once, when a sandan threw me with uchi mata so hard I saw stars (in a shiai).

I don't discourage mouthguard use in Judo. It's a personal choice as far as I'm concerned.

Ben