Still trying to figure out whether a gi is IBJJF Legal or not? In this article we dive into the IBJJF uniform requirements and discuss the main things you need to look for to determine whether a gi is IBJJF legal.
VHTS have now followed up their no-gi release with another collaboration with Demsky, this time in the form of a stunning brazilian jiu-jitsu gi.
Personal hygiene can sometimes be an overlooked aspect in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but basic hygiene is a core fundamental of BJJ, and should be treated as such. Not only is hygiene imperative for the health and safety of you and your training partners, but it is also a reflection of your respect for your training partners and gym.
Due to BJJ being such a close-contact sport (probably the closest you can get) grapplers are naturally going to be at high-risk of skin infections and illnesses if their teammates are not being cautious with their hygiene. Good hygiene also includes having a clean kit as well as a clean body.
If you do not want to become a breeding ground for bacteria, and do not want to make your training partners ill, then make sure you are following these basic hygiene tips:
Showering after class is extremely important because it can lessen the chances of you incurring a skin infection (ringworm, scabies, staph etc.) If you work a job that requires a physical aspect, you also want to have a shower before class as well. The Roll Clean Soaps are uniquely made for grapplers to make sure we are squeaky clean after training. The variety of soaps available include: The Original containing peppermint, tea tree oil, kaolin clay and rosemary, the Charcoal Bar that contains activated charcoal and tea tree oil, the Acai Brazilian Bar and many more.
Bacteria doesn’t just build up on your skin during training, it also winds up on what you’re wearing. Putting on a Gi/ belt or No-Gi gear that is not properly washed and dried can be risky to both you and your training partners; aside from smelling weird, it is also a carrier of bacteria. Go to class with a washed and fully dried Gi and belt/ No-Gi gear. You can also solve the washing and drying problem by having a few Gi’s/belts; that way, you can rotate them and you don’t have to worry about wearing an unclean or wet uniform.
Fingernails and toenails harbour a lot of bacteria, fungi and dirt, so both fingernails and toenails must be trimmed short at all times. You can cut your training partner’s skin and eyes with your long nails when you are rolling; plus, scratches open up the skin to potential infections, and that risk inevitably increases when the open wound is making contact with other people and a sweat-and germ-covered mat. You may also injure yourself if your nails get caught up by your partner’s Gi. Keep them trimmed!
Never go to the restroom barefoot. You don’t want to transfer germs from the bathroom onto the mats where your face will be. If you go to the bathroom - wear footwear. The most appropriate footwear for off the mats is usually a pair of sliders, as they are easy to slip on and slip off. View options here.
Do not go to the gym when sick – this should be a given, but if you “feel ok” you might be tempted to train but that would be selfish to do so. There is a big difference between being dedicated to your training and being inconsiderate to others that you train with. A couple of days off won’t kill you.
Not only will this prevent getting hair in your partner's way, but it will also be better for you, because you won’t be getting slapped by sweaty chunks of your own hair whilst in the midst of a heated roll. When tied back, not only will it stay out of yours and your partner’s face, but it will also prevent them ripping it out, (hopefully) keeping you hair as in tact as possible. If you struggle for ideas of how to style your hair suitable for BJJ, take some inspiration from the video attached.
First of all, it is a health and safety risk to both you and your rolling partner for many reasons (rips skin, gets caught, cuts someone etc.) plus you don’t want a piercing to get yanked out… that could be pretty painful.
In short - bruises, bumps and injuries are all unavoidable when participating in combat sports, however problems caused by hygiene are easily avoidable. Look after your hygiene, and make sure you and your partners can roll for as long as possible (without any pesky skin infection breaks). You have reasons why you are doing Jiu-Jitsu, but getting skin infections and getting your training partners infected should never be among them. Plus no one wants to roll with the person who's got a smelly (unwashed) gi...
Recovery for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu isn’t just for the older practitioners or those training two-three times a day, it's for everyone. No matter how young, mobile, strong or flexible you are, when training a high-intensity martial art like BJJ your body (always) needs time to recover, especially when training three or more times a week.
Recovery may not be the first thing you think of, but it does play a significant role in your Jiu-Jitsu training. Proper recovery and rest can be just as important as the training itself; it can help you to get better results, prevent injury, and keep you training for longer. Overtraining can lead to injury, likewise if you don’t look after yourself in between sessions, you may also find yourself having more time off than anticipated.
Your BJJ recovery doesn’t have to be expensive or overly complicated, you just need to look after your body a bit more than the average person who doesn’t train - keep it simple.
The five tips below are not the only actions you can take to help aid recovery - a lot of factors come into play - but the below are some basics when it comes to helping your body recover after regular BJJ sessions.
Basic stretching is one recovery method that helps all types of athletes. Even five or ten minutes of stretching after training can be enough to kick off the recovery process. You should always be warmed up prior to training, as muscles that are too tight could lead to injury.
Stretching is essential in any athletic endeavour, but even more-so in BJJ because of the extreme range of unorthodox motion required. Stretching will increase supply of blood to muscles to help cope with strenuous martial arts activities.
Stretching before a training session helps because it loosens the muscles, minimising the risks of sustaining or aggravating injuries, and improves your range of motion for better performance. Stretching after training while cooling down may also assist in reducing the muscle soreness.
A healthy balanced diet plays a big part in any jiu jitsu practitioners training and recovery, with protein being a major factor. Protein is vital for growth and repair. In order to help aid recovery you need to make sure you are consuming enough protein as it provides the body with the necessary amount of amino acids to help build and repair muscles and tissues.
Nutrition is essential for supporting an athlete's general health and their training needs. Having a suitable diet provides a person with enough energy and nutrients to meet the demands of training and exercise. In addition to helping a person perform optimally, it will also facilitate recovery.
According to the DGA, athletes doing intense training may benefit from ingesting more than two times the recommended daily amount of protein in their diet.
One of the most vital things to recovery is hydration. When you train an intense sport like BJJ, you will lose a lot of water and sodium. If you are dehydrated, your body has to work harder to repair itself after training, which can make recovery more difficult. Make sure to drink enough water before, during and after training. It is a simple tactic, often overlooked and has a huge impact on performance. Even a mild loss of water can make your heart work harder and decrease your endurance.
One of the simplest ways to recover well after a tough training session is to get a good quality night's sleep. The ideal amount of sleep is eight hours. Sleep is essential to the recovery process for both your physical and mental health, as it helps your body bounce back from the stress you put it through during the day.
Sleep plays a big role in the release of growth hormone which can be hindered by sleep deprivation. Growth hormone, amongst other things, regulates muscle growth. Muscle growth is needed to repair damage done from training, even if not trying to add mass. Hormones also play a huge role in how we feel and perform.
As addictive as BJJ is, rest days are essential. You need to allow your body to have some time off. If you have not been getting much sleep recently, then perhaps take a day off training and use that time to rest instead, and give your body some time to recover.
Cold showers and ice baths are a popular method of muscle recovery as cold therapy is known to reduce muscle soreness. Cold therapy works by restricting blood flow to the muscles which decreases swelling, muscle soreness, and muscle damage.
Ice baths work by cooling the skin, muscle, and core temperature. This leads to constriction of the blood vessels slowing or blocking the flow of blood which may decrease swelling and acute inflammation muscle damage.
Joe Rogan, BJJ black belt, UFC commentator, and host of one of the world’s most popular podcasts, The Joe Rogan Experience, frequently raves about the benefits of receiving regular cryotherapy treatments to heal his many aches and pains, and has even interviewed cold-venturist ‘The Ice Man’ Wim Hoff .
As far as recovery tips go, this covers the basics. There are plenty of options out there that can help aid recovery from intense training sessions, it's just finding the right one for you, and knowing what kind of recovery method you need to use, but don't underestimate the power of water, good food and an eight hour sleep.
Hooks have recently released their new Synergy range of shorts. These shorts are unisex and have just been released in two different patterns - Tie Dye and Jungle Nights.
These shorts are ultra light, quick dry, and contain no velcro (which can be irritating, and wear off over time). The new Synergy shorts are a combination of the best bits from both MMA and BJJ shorts, creating a refined new fit which is perfect for both grappling and striking.
These high-quality shorts are synched at the waistline by a high tensile elastic waistband and tri-silicon grip layer with internal drawstrings allowing you to tighten or loosen them as needed, ultimately preventing them from potentially coming down during a hard training session (nobody wants that).
Having been created from a 4-Way stretch fabric, these shorts allow for unrestricted movement and optimised performance. Hooks' Synergy shorts also offer vibrant patterns, making you stand out from the rest. We all know that over time some prints can crack and start to look worn, but full sublimation of the shorts ensures no cracking or peeling of the prints.
Both of these shorts are very different in their aesthetic, the Tie Dye Synergy shorts behold a bright, vibrant print harbouring a multicolour tie-dye over a white base layer. These shorts look even better when combined with its matching counterpart, the Hooks Tie Dye Rashguard (both long sleeve and short sleeve).
A black background acts as the base layer on these shorts for an overlay of exotic jungle leaves coloured in a combination of pink, blue and purple with neon tones. The Hooks logo is white, allowing it to standout amongst the dark undertones. Make these Jungle Nights shorts look even more wild by pairing them with the Jungle Nights Rashguard (both long sleeve and short sleeve).
These items are available in sizes XS (28 inch waist) all the way up to XXXL (40-42 inch waist) so grab them whilst you still can. Both shorts are priced at AU$74.95.
Just Jits offers free shipping to AUS on all orders over $140. Click here to view more...
