bjjasia

OK. Since I started the thread on the list of my injuries from training, I thought I'd also start talking about what I've done in the past to recover or prevent future problems.

These are just a few things that I do or have done but I know there's more. So this is where 'you' can add what I have missed.

SWIMMING:
Before ever having tried a martial art I was a swimmer, a year-round competitive swimmer. As a little kid I was uncoordinated but as soon as I took the the water, it was like second nature.

Anyways, the point is, from swimming I gained a strong sense of balance and awareness of my body in a 3D space. When learning a technique, you have to be able to visualize the movements in a full spectrum of space, it's not just forwards and backwards but it's sideways, upside down, every which direction you can think of. For some this is natural and for others it takes time to develop. The next time you get a chance to go swimming, just try moving around under water and see what connections you can make to, oh, let's say 'spider guard'.

After having started BJJ, I would go back to swimming whenever I was hurt and unable to hit the mats. It gave me a impact free environment to help on the rotation of my major joints and control my breathing. Coaches have told me, don't move the guy, move yourself. So without reaching too much, I try to think about that when swimming. Plus, I hate running.

YOGA:
Of all the styles out there, I've tried Hatha, Vinyasa and Ashtanga. Of these three my favorite is Ashtanga for it's consistent movement and regulation of breathe. Now I imagine any kind of yoga will help you in a number of ways but for my attention span and interests, I liked Ashtanga the most.

I am already a pretty flexible guy and you wouldn't think it looking at my frame. I never see myself as being considered a big guy but when you're pushing 93 kilos, thats not light either. Anyways, it did improve my already flexible body but more importantly, it put me in a situation where I had to reach past my point of comfort and settle my breathe and mind. And while it's not a fast paced impact sport, I was sweating up a storm.

When caught in someone's crushing side-control, you have to be calm and not waste your energy fighting your opponent's pin but think clearly where you need to move to create the opportunity to escape.

BASIC STRETCHING:
I think this is one of the most basic things that have been overlooked from gym to gym but rarely do I see the entire class take time to stretch afterwards. After training is the best time to stretch your major muscle groups and take time to listen to your own body. Granted, I am guilty of the same thing but we're all working to improve.

KEEP HYDRATED:
Drinking water should be a regular part of your day and not just when you're working out. I try to drink consistently throughout the day and careful not to drink to much while training. It can be tempting to just guzzle down water/sport drink after the hard warm-up or a tough roll but you have to moderate yourself.

OTHER:
Here is a list of things that I have yet to try but may try in the future.

weight- training
kettlebell
gynastica natural
cross-fit

i am getting ginastica natural once a week and i have to say, it is very good. it is more like a continuity of training/moves coupled to breathing, rather than short intensive moves, a bit like yoga. Very nice I like it