Still fairly new at BJJ, going on my 4th month. I grew up training hard in other sports including a stint of minor pro hockey, so I know aches and pains. I've had multiple knee surgeries, concussions, back issues etc...so one of my problems doing new things is not knowing if it's just me, or is everyone else feeling sore as hell?
Symptoms:
1. General achiness...everywhere. Wrists, elbows, ribs, hips...Nothing too earth shattering, but my grip hurts, fingers etc. I am assuming that things will calm down once I get used to rolling, get stronger, and play better.
2. My back. I don't have a ton of major back issues, but from hockey I have had bilateral scapula pain I typically just shrug off when I play most sports. The problem now with BJJ seems that when I have a person of 180+ lbs or a person to knows how to be heavy on my chest it feels like I am being stabbed in the right scapula. We are talking tapping type stabbing.
Most of the time I can tolerate it, but I am curious to know if it can be this uncomfortable for others who don't have the history of injuries I do.
3. Due to my schedule I get into class 2-3x per week. Usually there is a day in between to rest, but sometimes I need to double of days in a row since it's the only way I can get in. Is this the smartest thing to do or should I give my body a break it seems to be asking for?
Yes. But sometimes improving your diet (eating clean and maybe more protein) helps me not be as sore, but I have random bruises and pains all the time. Also, if there are specific positions that mess you up, see what options there are for avoiding that position. A guy I train with has issues with chest pain from pressure and he has gotten really good at shrimping and staying on an edge to not end up flatten out under people.
Actually, I just got home from training and I must have gotten hit in the eye because one of my eyebrows is slightly swollen and I can see it in my peripheral vision. I don't remember when that happened though.
I was in great shape when I started but after first training I was so sore could hardly move. :) Which continued for some months when you do everything bit too hard..
Try to exercise your back as much as you can! Specially if you don't move much during daytime I've noticed it helps to keep back active and not sit in a chair whole day.
I'm 28, in reasonable shape, and have been sore somewhere continuously the last 3 or 4 years from grappling. I usually only train 2-3 times a week, as well.
I had some mandatory time off due to ringworm (it took a while to clear) that stretched into about 2 months; I couldn't believe how good I felt physically. I stretched and did some basic mat drills every day, and I started to feel amazing. When I got back to training, I was tearing people up for a couple weeks, my training partners looked like old men trying to move around their injuries.
It was killing me to be off the mats, though.
The scapula pain sounds like a fairly specific issue that might be worth getting checked out, but the rest is normal IMO.
It's defnitely normal but there are certainly things you can do to help:
Stretch - On training days, get to class early for a thorough stretch and stretch again after class. Work a foam roller into your routine. Make sure you stretch on your rest days too. Best time for me is after a hot shower when everything is warm and loose.
Supplements - Fish oil, a good joint compound, a natural inflamation supplement like Zyflamend and glutamine.
Eat healthy - No magic there; just do it.
Rest - Get good sleep.
Chriopractor/Joint Mobility Speacialist - Try to find someone who is good at both these things and from an athletic perspective, not some hoky hippy. If you go there and they're burning incense, putting hot rocks on your back all that shit, its not the place for you. I lucked out and found a former wrestler (so he knows exactly what my body goes through) who has a doctorate in chiro and is also very knowledgeable about joint mobility and athletic taping. After 15 years its definitely a critical aspect of my training.
It is an usual thing when I am not sore in a couple of places.
I have to think this means we are doing something wrong. I plan on scaling back the intensity and see if I can find a balance point where my body feels better.
Whoever started that myth about being able to do BJJ your whole life?
I am 38. I have found that pushing through things like I used to stopped having good results. Try to listen to my body now. If I go to class and I'm just feeling stiff and not up to it, I'll drill lightly, maybe flow roll w/ someone I trust. Pushing through things gives me pain that lasts and lasts, and being good at rolling around on the ground and choking people doesn't make up for my daily life being screwed up, in my opinion.
