The Importance of Recovery in Jiu-Jitsu

I’ve been around sports pretty consistently for 30+ years.

I’ve played baseball, soccer, basketball, football, lifted weights, ran a half marathon, ran track at a Big 12 university, fought professionally in both MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and coached plenty of Elite-level athletes.

The biggest area I see for improvement among most athletes (especially hyper-competitive athletes) is recovery. This is the case for almost all hyper-competitive people training Jiu Jitsu Baytown TX regardless of their profession. Competitive people do not chill out enough!

Coaching Robert Yamashita, the Fighter

When Coaching Robert Yamashita, who is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, Karate Black Belt, Kickboxing Black Belt and an undefeated MMA fighter (think this guy is competitive?!?!), I always have to tell him to rest.

Not once in the 12 years, I’ve coached him have I ever had to tell him that he needs to train more or train harder. I constantly tell them, man to chill out and rest.

I can’t think of a single match that he has lost because he was underprepared… I can not think of a time when he did not come to practice or even skipped a workout. However, I can think of multiple times he looked sluggish because he over-prepared and did not rest enough.

Science shows that one or even two weeks of active rest is when your muscles fire the best.

I learned this at an early age and applied to all of my training across multiple sports. I would get 1-2 weeks rest before a big tournament or big track meet.

So even though I tell this to Robert (and others), he continues to train hard even the day before a match.

“Science shows that 1 or even two weeks of active rest is when your muscles fire the best.”

You might be wondering, why would he continue to go against his coaches coaching and train hard the week before a big tournament?

The Answer

He cannot shut his mind off! His mind is telling him all sorts of stuff that has him feeling like he needs to train more and more.

Like many of us, he also uses Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing, and MMA as a way to control his mind and his emotions.

Controlling Your Mind and Emotions with Martial Arts

Many of us cite “stress relief” as a benefit to training Jiu Jitsu Baytown TX.

Well, the same is true for Robert and many other hyper-competitive athletes like Julian Vega or Jordan Rivas.

For example, these guys go crazy any time they injure themselves or can’t train for a week. Or when these guys go on vacation, it is not a chill out on the beach kind of deal.

Last year Robert literally flew into the eye of a hurricane and survived in a house that was run off a gas generator and solar power. This type of living was his idea of a vacation – the dude is hardcore.

Not training Jiu-Jitsu for a week is his worst nightmare.

Train. Rest. Recovery.

So if you are one of those hard-core individuals, chances are you do not rest enough or recover enough. Then you are more likely to get injured or lose your next UFC fight because you over-trained rather than under-trained.

Below are a few tips that will help you in your training.

A few of these spots are specific for the students that train at the Elite MMA in Baytown, TX.

Find something else to occupy your mind

The week before a big tournament find a new way to relax. Since you can not train, focus on something else. Clean your house, fix your car, pick up a new hobby, binge watch Netflix. Do something out of the norm for a week.

Get a massage

My Massage & Body Spa is run by Marisol Yamashita is a great place to get those kinks worked out. She and her team of professional massage therapists to offer a variety of techniques to promote relaxation, relieve muscle tension, and improve circulation.  Many local coaches and trainers from Elite MMA, 24 Hour Fitness, Planet Fitness, and Fitness Connection depend on her for their bodywork.

Try Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy is another great tool to boost your recovery. If there is not a Cryotherapy practice close to you, then an ice bath or icing, your injuries is also a good thing to do.

Recover with protein drinks

Protein drinks after a workout are one the best most often underutilized methods of recovery there is.

When I was younger, I used to be soar, and I thought I needed to take Advil to recover, but really I just need more protein. My muscles were hungry, so they hurt. Advil is excellent for reducing swelling in an inflamed joint, and protein is great for helping your muscles recover faster. Try hitting the protein hard next time you are really soaring, and you will see a big jump in your recovery.

Hit the treadmill

Hitting the treadmill at one of the local gyms is also a great way to break a sweat and get the lactic acid out.

Jog it out

Jogging or running with a good old fashion pair of Nike’s is a great way to get loose. Hit the trails at Jenkins Park or Baytown Nature Center or get some road work done with a good body stretch at the end.

Hopefully, these tips will help you with your recovery and again, good old fashion rest and a good night’s sleep is the best medicine.

– Frost Murphy

Elite MMA – Black Belt

Get Started with Jiu Jitsu Baytown TX at Elite MMA

Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned fighter looking for a specific training technique, visit Elite MMA. We’re one of the leading gyms in Baytown, offering training for kids, men, and women of all ages. Call us at 281.424.4662 to schedule your free Baytown fitness session today!