Marinating good bjj hygiene is one of the most important things if you are into health and fitness. However, most people think that if you are an athlete or you are into combat games, this means you need to be rough and tough.
It is very important to separate the strength from staying dirty. Most people report that due to extreme sweating and constant skin rub, they have developed rashes whereas, others develop skin infection as well.
One of the worst things is that most people use everything that is provided by the training institute that they go to. As a result, they use towels and shoes as well as mats that are not properly cleaned. Sanitization of mats and floor cleaning is very important otherwise you may suffer from serious skin infections.
Most athletes do not carry a gym bag with them because they feel it is difficult to pack and cleaning towels or getting fresh uniform daily gets hectic, however, ignoring hygiene protocols can land you in serious trouble.
With the help of this article, you will be able to know in detail about the impact of bad hygiene on your performance and overall training. To help you stay clean and maintain good hygiene, we will also list down some of the best tips. For beginners who are going to join the institute for training, we have mentioned some of the precautions as well.
Impact of Bad BJJ Hygiene
With BJJ you are in close proximity to almost everyone around you. This means that if you smell, everyone around you will know and if you have some kind of infection you might get that as well.
To add fuel to the fire, there is a lot of sweat which just makes everything moist. As a result, mats become hotbeds for germs, bacteria, fungal infections, and a lot more. Most institutes clean it all up before starting the session but this is not enough. You need to take control of your own body because eventually, this will impact you directly.
According to most BJJ instructors, people report serious fungal infections and skin rashes after some months of careless practice. Eventually, the whole session develops the same issue. This means that you are not just taking care of yourself but also the people around you. Tapeworm, ringworm, rashes, fungal infection, etc. are not only common but also contagious.
BJJ is a serious combat game that requires you to practice and train daily. Once you have the infection or you have some kind of soreness, you will start to feel uncomfortable in your clothes. Most of these infections impact moist places like between elbows, knees, or armpits and in BJJ you hold the weight of your opponent through these places.
As a result, people skip training and they are soon left behind in the practice session. With infection and constant compulsion to itch, you will not be able to handle your opponent and you might even drop out.
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Tips To Help You Improve Your BJJ Hygiene
Your hygiene is very important because multiple factors will be impacted if you do not take care of your hygiene. This will not only affect your training session but can also harm others around you. To help you stay healthy and happy, here are some basic tips that can help you stay clean.
- Take a cold shower right after your BJJ workout session, this will help you soothe the skin and keep you clean as well
- Wash your GI regularly or keep multiple GI options to change every day
- Thoroughly clean your BJJ equipment especially Knee Braces or Joint Supports
- Keep fresh towels in your gym bag and keep your gym bag clean
- While practising, remove all the jewellery or any other accessory that you are wearing
- Do not use towels or shoes that are provided by the institute
- Trim your nails and hair especially near your neck region
- Wear perfume, antiperspirant, or deodorant
- Keep your hair tied or away from your neck, shoulder, and forehead
- Use Band-Aid to cover all scratches and bruises
- Avoid training if you are sick or sore
Bottom Line
To sum it all up, getting on the mat without maintaining your hygiene can be very dangerous for you. Most people report serious skin infections because of getting on the mat without taking precautionary measures. Most doctors encourage people to stay clean for their safety and to help them maintain a good environment as well.
However, we can all agree that BJJ is a messy business. You will have to face a lot of sweat and a lot of other issues as well. When you have to share showers, clothes, and equipment with others, you cannot do anything about it. Most people already have some kind of fungal infection or skin-related issues so next thing you know everyone in the institute has the same skin infection.
Most training institutes follow very strict cleaning protocols however, others do not care at all. It is best to keep yourself clean rather than relying on the institute to take the lead.
