Injury prevalence among Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners globally: a cross-sectional study in 881 participants
Objectives Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a rapidly growing combat sport characterised by ground fighting and submission techniques. There are limited data regarding BJJ injuries. This study described the incidence and characteristics of injuries in BJJ practitioners.Methods This retrospective survey...
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BMJ Publishing Group
2025-03-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/11/1/e002322.full |
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| author | Paul Kuijer Pablo Martin Stegerhoek Boris Brajovic Mirwais Mehrab |
| author_facet | Paul Kuijer Pablo Martin Stegerhoek Boris Brajovic Mirwais Mehrab |
| author_sort | Paul Kuijer |
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| description | Objectives Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a rapidly growing combat sport characterised by ground fighting and submission techniques. There are limited data regarding BJJ injuries. This study described the incidence and characteristics of injuries in BJJ practitioners.Methods This retrospective survey targeted BJJ practitioners globally who trained at least once per week. The survey was distributed online and via posters at multiple Dutch BJJ competitions. Data collection took place from 15 February 2024 to 17 March 2024. We collected training, competition and injury data from the past 12 months. Complaints that required medical attention caused time loss (≥1 week) or led to training modification (≥2 weeks) were defined as an injury.Results Of 881 participants, 817 (90%) were male, and the average age was 30.8 years (SD 8.6). Injury information was provided on a total of 888 injuries. The injury incidence was 5.5 (95% CI 4.9 to 6.1) per 1000 hours in training and 55.9 (95% CI 38.8 to 73.0) injuries per 1000 matches, with a higher rate observed among participants with a lower belt level. Most injuries (n=789, 89%) occurred during training, mainly (n=620, 79%) during sparring. The knees (n=223, 25%) and shoulders (n=114, 13%) were the most affected body regions.Conclusions This study found an injury incidence of 5.5 per 1000 hours of training and 55.9 per 1000 matches for BJJ practitioners. Future preventative practices should focus on the free sparring part of training to be most effective. Future studies should also monitor BJJ practitioners prospectively to understand injury aetiology better. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-edf7da3b2a394e9eb62ac05e9eee048a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2055-7647 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
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| series | BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-edf7da3b2a394e9eb62ac05e9eee048a2025-08-20T03:52:10ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine2055-76472025-03-0111110.1136/bmjsem-2024-002322Injury prevalence among Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners globally: a cross-sectional study in 881 participantsPaul Kuijer0Pablo Martin Stegerhoek1Boris Brajovic2Mirwais Mehrab32Academic Medical Centre, Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsPublic and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, NetherlandsPublic and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, NetherlandsDepartment of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Erasmus MC Universitair Medisch Centrum, Rotterdam, NetherlandsObjectives Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a rapidly growing combat sport characterised by ground fighting and submission techniques. There are limited data regarding BJJ injuries. This study described the incidence and characteristics of injuries in BJJ practitioners.Methods This retrospective survey targeted BJJ practitioners globally who trained at least once per week. The survey was distributed online and via posters at multiple Dutch BJJ competitions. Data collection took place from 15 February 2024 to 17 March 2024. We collected training, competition and injury data from the past 12 months. Complaints that required medical attention caused time loss (≥1 week) or led to training modification (≥2 weeks) were defined as an injury.Results Of 881 participants, 817 (90%) were male, and the average age was 30.8 years (SD 8.6). Injury information was provided on a total of 888 injuries. The injury incidence was 5.5 (95% CI 4.9 to 6.1) per 1000 hours in training and 55.9 (95% CI 38.8 to 73.0) injuries per 1000 matches, with a higher rate observed among participants with a lower belt level. Most injuries (n=789, 89%) occurred during training, mainly (n=620, 79%) during sparring. The knees (n=223, 25%) and shoulders (n=114, 13%) were the most affected body regions.Conclusions This study found an injury incidence of 5.5 per 1000 hours of training and 55.9 per 1000 matches for BJJ practitioners. Future preventative practices should focus on the free sparring part of training to be most effective. Future studies should also monitor BJJ practitioners prospectively to understand injury aetiology better.https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/11/1/e002322.full |
| spellingShingle | Paul Kuijer Pablo Martin Stegerhoek Boris Brajovic Mirwais Mehrab Injury prevalence among Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners globally: a cross-sectional study in 881 participants BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| title | Injury prevalence among Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners globally: a cross-sectional study in 881 participants |
| title_full | Injury prevalence among Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners globally: a cross-sectional study in 881 participants |
| title_fullStr | Injury prevalence among Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners globally: a cross-sectional study in 881 participants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Injury prevalence among Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners globally: a cross-sectional study in 881 participants |
| title_short | Injury prevalence among Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners globally: a cross-sectional study in 881 participants |
| title_sort | injury prevalence among brazilian jiu jitsu practitioners globally a cross sectional study in 881 participants |
| url | https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/11/1/e002322.full |
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