Discussion with 2 physical therapists: Dr. Mike Piekarski PT, DPT, OCS and Dr. Richard Mak, PT, DPT discussing concepts related to rehabbing grapplers

The Importance of Sport Medicine and Strength & Conditioning Collaboration for the Grappling Athlete
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Here is a sneak peak at a presentation from the @ufcpi ‘s Director of Physical therapy @heatherlinden and Director of Strength and Conditioning @bo.sandoval
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Key Points
•Understanding grappling related injuries within MMA
•Utilizing the athlete history and evidence-based testing to shape performance team collaboration
•Utilizing Performance leads to handle unique athlete scenarios:
-Medical Lead
-Strength and Conditioning lead
-Nutrition lead
-Sport Science
-Sports Psychology
•Adaptive Collaboration of a Sports Performance Team
•Progression / Regression
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Interested in knowing more? Sign up for @thegrapplingathlete online symposium! Registration is opens! This is one of 12+ hours of content available.
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Link in Bio

Return to Jiu Jitsu after ACL Reconstruction
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The goal of any physical therapist is to guide someone back to their desired activity.
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The advantage of working with a sport-focused physical therapist is they will take you to through the final phase of rehab to make sure your body can endure the rigors of that sport.
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The REAL advantage of a sport physical therapist focused on your sport is they can actually do the activity with you.
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Here is a video of @sean.vs.tmrw , Jiu jitsu black belt, several months after ACL reconstruction. The goal is grated exposure to sport specific Jiu jitsu skills, positions and movements before releasing him for full rolling.
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Keep in mind the criteria for return to sport:
1️⃣Tissue Healing: Returning to sport earlier than 9 months after ACLR has a high retear rate.
2️⃣Physical capacity of the athlete: it is important to use objective data on single leg balance, strength and power to ensure the knee can endure competitive activities. Ideally >90% compared to contralateral side.
3️⃣Comfort and control with sport specific skill movements.
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I admit that I am biased however if you are a competitive or recreational grappler / martial artist / fighter you 100% should be working with a sport physical therapist who understands your sport.

2nd edition

Kinstretch for Jiu Jitsu
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Kinstretch is a movement enhancement system that develops maximum body control, flexibility and usable ranges of motion.
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Another way to think of Kinstretch is as Joint Training, ie how to optimal prepare your joints for activity. In my professional opinion this system of joint training is essential if you are training in grappling arts, such as Jiu Jitsu. Joint locks and submissions are attacks specifically designed to damage joints, therefore it makes sense to strengthen your joints to make them more resilient to injury.
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My next Kinstretch for Jiu Jitsu class is Sunday October 18th at @precisionjjacademy
$15 for members
$25 for nonmembers
Space is limited. Dm me for details.

Preparing your Hips for Jiu Jitsu
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Black belt competitor @isaacdoederlein performing hip controlled articular rotations (CARs) prior to his match at @ibjjf pans 2020 as a movement preparation.
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Curious to know more about CARs and how to incorporate in your grappling preparation? Check out @thegrapplingathlete online symposium where I have multiple presentations on Joint Training for the Grappling Athlete.
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In addition to presentations on Joint Training for the grappler there is 12+ hours of various presentations related to grappling.
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Link for registration in BIO

Mechanics of the toehold leglock
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A toe hold leglock involves torque force combining plantarflexion and inversion motion to the ankle which often results in ligament sprain. With sufficient force ligament rupture and ankle dislocation can occur.
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This leg lock primarily attacks two joints simultaneously that make up the ankle.
1️⃣Talocrural joint
2️⃣Subtalar joint
There are two ligaments that primarily prevent this movement:
1️⃣anterior talofibular ligament 2️⃣calcaneofibular ligament.
These are the same ligaments that are damaged from a typical rolled ankle (ankle sprain). .
✳️Note: This breakdown covers typical toe holds. Some variations of the toe hold may instead involve tibial internal rotation at the knee and not ankle movement.
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Want to learn more about how joint locks affect the human body? Check out my presentation at @thegrapplingathlete called the Science of Joint Locks and Submissions.
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Link to registration in BIO. Registration opens this Monday!

Introduction to CARs
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Here is a sneak peek of my presentation on Controlled Articular Rotations for @thegrapplingathlete .
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What are CARs? Controlled articular rotations are the best representation of a joint’s capacity for movement. CARs are LITERALLY the only exercise I would give to a person without first doing a comprehensive assessment.
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Key Points:
•Movement is key for joint health
•Built in self assessment for individual joint health
•Easily scalable movements
•CARs can be used for assessment, joint maintenance/health and end-range joint strengthening
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In the presentation I demonstrate movements for each joint which can be performed both as a morning routine and a movement preparation for athletic activity, such as grappling.
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Personally I warm up my joints with CARs before I do any martial art training (Jiu jitsu, kickboxing or wrestling)
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Registration for @thegrapplingathlete online symposium opens Monday October 12th!
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Link for registration in BIO.
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CARs are part of the Kinstretch for Jiu Jitsu workshop that I teach. If you are local to Sacramento and want to attend a Kinstretch class the next one will be Sunday October 18th at @precisionjjacademy .
$15 for Precision members
$25 for nonmembers
Space is limited. DM me for a spot.

Utilizing Data Driven Assessments and Trends to Reduce Injuries in the Combat Athlete
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This is a sneak peek at @heatherlinden ‘s presentation for the Grappling Athlete Online Symposium. Dr. Linden is the Director of Physical Therapy at the @ufcpi and has been collecting data on UFC athletes for over 3 years.
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Key Points for the lecture:
•What assessments the UFCPI is utilizing with fighters
•Benefits of completing individualized athletic profiles
•Injury trends in fighters (competition and non competition)
•Injury reduction programs for fighters
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Interested in knowing more? Sign up for @thegrapplingathlete online symposium! Registration opens October 12th. This is one of 12+ hours of content available. In addition to this lecture Dr. Linden will be doing a supplemental lecture with UFCPI strength coach @bo.sandoval as well on integrating S&C practicing with UFC fighters.

Science of Joint Locks and Submissions
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Here is a sneak peek of my lecture on the science of joint locks and vascular restraints for @thegrapplingathlete online symposium.
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Key Points Addressed:
•How vascular restraints render someone unconscious on a physiological level
•How joint locks affect the human body
•What strictures may be damaged with specific joint locks
•How to maximize your ability to apply joint locks / improve breaking mechanics
•If you can identify the damaged area there will be strategies on rehabilitation
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I’ve heard countless times from training partners how they had such a difficult time trying to explain Jiu jitsu or kickboxing to their physical therapist. Even with generic videos on YouTube the therapist would not fully grasp what was happening.
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Being both a board-certified orthopedic doctor of physical therapy AND a black belt in Jiu jitsu I explain how these techniques affect the human body.
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Want to learn more? Sign up for @thegrapplingathlete online symposium! Registration opens Monday October 12th!
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Link in BIO

Joint Training for the Grappling Athlete
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Here is a sneak peak of my lecture where I discuss Functional Range System concepts and how I would apply them to the grappling athlete.
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Key points that are addressed:
•What is a healthy joint
•Strategies for self assessment on joint health
•Isometrics for rehabilitating damaged tissue
•Strengthening joints via internal training
•Kinstretch and Isometric movement pathways for improved body control
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Interested in learning more? Sign up for @thegrapplingathlete online symposium! In addition to this lecture there is 12+ hours of content related to the grappling athlete, both for the clinician and athlete. Availability begins Monday October 12th.
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Link in BIO
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Interested in live practice of joint training? My next Kinstretch for Jiu Jitsu class will be Sunday 10/18 @precisionjjacademy . This class will be focused on improving knee mobility, building resilient knees and leglock proofing your legs.
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Space limited, DM me for a spot.

Kinstretch for Jiu Jitsu
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@kinstretch is a movement enhancement system that develops maximum body control and improves flexibility and USABLE ranges of motion.
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October 18TH Sunday at @precisionjjacademy , I will be doing another Kinstretch for jiu jitsu class. I will be taking Kinstretch concepts and applying them directly to Jiu jitsu, teaching you how to maximize your joint health, longevity for grappling, joint strength and athletic performance for jiu jitsu.
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Each class will have a specific focus: this class will be designed to knee health, mobility and leglock resilience.
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$15 for Precision members
$25 for nonmembers
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Space is limited. DM me if you want to attend.

Prepare your joints for Jiu Jitsu
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Movement is the key for joint health.
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Controlled articular rotations : (CARs) isolated rotational inputs at the end range is essential for maintaining the joint capacity.
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I personally perform CARs as part of my morning routine as well as before I do Jiu jitsu class. Joint health is necessary for all activities but I would argue is incredibly important for jiu jitsu or other martial arts where one has to endure repetitive stress to their joints via joint locks.
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Want to learn more about CARs and how to keep your joints health and allow you to have the necessary longevity to continue grappling at an older age?
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Check out my kinstretch for Jiu Jitsu class where I begin the class will full body CARs before moving into the focus of the day. My next Kinstretch class is tomorrow Sunday 9am at @precisionjjacademy .
$15 for members
$25 for nonmembers
DM me for a spot. Space is limited.
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Not in Northern California and want to learn more? I have multiple lectures and presentations on Joint Training specifically for grapplers in the upcoming @thegrapplingathlete online symposium.
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Link to the sign up in BIO

Shoulder Joint Training
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1️⃣Achieve adequate flexibility (passive motion)
2️⃣Achieve adequate mobility (actively controlling your full range)
3️⃣End-range strengthening
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“Ihashi et al. demonstrated internal rotation and external rotation will activate all of the rotator cuff musculature including supraspinatus (Wilk 1997).” A healthy shoulder will have an appropriate balance between force couples: deltoids and rotator cuff. This is why proper proprioception is essential. How do we improve shoulder proprioception?
End-range movements: “Guanche et al. (1995) found the presence of mechanoreceptors in the capsule, creating reflex arcs via capsular afferent nerves, resulted in muscle contraction (Hess 2000).” “Terry et al have theorized that stretch-sensitive mechanoreceptors within the capsular ligaments could be activated by tension, thus, producing a muscular contraction to protect the ligaments at the extremes of motion (Wilk 1997).”
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Won’t extreme ranges of motion put stress on the joint capsule?
“The joint capsule collagen fiber orientation is comprised of radial fibers. The cross-linked capsular collagen structure assists in providing joint stability. During rotational movements, such as internal and external rotation, the collagen fiber bundles tighten, thus centering the humeral head and reducing humeral head displacement (Wilk 1997).”
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One should have sufficient mobility and be able to minimize compensatory patterns before loading.
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Indian clubs are one method of loading to create articular resilience for the shoulders. Changing body position is another way to significantly increase the difficulty.
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Want to know more about Joint Training for the Grappling Athlete? Check out @thegrapplingathlete online symposium.
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My next @kinstretch class will be focused on training the shoulder. Sunday 9/27 9am at @precisionjjacademy DM me for details.
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References:
1️⃣Hess, S. A. (2000). Functional stability of the glenohumeral joint. Manual therapy, 5(2), 63-71.
2️⃣Wilk, K. E., Arrigo, C. A., & Andrews, J. R. (1997). Current concepts: the stabilizing structures of the glenohumeral joint. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 25(6)