BJJ Mental Models Ep. 351: Injury Prehab, feat. Dr. Mike Piekarski
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Aug 18, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Dr. Mike Piekarski, a BJJ black belt and physiotherapist known as "Doctor Kickass," shares his expertise on injury prehab for grapplers. He emphasizes the need for situational awareness and a culture that encourages tapping out to promote safety. Mike delves into specific injury risks in Jiu-Jitsu, particularly knee and hip injuries, and advocates for tailored warm-up techniques. He also highlights the importance of strength training and adapting techniques for aging practitioners to ensure longevity and health in the sport.
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Mitigation Over Prevention
- You cannot fully prevent injuries; focus on injury mitigation through awareness, capacity training, and proper management.
- Prepare bodies and environments for predictable sport-specific risks rather than chasing zero-risk utopia.
Train Capacity To Build Resilience
- Do build physical capacity: strength, conditioning, mobility, and joint training to increase tissue resilience.
- Target your training to the demands of jiu-jitsu so tissues tolerate sport-specific stresses.
Set Clear Rules And Apply Controlled Submissions
- Do clarify permitted objectives and norms before rolling and avoid surprise techniques that breach shared rules.
- If you apply submissions, control and time your finish so partners can process and tap safely.