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looking after your fingers
6 year(s) ago • 2847 views • 18 replies
BWBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
Hi all,
I've been struggling with a lot of finger soreness lately in between training sessions.
I train mostly gi and admittedly I've been working a collar choke heavy game lately so it's not really a surprise.
I'm curious as to what others use either pre, during or post training to help prevent / reduce finger soreless.
I've been struggling with a lot of finger soreness lately in between training sessions.
I train mostly gi and admittedly I've been working a collar choke heavy game lately so it's not really a surprise.
I'm curious as to what others use either pre, during or post training to help prevent / reduce finger soreless.
TPBlack beltVerified
SZBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
I think this is a common problem with everyone coming back after a long layoff.
TPBlack beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
The corona break did good to my fingers... no really a need to tape them for each practice, although I do if I know there is hard gi comp. sparring on the menu. I'm way more conscious about not letting my partners break my grips, but instead let go myself & re-grab whenever a grip feels compromised. (Or double up with 2 hands if that's an option.)
That said, having upped the training volume now back to my pre-'rona hours, the forearms seem to be the only parts that just don't recover in between sessions.
Funny story from the other day, one of our pro mma fighters decided to enter the BJJ nationals next weekend, so she came to train with us first time in a gi for a few years... she got two of her fingers so swollen up from grabbing the cloth that she had to take a few days off. Also hit her knee on something during sparring and complained how awfully violent our sport is. :D
That said, having upped the training volume now back to my pre-'rona hours, the forearms seem to be the only parts that just don't recover in between sessions.
Funny story from the other day, one of our pro mma fighters decided to enter the BJJ nationals next weekend, so she came to train with us first time in a gi for a few years... she got two of her fingers so swollen up from grabbing the cloth that she had to take a few days off. Also hit her knee on something during sparring and complained how awfully violent our sport is. :D
Edited 6 year(s) ago
BWBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
At the moment I'm taping the sore fingers, crossing over the tape under the knuckles
Anyone got taping methods they recommend?
Anyone got taping methods they recommend?
TPBlack beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
At the moment I'm taping the sore fingers, crossing over the tape under the knuckles Anyone got taping methods they recommend?
I don't know of another way.
Get quality tape (around these parts, Swedish "Leukotape" in the pharmacies is the bomb! - all the BJJ brand tapes I've tried perform way worse), make thin enough & long enough strips, wrap multiple rounds above and belove of the sore joint, making the "X" on the underside of the knuckle so that the fingers still bend.
Interestingly, I have noticed a lot of grapplers tape the middle knuckles but I've never had issues with those. I need to tape the top (closest to nail) knuckles only, on the 2-3 smallest fingers.
Get quality tape (around these parts, Swedish "Leukotape" in the pharmacies is the bomb! - all the BJJ brand tapes I've tried perform way worse), make thin enough & long enough strips, wrap multiple rounds above and belove of the sore joint, making the "X" on the underside of the knuckle so that the fingers still bend.
Interestingly, I have noticed a lot of grapplers tape the middle knuckles but I've never had issues with those. I need to tape the top (closest to nail) knuckles only, on the 2-3 smallest fingers.
RDBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
I use tape so much I look like the Mummy
BWBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
I use tape so much I look like the Mummy
Here I was hoping someone would have a magical answer that I hadn't discovered yet! haha
BWBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
I don't know of another way. Get quality tape (around these parts, Swedish 'Leukotape' in the pharmacies is the bomb! - all the BJJ brand tapes I've tried perform way worse), make thin enough & long enough strips, wrap multiple rounds above and belove of the sore joint, making the 'X' on the underside of the knuckle so that the fingers still bend. Interestingly, I have noticed a lot of grapplers tape the middle knuckles but I've never had issues with those. I need to tape the top (closest to nail) knuckles only, on the 2-3 smallest fingers.
yeah that's pretty much what i've been doing
some of the tapes I've tried have been rubbish
generally the rigid strapping tape from the supermarket performs fine for me
some of the tapes I've tried have been rubbish
generally the rigid strapping tape from the supermarket performs fine for me
MBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
here are some of my articles and videos on protecting fingers:
https://www.youtube.com/w[...]2RE_7O3PhI
https://beyondgrappling.c[...]o-and-bjj/
hope it helps your fingers
https://www.youtube.com/w[...]2RE_7O3PhI
https://beyondgrappling.c[...]o-and-bjj/
hope it helps your fingers
JDBlack beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
I’ve never taped my stumpy little fingers. They are so beat up from construction work, that I never felt the need... I do see lots of people doing it though, not sure if they are doing it because they are replicating what they see as a “jitz” practice. Or if it actually enhances their grip performance
Maybe I’ll try it to see if a ninja turtle hand helps
Maybe I’ll try it to see if a ninja turtle hand helps
TPBlack beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
I do see lots of people doing it though, not sure if they are doing it because they are replicating what they see as a “jitz” practice. Or if it actually enhances their grip performance
I have "pianist hands" with thin, long(ish) fingers. They don't look normal anymore with the beat-up, permanently swollen joints. I have had my wedding ring enlarged two times, then gave up wearing it altogether because removing it daily would be an ordeal. Taping definitely helps.
Edited 6 year(s) ago
CBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
My fingers have been great since I started doing more nogi and focusing that style with the gi also. But the biggest thing that improved things was learning to grip without my finger tips, judo style. Easier to let go and faster to achieve a decent grip.
ZHBlue beltVerified
MBlack beltVerified
1 month(s) ago
I had a feeling you might comment on this one! here is my image share, this was in 2014.
ZHBlue beltVerified
1 month(s) ago
Dang...how long did the K wire stay in? I'm having follow-up X-rays done Friday and there is a good chance they are pulling mine, so it would have been in roughly 3.5 weeks.
I can't imagine dealing with 3 seperate wires at the same time! 🤣
I can't imagine dealing with 3 seperate wires at the same time! 🤣
MBlack beltVerified
1 month(s) ago
Honestly, I do not remember how long they were in, but I was happy to have them pulled out! Lost ROM in the DIP and PIP joints. This should be a GOOD NEWS story for you. This happened when I was a white belt, and you can see now I have earned my black belt. You will be back if you want, maybe not the same as before, but you will adapt and overcome.
If you are interested, I will share a first draft of a book I am writing on this and how I developed my grip.
If you are interested, I will share a first draft of a book I am writing on this and how I developed my grip.
ZHBlue beltVerified
1 month(s) ago
Honestly, I do not remember how long they were in, but I was happy to have them pulled out! Lost ROM in the DIP and PIP joints. This should be a GOOD NEWS story for you. This happened when I was a white belt, and you can see now I have earned my black belt. You will be back if you want, maybe not the same as before, but you will adapt and overcome. If you are interested, I will share a first draft of a book I am writing on this and how I developed my grip.
Thanks for your insight! I definitely have a fear of reinjury because I know I'm going to be back on the mats ASAP(as all BJJ practitioners are stubborn), I'm hoping to ease into returning by teaching some classes and technical drilling instead of live rolling for a couple of months. Also a big fear because of how this impacted my career as a newly registered nurse; that being said I know nothing will ever keep me from returning to the mats...it's been too beneficial mentally and physically. We all begin jiu jitsu knowing that injury is inevitable, time is the only factor. I'm very interested in reading if you're willing to share...that would be awesome.
