Yea I've been working on the 50-50 guard past few weeks, which had already put the knee in some strain & pain... Could've been a contributing factor, although it likely would've gave in being stuck like that under a sprawl anyway. So fuck you 50-50, back to deep half! :D Don't wanna go under a knife... Don't really wanna go under a barbell either but I too believe that is the way.

Goddamnit. Nothing new to add to the list, but today, again, dislocated my kneecap during sparring... A weird hook placement while on bottom and half turned away from the partner, and he sprawling on the leg caused a multiple loud crackly pops, so here we are again. If 2020 had one thing going for it, it was the lack of injuries... :p Anybody have advice on dealing with constantly dislocating knee(cap)? The first year this happened, it happened 3 times, but now been fine for well over a year. I know it's a quick recovery to a 'ok' status, and I can probably start squatting heavy etc. soon, but I also know that pressure from certain angle (happens a lot in BJJ) can make it easily dislocate again. I guess the ligaments are a bit loose at the very least (maybe torn from the earlier dislocations). Takes a while to gain back confidence for the leg, which sucks. I use a 7mm knee sleeve that's keeping the shitty joint together, and had it also on today.

1. Drink copious amounts of whiskey. 2. Have a good saw

Thanks sir! I shall follow your points 1 & 2 rigorously. :) Any recommendations for the whiskey?

I hear this is ok.

when you already have a hairy chest but need to DIY a knee job THIS is the whisky to pair with your Craftsman saw

Goddamnit. Nothing new to add to the list, but today, again, dislocated my kneecap during sparring... A weird hook placement while on bottom and half turned away from the partner, and he sprawling on the leg caused a multiple loud crackly pops, so here we are again. If 2020 had one thing going for it, it was the lack of injuries... :p Anybody have advice on dealing with constantly dislocating knee(cap)? The first year this happened, it happened 3 times, but now been fine for well over a year. I know it's a quick recovery to a 'ok' status, and I can probably start squatting heavy etc. soon, but I also know that pressure from certain angle (happens a lot in BJJ) can make it easily dislocate again. I guess the ligaments are a bit loose at the very least (maybe torn from the earlier dislocations). Takes a while to gain back confidence for the leg, which sucks. I use a 7mm knee sleeve that's keeping the shitty joint together, and had it also on today.

Finally got an MRI on this... and appears the ACL is completely gone/snapped. I have also fractured my kneecap and some point, and my unique set of issues (bowlegs, deformed kneecap, no ACL) cause the kneecap dislocation. However, the original trauma that caused this happened already over 3 years ago, which means I have, for example, had close to 40 competition matches without that stupid ACL thing. The orthopedic surgeon told me that apparently approx. 15% of population can function quite normally without one. The ACL reconstruction operation would mean a full year of layoff from grappling. So ofc I'm thinking, fuck the knife, let's just up the squats and see how long this holds up. If these pops are no more frequent than now I rather live with them. Takes about a week to get back to sparring after they occur. (Admit they are a bit of a liability in e.g. competitions and hiking on challenging terrain...) Anybody else here grapple without an ACL? I know a bunch of athletes have had careers without them.

Between my first ACL rupture and surgery, I waited close to 2 years. The amount of cumulative damage due that wait was significant enough that I had to have most of my menisci removed etc. So keep that in mind if you choose not to get a reconstruction. The damage accumulates and your older self might want to kick your ass for not doing it. On the other hand, you're competing without it and have no issues ... guess everyone's different.

I'd go with the surgery. One year is short a period. You could probably still work on some jiu-jitsu stuff after the early rehab phase post surgery. I've heard of stories of athletes going through their careers without having surgery, straight out to retirement and full knee replacement.

By the time I retire, they oughta finally have pretty sweet replacement hi-tech super knees available, that are way better than these crappy ones we're born with..? With built-in kneebar & heelhook defense mechanisms.