One random Saturday morning after our monthly donut date to Plant Cakes donuts, I decided we should drop into a MMA training gym. My husband has been trying to get me to try Brazilian jujitsu (BJJ) for a long time. So he and I dropped in and worked with the head professor/owner one on one. The professor showed me some basics and I truly was mind blown. Naturally, I decided to commit to at least one month of it to see how my body responded.

Why have I been so hesitant? Well, after many years of very undefined yet significant symptoms – I have been diagnosed hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), POTS, neurocardiogenic syncope and I’ve had a total of 6 (pretty major) surgeries. I also used to find the idea of rolling on the same mat that people walk barefoot on to be disgusting, even though my first exposure to martial arts was at a very young age. This style is new to me, but martial arts isn’t.

It has been a long time since I have felt physically capable. I no longer do CrossFit or lift weights in a consistent way because every time I have in the past, my symptoms became unbearable. This has made me very nervous to strength train going forward and has made something I once enjoyed, unenjoyable. I have since transitioned to a specialized physical therapy for hEDS, reformer pilates, running and now – BJJ/Judo.

Judo and BJJ defined

Judo (performed in a gi) is a Japanese combat sport that focuses on “throws, pins, joint locks, and submissions.” My understanding is that you aim to use the momentum that your opponent gives you to perform a movement. Ju (gentle) Do (the way). Some movements take place standing and others on the ground/mat.

Jujitsu also originated in Japan, with roots in Brazil and has since travelled the world as an art and combat sport. It can be described as the “Gentle Art” or “Art of Suppleness.” It is about control, domination and submission of the joints or strangulation. It has very similar goals and tactics as Judo however my understanding is that most moves take place on the ground/mat.

Both of these, in addition to Muy-Thai are what make up mixed-martial arts.

I have been pleasantly surprised. My initial concerns were – can my body handle this? Will I have dislocations or subluxations? Will I be in severe pain again?

I have had many years of physical therapy after my lower back spinal fusion, and I haven’t quite mastered the proper muscular control in my pelvic and low back region. After my 2nd or 3rd BJJ class, something clicked. Receiving instruction on “guard pass” and how to activate the pelvis to “pass closed guard” changed everything. Between BJJ and reformer pilates, my core strength has significantly improved.

Before joining, I was also really worried about how my body would react to tosses and falling. During Judo/BJJ classes with Gi, I have successfully learned how to fall properly, roll properly and how to execute it properly on others (I’m not master but I’m learning). Admittedly, I did slam my head on the mat ONCE (and only once so far) but through that I learned how to protect my neck and properly fall back. I definitely have more bruises on a regular basis after the physical contact and falls on the mat as well as some crazy hair afterward, but that doesn’t bother me too much.

The reasons behind starting this might surprise you. I enjoy learning new skills. Moving my body is helpful for my mental health and I really want to learn how to defend myself. Day to day, I manage anxiety and ADHD tendencies. This sport has already helped my mental health by stimulating my mind/body, forcing me to slow down and enhancing my ability to stay calm under pressure. I want to be a person that responds to stress calmly and methodically. No better way to master this than to put it to practice regularly. As a woman, I think learning how to protect myself is a valuable skill and learning how to manage an otherwise scary and stressful situation with focus can be an outcome game changer.

I’m having a lot of fun. The experience has been mentally stimulating. I also enjoy going to class with my husband. We used to go to the gym together multiple times per week when we did CrossFit and/or commercial gyms. Brazilian Jujitsu has been something nice to bring us back together in fitness. He’s been doing this longer than me, granted he had an extended break from MMA. But I have been learning a lot from him.

Right now, I’m taking it day by day based on what my body allows. What helps is that I am able to go at my pace. The community there has been very supportive in meeting me where I’m at. I’m still figuring out my limitations, my capabilities and my strength. But quite frankly, I have surprised myself with my abilities on multiple occasions already.

The future of me and judo/Brazilian jujitsu: You will not catch me competing but you can definitely find me in class at least 2-3x per week. I really enjoy learning techniques with the Gi and without the Gi. Standing judo techniques have also been really cool to learn. Needless to say, I will be sticking with it as long as I can – far surpassing one month. So here’s to starting fresh as a white belt.

A quick note:

hEDS and POTS impact everyone differently. It has affected me my entire life and still does. Not every day is a high impact day for me. It’s important to listen to your body and your physician before trying anything new like this. I don’t share this experience to discourage others or imply that beginning this style of exercise is necessary or safe for all hEDS or POTS. This is my experience and my journey. My doctors are aware of my involvement in this sport. Always remember that these posts are not personalized medical advice.

Thanks for reading!

Crystal McLean

Owner and Dietitian

Thrive Performance and Nutrition LLC