Without a doubt the most important thing for children in sports is fitness. This goes whether they’re enrolled in Jiu-Jitsu, football, soccer, Karate, or any other sport. This article will be all about safety when your child is working out. After all, what’s the point of improving your fitness level if you’re too injured to enjoy it? Also, remember, here at Sampa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, your child’s fitness is our number one priority. Nothing comes before it. Now that that’s out of the way, here are some tips to ensure your child has a safe experience in the world of sports:
1.) Wear protective gear
Protective gear is anything you wear that helps keep you from getting hurt. The gear you wear depends on the sport you play. Some sports require eye protection, mouth guards, pads, wrist, elbow, and knee guards, and a protective cup (for boys) – many of these same protective items can be used to protect your child in a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class as well. And don’t forget your feet. Cleats are worn in football, baseball, softball, and soccer. Protective fabric can be worn around the ankle to minimize the risk of injury in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Most shoes have special rubber or plastic points on the soles to help your feet grip the ground when you run around.
2.) Warm-up
It’s not a good idea to just bolt on to the field and start playing. You shouldn’t even start stretching until you’re a little warmed up. So take a light jog to get loosened up and ready to play. This is why we do quite a few warm-ups here at Sampa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu prior to taking to the mat. Doing some stretching also can get you prepared to hit the field (or the mat). By warming up, you get yourself ready to play. Warming up your muscles and practicing a sport help keep you safe, too. Warm-ups that last 15 to 30 minutes and include slow, gradual stretching help lengthen your muscles and increase your blood flow and muscle temperature. That way, your muscles are ready to go and are much less likely to get hurt.
3.) Know (and observe) the rules
Traffic lights at intersections help prevent crashes between the many cars and trucks that drive on the roads together. This works because drivers know the rules and follow them — at least most of the time. It’s the same way with sports. When players know the rules of the game — what’s legal and what’s not — fewer injuries happen. You and the other players know what to expect from each other. For instance, you know that in soccer you can’t come from behind, crash into a player’s legs, and steal the ball. It’s legal — and safer — to go after the ball rather than the player. It’s the same with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. If you observe the rules (which are mostly put there for safety), you can minimize your chances for injury. This is a positive thing. With sports that use plays, it helps to understand the plays and what your role is in each one. Being where you’re supposed to be can help you stay out of harm’s way, too.
4.) Don’t play when you’re injured
This is a really important one. If you love sports, it’s tempting to get right back in the game, even after an injury. But playing when you’re hurt — or before an injury has had a chance to fully heal — is a bad idea. It can lead to an even worse injury, one that might sideline you for a long time. Be honest with parents and coaches if you’ve been hurt. See a doctor for your injuries, when necessary, and follow his or her advice about how and when to return to practice and play. In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, it’s very important to recognize an injury and immediately cease putting strain on it – it could make the injury much worse than it ever would have been.
If this didn’t get you pumped up to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, I don’t know what would! Luckily for you, we here at Sampa BJJ have the perfect solution: Come try out our Free 30 Day Trial! We’re dedicated to teaching you the wonderful art of Jiu-Jitsu and there’s no downside. If you don’t see any progress or you’re not satisfied with the training in anyway, you have absolutely no obligation to us. There’s no deposits, no squabbling on our part, and we’re very friendly people. You have nothing to lose. Begin your 30-Day Free Trial today!
