🩹

BJJ Injury Prevention

Stay on the mat by bulletproofing your joints. These prehab exercises strengthen the knees, shoulders, fingers, and ankles that take the most punishment during BJJ training.

36 Exercises
18 Equipment Types

By Difficulty

★☆☆☆☆
27
Level 1
★★☆☆☆
6
Level 2
★★★☆☆
2
Level 3
★★★★☆
1
Level 4
★★★★★
0
Level 5

All Injury Prevention Exercises sorted by difficulty

External Rotation with Band

External rotation with a resistance band strengthens the rotator cuff muscles that protect the shoul...

★☆☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 15-20 reps per arm
resistance band

Internal Rotation with Band

Internal rotation with a resistance band strengthens the subscapularis, which is the primary interna...

★☆☆☆☆ 3 sets / 15-20 reps per arm
resistance band

Terminal Knee Extension

Terminal knee extension (TKE) with a band strengthens the VMO (vastus medialis oblique) muscle that ...

★☆☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 15-20 reps per leg
resistance bandpost

Step-Up

The step-up strengthens the quadriceps and glutes in a single-leg pattern that builds knee stability...

★☆☆☆☆ 3 sets / 10-12 reps per leg
plyo box or bench

Wall Sit

The wall sit is an isometric quadriceps exercise that builds knee stability and muscular endurance w...

★☆☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 30-60 seconds
wall

Clamshell

The clamshell exercise strengthens the gluteus medius by opening the knees apart while lying on your...

★☆☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 15-20 reps per side
none

Monster Walk

The monster walk involves walking sideways with a resistance band around the knees or ankles, target...

★☆☆☆☆ 2-3 sets / 10-15 steps each direction
resistance band

Finger Taping Protocol

Proper finger taping technique provides external support to the finger joints stressed by gi grippin...

★☆☆☆☆ As needed / Before each training session
athletic tape

Side-Lying Hip Abduction

Side-lying hip abduction lifts the top leg toward the ceiling while lying on your side, targeting th...

★☆☆☆☆ 3 sets / 15-20 reps per side
none

Y-T-W-L Shoulder Protocol

The Y-T-W-L protocol is a series of four arm positions performed lying face down that activate all a...

★☆☆☆☆ 2-3 rounds / 8-10 reps per position
none

Knee Circles

Knee circles gently mobilize the knee joint by moving it through circular motions while standing wit...

★☆☆☆☆ 2 sets / 10-15 circles each direction
none

Lateral Band Walk

The lateral band walk maintains tension on the hip abductors throughout the stepping motion, buildin...

★☆☆☆☆ 2-3 sets / 10-15 steps each direction
resistance band

Scapular Push-Up

Scapular push-ups involve protracting and retracting the shoulder blades from a push-up position wit...

★☆☆☆☆ 3 sets / 12-15 reps
none

Posterior Tibialis Strengthening

Posterior tibialis strengthening targets the muscle that supports the arch of the foot and controls ...

★☆☆☆☆ 3 sets / 15-20 reps per foot
resistance band

Single-Leg Balance

Single-leg balance training develops the proprioception and stabilizer muscle activation needed for ...

★☆☆☆☆ 3 sets / 30-45 seconds per leg
none

Shoulder I-Y-T Raise

The I-Y-T raise protocol performed prone or standing with light weights activates the lower trapeziu...

★☆☆☆☆ 2-3 sets / 8-10 reps per position
light dumbbells (optional)

Foam Roll Lower Back

Foam rolling the muscles surrounding the lower back, including the erectors and QLs, helps relieve t...

★☆☆☆☆ 2 sets / 60-90 seconds per area
foam roller

Banded Hip Flexion

Banded hip flexion strengthens the hip flexors through their full range against band resistance. Str...

★☆☆☆☆ 3 sets / 12-15 reps per leg
resistance bandanchor point

Wrist Roller for Rehab

Using a light wrist roller for rehabilitation focuses on restoring wrist and forearm function after ...

★☆☆☆☆ 2-3 sets / 2-3 complete rolls
wrist roller with light weight

Prone Y Raise

The prone Y raise targets the lower trapezius by lifting the arms in a Y-shape while lying face down...

★☆☆☆☆ 3 sets / 10-12 reps
none

Thoracic Spine Foam Roll

Foam rolling the thoracic spine improves mid-back extension and reduces the rounded posture from gra...

★☆☆☆☆ 2-3 passes / 5-6 extensions per segment
foam roller

Wrist Strengthening Protocol

A comprehensive wrist strengthening protocol combines flexion, extension, and rotation exercises in ...

★☆☆☆☆ 2 rounds / Full protocol per round
light dumbbellsrubber band

Piriformis Release

Piriformis release uses a lacrosse ball or foam roller to apply pressure to the piriformis muscle de...

★☆☆☆☆ 2-3 minutes / Per side
lacrosse ball

Scapular Retraction

Scapular retraction exercises strengthen the rhomboids and middle trapezius by squeezing the shoulde...

★☆☆☆☆ 3-4 sets / 12-15 reps
none

Banded Good Morning

The banded good morning uses a resistance band to load the hip hinge pattern with accommodating resi...

★☆☆☆☆ 2-3 sets / 12-15 reps
resistance band

Quadruped Fire Hydrant

The fire hydrant exercise opens the hip out to the side from an all-fours position, targeting the gl...

★☆☆☆☆ 2-3 sets / 12-15 reps per side
none

Neck Isometric Four-Way Protocol

This comprehensive protocol performs isometric neck holds in all four directions (front, back, left,...

★☆☆☆☆ 3 rounds / 10-second hold per direction
none

Eccentric Calf Raise

Eccentric calf raises emphasize the lowering phase on the edge of a step, building tendon resilience...

★★☆☆☆ 3 sets / 12-15 reps per leg
step or stair

Hamstring Bridge March

The hamstring bridge march combines a glute bridge with alternating leg lifts, challenging single-le...

★★☆☆☆ 3 sets / 10-12 marches per leg
none

Banded Shoulder Distraction

Banded shoulder distraction uses a heavy resistance band to create traction in the shoulder joint, d...

★★☆☆☆ 2-3 sets / 30-45 seconds per shoulder
heavy resistance bandsquat rack

Ankle Stability Circle

Ankle stability circles involve standing on one foot and drawing circles with the free foot, challen...

★★☆☆☆ 2-3 sets / 10-15 circles each direction per leg
none

IT Band Foam Roll

Foam rolling the structures around the IT band, including the vastus lateralis and tensor fasciae la...

★★☆☆☆ 2 sets / 60-90 seconds per leg
foam roller

Cuban Rotation

The Cuban rotation combines an upright row with an external rotation, working the entire rotator cuf...

★★☆☆☆ 3 sets / 8-10 reps
light dumbbells

Single-Leg Squat to Box

The single-leg squat to a box develops controlled single-leg strength while building knee stability....

★★★☆☆ 3 sets / 6-8 reps per leg
box or bench Warm-up needed

Hip Airplane

The hip airplane is an advanced single-leg balance exercise where you rotate the torso open and clos...

★★★☆☆ 2-3 sets / 6-8 rotations per leg
none Warm-up needed

Nordic Hamstring Curl

The Nordic hamstring curl is an eccentric-focused exercise that builds hamstring strength in the len...

★★★★☆ 3-4 sets / 3-6 reps
partner or anchor point Warm-up needed

Track Your Injury Prevention

Log your injury prevention sessions alongside your BJJ training. MatTime gives you a complete picture of your athletic development.

Download on the
App Store

Explore Other Categories