{"id":20213,"date":"2023-09-07T18:35:25","date_gmt":"2023-09-07T23:35:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/?p=20213"},"modified":"2023-11-28T13:31:27","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T19:31:27","slug":"how-to-prevent-mat-burn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/how-to-prevent-mat-burn\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Prevent Mat Burn In BJJ"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019ve grappled more than a few times, you likely know what mat burn is. The red blistering skin is usually not a big deal, but it\u2019s painful, uncomfortable, and prone to infections, so preventing it in the first place is the best course of action. Mat burn is caused by friction between the skin and the abrasive mats, so how do you prevent it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mat burn can be prevented by using the right apparel for BJJ, like a Gi and rash guard, so you have little open skin. For the feet, which are the most commonly injured area, you can use Vaseline, tape, and liquid bandages to protect the skin<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mat burn is treatable and preventable, and knowing how to do both takes little time and effort while saving you unnecessary suffering, so I recommend you to continue reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>What Is Mat Burn in BJJ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mat burn is a widespread minor injury in jiu-jitsu and other grappling martial arts. Mat burn affects the skin and is caused by friction between the skin and the mat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the same way, you can get rope burn, the mats can wound the skin. The material of the mats is usually relatively rough and textured to provide grip, which makes it ideal for burning tender skin that is not used to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mat burns usually damage the outermost layer of the skin and are characterized by redness, pain, swelling, and blistering. Every body part can become mat-burned, but for most jiu-jitsu practitioners, the toes and tops of the feet suffer the most. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often, rolling starts on the knees, and you need to drag your feet, which can scrape them. The other super-common cause of burns on the feet is the wrestling penetration step, which by design includes a slide with the foot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beginners get mat burn more often for two reasons. First, they are not as efficient in their movements and often slide around more than is necessary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, their skin hasn’t roughened enough to the point where the friction of the mat is no longer an issue. Both of the reasons are quickly resolved automatically with practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The more exposed skin there is, the higher the chance of mat burns, so no-gi practitioners have much more to worry about than their gi colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mat burns are usually not a big problem, but they are unpleasant and, if left untreated, can lead to complications. Like everything else, prevention is the best medicine, so we start with preventing mat burns before learning how to treat them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Prevent Mat Burn<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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There is no way to prevent all possible mat burns, or you will have to roll in a foam suit. But there are things you can do and gear to use that drastically reduce the chances. The solution will be different depending on where you usually get the burn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A comforting fact I can share with you is that the skin gradually calluses up, and eventually, mat burs will stop appearing as your skin gets used to the friction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adjust Your Training<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Adjust your training and movements if you get frequent mat burns in the same spot. If you have burns on your feet from penetration steps, stop doing them until your skin heals. If it’s on another spot, do what you can to reduce dragging and sliding on the mat, which is ultimately the reason for the burns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the burn is nasty, you can skip the drills requiring you to be in positions that aggravate it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use Tape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Athletic tape is a trusted friend of most BJJ practitioners and comes to rescue on multiple occasions, including in the battle against mat burns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t hold the illusion a simple band-aid will do. It will be gone the first minute of rolling, so you need to tape your feet thoroughly to ensure the tape stays in place. Here is an excellent instruction on how to tape your feet:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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