The Clanked Ankle

Have you ever had one of those Jiu-Jitsu nights, where you thought everything was alright, only to sit on the couch later on in total pain?

I didn’t think anything was wrong after class as I was standing in the parking lot chatting with the guys. I didn’t think anything was wrong as I was driving down the road or as I tried to get Laura’s attention because the front door was locked and I couldn’t get in. I probably still don’t think anything is “wrong,” but I’ll tell you, when you hit, or “clank” ankles with someone in class when you’re rolling, it certainly hurts later on that night.

I’m not sure who it was, and I don’t really care because this stuff happens all the time, but whoever it was, they have hard ankles. When I walk around the house, I feel like I want to limp. It’s a bone injury. Ahh, I’ll be over it in a few hours I’m sure.

I just read a funny question on Facebook that was posted by BJJ Legends Magazine. It asked, “Have you ever worn unseasonably warm clothes to cover up random bruises from BJJ?” Too funny.

If you train in BJJ, you probably think that bruises are pretty cool. A ripped up ear – not bad. Some arm injury, yeah, that’s good. No one will see it, but you know it’s there and you know how you got it. It was on that mat, and if that’s the case, it’s good enough for you. But what happens when you want to go food shopping and the fingertip bruises (grippies) are showing on the inside of your arm? You’re wearing that hot 80s tank top and all the black and blue dots lining your bicep kind of stand out. Or what if you’re like me and get all sorts of bruises on your legs and you want to wear shorts? You know, not everyone knows what you do and they’re going to wonder what’s wrong.

I’ve had this conversation with a few guys before. It’s usually right after they start and have had a few rolls. It’s bound to happen – they come in one day, pull me aside and ask, “Hey man, do you ever get bruises from this stuff?” I have to laugh because after I ask, “Where? Inside of your arms and on your thighs?” “Yeah!!! I’ve got black and blue dots all over the place!” I love it. Happens all the time. Some people probably stay quiet, but it’s out there. Just a part of training. I tell the new guys that the “syndrome” only lasts for about a year, then the bruises start to disappear.

Jeff and I talked about this early on as well. He mentioned it, probably after I mentioned it and he said that when he began training, he got all bruised up. Then, after a while they just evaporated. He couldn’t figure out if they had gone because his body had adapted or if he was getting better at avoiding the situations that cause them. He probably still can’t figure it out – either that, or he simply doesn’t think about it anymore.

I wonder if my ankle is going to bruise.