Proper MMA Hygiene! 🥊🥋

Hey everyone! I got a request to talk about hygiene in martial arts and MMA—cleaning your equipment, the type of hygiene you need, and how to protect yourself and your teammates from skin infections. We'll touch on grappling, striking, wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and boxing. Let's dive in!

Hygiene for Grappling

Grappling, whether in jiu-jitsu, wrestling, or other forms, requires special attention to cleanliness. Here are some key points:

Wash Your Gear
Gis: If you roll in a gi, it’s essential to wash it after every session. Gis can harbor bacteria, sweat, and even traces of blood.
Clothes: No-gi practitioners should ensure their training clothes are washed just as frequently.

Nail Care

Keep your fingernails and toenails short. Here's why:

Injury Prevention: Short nails reduce the risk of scratching your teammates.
Personal Experience: I've seen injuries where someone got scratched in the eye while rolling. It's upsetting and avoidable.

Remember, keeping nails short is a sign of respect towards your teammates. No one wants to get sidelined by an avoidable injury.

Hygiene for Striking

Striking arts like boxing and kickboxing also demand strict hygiene practices. Here’s what you need to know:

Clean Your Equipment
Spray Your Gear: After every practice, spray your gloves and shin guards with Lysol. This helps to kill bacteria and prevents them from developing a smell.
Regular Deep Cleaning: Once a month, drench your gear with Lysol and let it air dry for a night or two.
Hand Wraps: Wash your hand wraps at least every couple of weeks. More often if you sweat a lot.

Glove Maintenance
Frequency of Replacement: Training 4-5 days a week means you'll need new gloves every six months to a year.
Spray with Lysol: As mentioned, always spray them down after use.

Different Gloves for Different Roles:
Sparring Gloves: 16oz gloves are recommended for sparring.
Drills and Bag Work: Use lighter gloves, like 10 or 12 oz, for partner drills and bag work.

Personal Hygiene Tips

Showers and Soap
Post-Training Showers: Always shower after training, especially grappling. You're exchanging a lot of sweat and bacteria.
Use Antibacterial Soap: This reduces the risk of infections such as staph and ringworm.

If you train martial arts long enough, you’re probably going to get staph or ringworm or some kind of skin issue. It just comes with the territory, especially with grappling.

Special Soap Option
For those extra cautious or training in environments that are not as clean, a product called Hibiclens could be a game-changer. It’s a type of surgical soap that kills more germs, helping prevent staph, ringworm, and other infections.

Regular Gear Maintenance
Rotation of Gear: Switching between multiple sets of gloves and hand wraps ensures you always have a clean pair available.
Routine Cleaning: Consistency in cleaning helps maintain gear and keeps it from developing unpleasant odors.

Basic Hygiene Checklist

Nails: Short and clean
Showers: Frequent and using antibacterial soap
Equipment: Regularly sprayed with Lysol
Gear Replacement: Every 6 months to a year
Hand Wraps: Clean and rotated

Pro Tips and Final Thoughts

Cutting nails, taking showers, spraying and cleaning your equipment—these might seem basic, but they’re crucial to maintaining good hygiene in martial arts. Not only do these practices keep you safe from infections, but they also show respect to your training partners.

Quick Tip Recap
Spray gloves and shin guards with Lysol daily.
Deep clean gear monthly.
Shower immediately after training with antibacterial soap.
Consider surgical soaps like Hibiclens for an extra level of cleanliness.
Rotate gloves and hand wraps to prevent overuse and ensure cleanliness.

Community and Respect
It's essential to remember that maintaining good hygiene practices is also about community respect. Keeping yourself clean means keeping your teammates safe and the training environment pleasant.

Feel free to leave any questions or topics you'd like me to cover in the comments below. If you're new to martial arts and looking for a gym, you can check out my book, "The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Martial Arts School and Instructor." 

Thank you all and stay clean out there!