The Biggest Mistake After ACL Surgery: Returning to Leg Locks Too Early

Jiu jitsu injuries, BJJ injury prevention, jiu jitsu rehab, ACL tears in jiu jitsu, and combat sports injuries are some of the biggest challenges grapplers face. Most jiu jitsu athletes get injured the same way: they ignore the warning signs, rush their comeback, or train through pain until something finally breaks.

As an Army orthopedic sports surgeon and jiu-jitsu black belt, I see this every day.

In this episode of the Doctor Jiu Jitsu Podcast, I sit down with my friend Mike Piekarski, PT, DPT, BJJ black belt (Dr. Kickass) to break down what combat athletes get wrong about injuries, rehab, and recovery.

We talk about why jiu jitsu injuries are different from traditional sports injuries, how rehab should actually be structured, and why many athletes return to the mats too early and end up reinjuring themselves.

We also dive into real examples like ACL tears from leg locks, how to safely return to training after surgery, and the biggest mistakes athletes make when trying to push through injuries.

If you train jiu jitsu, MMA, wrestling, or any combat sport, understanding how to train smarter and recover properly can be the difference between staying on the mats for decades or burning out from injuries.

My goal is simple: help combat athletes stay healthy, train longer, and perform better.

Find Mike on Instagram: @doctor_kickass
Subscribe for more episodes on combat sports injuries, recovery, and performance.

Timestamps:

00:56 – Why Jiu Jitsu Rehab Is Different From Other Sports
02:04 – The Movement Demands of Jiu Jitsu Athletes
03:25 – When Athletes Should Return to Sport After ACL Surgery
04:18 – Rebuilding Confidence After Leg Lock Injuries
07:29 – Mike’s Journey From Fighter to Physical Therapist
11:50 – The Biggest Mistake Injured Jiu-Jitsu Athletes Make
19:53 – Recovery, Overtraining, and Using HRV Data
24:57 – Dangerous Positions That Cause BJJ Injuries
33:22 – Warmups That Actually Prevent Injuries
42:21 – The One Rule Every Grappler Should Follow for Longevity