An odd incident occurred during a recent Brazilian jiu-jitsu match that has gone viral on social media. In a video clip from the match, two competitors in gi’s – one wearing white and the other black – can be seen grappling intensely on the mat.
The athlete in the black gi gained a dominant position, locking in a tight leg scissor choke on his opponent. The choke gradually rendered the white gi competitor unconscious, prompting the referee to stop the match and declare the black gi athlete the winner.
However, the drama was just beginning. As the referee leaned over to check on the unconscious competitor, he suddenly regained consciousness and violently tackled the official to the mat. Appearing confused, the formerly slept athlete looked poised to attempt a submission on the referee.
His victorious opponent, likely stunned himself, ultimately intervened by tapping the disoriented athlete to bring him back to reality. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured in the bizarre scene.
While highly unusual, incidents like this are not unprecedented in combat sports like BJJ, boxing, and mixed martial arts. When an athlete gets choked unconscious, their brain can experience temporary oxygen deprivation, leading to an altered mental state upon regaining awareness.
Despite sometimes comedic appearances, these post-unconsciousness episodes are simply the byproduct of athletes pushing their minds and bodies to the extremes of competition. They do not reflect the true character or intentions of the athletes involved.
The viral clip has certainly provided the BJJ world with a memorable, if somewhat disturbing, reminder of the unexpected twists and turns that can arise from the intensity of combat sports competition.
