In a recent social media post, Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Tom DeBlass shared crucial hygiene advice for practitioners, highlighting a serious health concern in grappling sports.
“Mat knowledge, if you happen to get cold sores on your mouth or face, DO NOT TRAIN DURING AN OUTBREAK,”
DeBlass emphasized. He explained that these conditions are highly contagious and can easily spread to training partners.
This warning comes amid growing discussions about hygiene standards in martial arts academies. Former ONE Championship athlete Mikey Musumeci previously addressed similar concerns, stating,
“I’ve been to some gyms where guys clearly haven’t showered in days. You can smell them from across the mat. It’s nasty and completely unacceptable.”
The issue of mat-transmitted infections remains a significant concern in grappling communities. Medical experts note that close contact during training sessions creates an ideal environment for viral transmission.
“The amount of guys who train with sores, illnesses, and rashes is mind boggling to me,”
DeBlass noted, expressing frustration at practitioners who disregard basic hygiene protocols.
Parents have also voiced their concerns. Grace Shine, a concerned parent, commented on DeBlass’s post, expressing hesitation about letting her daughter participate despite the child’s interest in the sport.
Experts recommend that academies implement strict hygiene policies, including regular mat sanitization and mandatory health checks. Musumeci suggests that gym owners should
“set clear expectations about hygiene” and make regularly washing gis, clipping nails, and showering before class basic requirements.
“Some people need to be told point blank that their hygiene is unacceptable. It isn’t fair to anyone else at the gym,”
Musumeci added, emphasizing the collective responsibility of maintaining a clean training environment.
