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THE ART. THE CULTURE.
THE JIU-JITSU LIFE.

Medic

Anatomy 101 for the Jiu Jitsu Athlete

Dr. John Park explains the bones, muscles, tendons, cartilage, and ligaments involved in jiu-jitsu, and what happens when these tissues are injured.

Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man illustration used in the original Anatomy 101 article.
Illustration reproduced from Jiu-Jitsu Magazine

Words: Dr. John Park

Master the art of jiu-jitsu and you have mastered the science of anatomy. Understanding how the body moves and knowing what positions make us strong, and our opponents weak, is what jiu-jitsu is all about. Equally important is to know our anatomy and understand the components of the musculoskeletal system. Once we begin to learn how the body moves, and become familiar with the physics of body position and joint mechanics, we will start finding success on the mat.

Skeletal System