Skip to article

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

How To

Quick Tips: Clean Training, Better Habits

Practical habits for training hygiene, nail care, thinking ahead, and building a useful, responsibly shared learning library.

A chess knight illustrating the idea of thinking ahead in grappling.
Original magazine illustration.

Words: JJM Staff

Small habits do not replace technical practice, but they can make the academy a safer, more useful place to train. This quick-tips column covers hygiene, thinking ahead, sharing learning resources, and caring for the hands we use every round.

Keep hygiene practical

Shower after training, wash training clothes and towels, avoid sharing towels or bar soap, and pay attention to cuts or suspicious skin changes. Cover wounds appropriately and follow medical and academy guidance about when to stay off the mat.

The print column's suggestion that athletes should avoid showering before training is not retained as a health rule. Cleanliness is important; a claim about preserving skin bacteria is not a reason to discourage it. CDC guidance specifically recommends showering immediately after exercise.