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Does Jiu Jitsu cause brain damage?

Author

Daniel Moore

Published Jan 13, 2026

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) athletes may be at less risk of causing long-lasting injury to the brain than has previously been feared, new research has revealed. BJJ is a popular martial art that exposes participants to recurrent intermittent asphyxiation due to controlled application of neck chokes.

Does Jiu-Jitsu give brain damage?

As a grappling sport, BJJ puts practitioners at risk for incurring a sports-related concussion. In this retrospective survey, 25.2% of BJJ practitioners report having a concussion while engaging in BJJ in their lifetime.

Is Jiu-Jitsu good for the brain?

The study had come to a very interesting conclusion – BJJ athletes had a higher resting blood flow to the brain and in-tact cognitive function leading us to the conclusion that BJJ practitioners may be at less risk of brain injury than previously thought.

Can you get CTE from Jiu-Jitsu?

CTE has also been found in amateur wrestlers, so no impacts to the head does not always mean no CTE. BJJ is a niche sport, and relatively new. CTE can only be diagnosed posthumously. These things make it unlikely for anyone in the medical research community to try to find out whether BJJ alone can result in CTE.

Can you get brain damage from martial arts?

Actually, the sports and fighting styles that cause the brain damage topic to be researched more and more are almost never Eastern martial arts. Western ones like boxing, kickboxing, and sometimes even wrestling are some of the worst offenders in this category.

18 related questions found

Which martial art does not cause brain damage?

Judo. It makes you strong and learns you usefull self defense techniques. It is a nice sport and you can't get bad injuries if your practice it safe.

What is the most brutal martial art?

Deadliest martial arts in the world are Krav Maga, Line, Rough and Tumble, Ninjutsu, Vale Tudo, Bacom, Eskrima, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai (Thai Boxing), Silat, Kung Fu, Taekwondo, MCMAP, Karate, and Sambo.

Does BJJ cause cauliflower ears?

Cauliflower ear is a condition commonly found in wrestlers. Since there are many parallels between wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu, cauliflower ears can often be found in Jiu-Jitsu athletes. Some find the condition repulsive. Some accept it as a harsh reality of the sport.

Why you should try jiu-jitsu?

BJJ boosts your fitness and works for all body types. It provides the requisite strength to attain your desired skill and fitness level. Workout sessions are fun-filled and engaging. Brazilian jiu-jitsu gets you in shape as you learn effective life-saving skills.

Is BJJ safe to learn?

Thus, you can spend more time learning BJJ without getting hurt. The research performed by the SAGE journals showed us that BJJ is the safest fighting style compared to the other combat arts such as taekwondo or wrestling.

Does BJJ increase testosterone?

The combative and competitive experiences of BJJ are likely to increase levels of testosterone (T) in many people's bodies.

Does Jiu Jitsu boost testosterone?

2: It helps your body produce more Testosterone. All the sweating, straining, taxes your body forcing you to become stronger. Eventually increasing your overall Testosterone level. With a higher Testosterone level you will have more muscle mass.

Does Jiu Jitsu release oxytocin?

The intense training experience of BJJ results in a powerful release of oxytocin. Oxytocin is linked with empathy. It helps people connect with each other. It is the biological reason why students in BJJ class often form friendships quickly and easily.

Does judo cause brain damage?

Especially, cerebral concussions have often occurred in judo athletes. Pieter estimated the rate of cerebral concussions in young judo athletes as 2.38/1000 male athlete exposure and 2.92/1000 female athlete exposure. Furthermore, unfortunately, severe head injuries have often occurred in judo.

How does jiu-jitsu change your life?

It's a passion and a lifelong journey of learning – not just techniques and submissions, but also life lessons. That's why those who train BJJ often take what they've learned on the mats and apply it to everyday life. BJJ enables a smaller person to overcome a bigger, stronger opponent.

What is CTE in the brain?

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is the term used to describe brain degeneration likely caused by repeated head traumas.

Does Jiu Jitsu make you smarter?

Jiu Jitsu creates an environment where you're able to concentrate. Over time, you improve your focus and attention. Eventually, you can take your ability to work with a clear mind off of the mats and into other areas of your life – at home, in relationships, and at work.

What does BJJ teach mentally?

Every time you step on the mat you are going to be challenged mentally, physically, and socially. That's how BJJ helps you gain confidence, focus, and discipline. 4) Develops problem solving and critical thinking skills. BJJ teaches very intricate moves that help develop problem solving and critical thinking skills.

Does Jiu Jitsu help in a street fight?

BJJ can work in a street fight when faced with just one attacker but is rarely helpful against multiple. The techniques you can learn in BJJ are highly effective for taking down a single opponent, controlling them, and convincing them to give up through submission and chokeholds.

Should I squeeze cauliflower ear?

Over the course of the next 2-4 days, that fluid will clot and calcify, and turn into what is known as cauliflower ear--a rock hard lump where that fluid-filled pocket used to be. To prevent cauliflower ear, the cavity will need to be drained, and then compressed to prevent refilling.

How long until cauliflower ear hardens?

Some important facts about the auricular hematoma (or “Cauliflower Ear”), and challenges you face in keeping your ears healthy and happy: It can take 5 to 10 days for a fluid filled ear to harden. It takes up to 8 weeks for the perichondrium to permanently attach to the cartilage surface.

Why Jiu Jitsu fighters have weird ears?

Cauliflower ear/BJJ ear is a grappling related injury that can happen to individuals that train/compete in combat sports as well as other sports such as rugby. When the ear is struck hard enough the skin and cartilage separate causing the ear to swell up.

What is the strongest fighting style?

First developed for the Israeli Defence Force, Krav Maga is the world's most effective and dangerous form of combat and is known as a non-sport form of martial arts.

What is the hardest martial art to master?

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is considered to be the most difficult martial art to learn. Even to athletic students, mastering this discipline is unlikely to come easy. But the difficulty of learning Jiu Jitsu is attractive to many students.

What is the deadliest martial art move?

The reverse neck choke, commonly known as the sleeper hold, is one of the most well known and dangerous attacks in all of martial arts.