A bit of advice really…grappling styles

So technically I'm not new to martial arts…i've trained in taekwondo for two years now. However after picking up a knee injury I'm reconsidering carrying on in this art and maybe looking for something else.

I dislocated my kneecap the middle of last year and I'm still not recovered. I've lost strength in my legs and totally utterly terrified of tkd sparring and breaking. Sometimes the pivoting movements in patterns is enough to make me break out in a cold sweat. I've honestly tried to get past my fears, I've spoken to my physiotherapist and instructor and I just can't seem to get over it yet. It's come to the point i don't enjoy my lessons anymore…firstly I thought it was just an issue with the club and considered going elsewhere…now I realise its mostly my issue. I'm just terrified of my kneecap popping out again (which it probably will at some point).

So I was wondering if maybe giving judo or bjj a go might be ok for my knee…especially if I wore a decent knee brace (one with stiffeners down the sides to hold everything in). I've got a club nearby and have thought about emailing the sensei…but thought I would ask here first if its a totally crazy idea?

 

Both those arts have the potential to be extremely tough on the knees. Personally I injured my knee in BJJ and it took me out of training for a good while.

I think you are best fully rehabbing your injury. Then looking at it with fresh eyes. If it's purely psychological then that's a different story.

 

Thanks for getting back to me, it's a bit of both I think. Just focussing on rebuilding strength in my leg with physio (they're not considering surgery or anything) and they've said I'm ok to train...I just have to be wise about it really. I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place to be honest

 

Sounds like maybe focus on the rehab and you'll feel more confident? Either that or tell the BJJ couch that you are injured and break in very very gently

 

yeah i've got a lot of homework from my physio to be getting on with! I might email the sensei and see what he thinks…nothing to lose I guess!

 

BJJ should be fine, as long as you dont put your own knee in stupid places (good coaching will help) and that you stick to standard IBJJF rules, (which most Gi clubs do for the most part)

Judo can be very rough on the knees.

 

The club i was looking at has jujitsu and judo lessons…just so happens i can only do the days when jujitsu is on…so may take a looky at that.

 

Just to reiterate what frodo said about informing each training partner. That's really important. It doesn't always matter how well you protect your injury if your partner is being careless with it.

 

its been a while but thought i'd give a bit of an update on my situation. In the end I ended up breaking away from tkd. I spoke to my physio a lot and she said tkd was obviously becoming rather disheartening for me. Fast forward to today and i've now been practicing Wing Chun for a couple of months...I can honestly say my knee is the strongest its ever been (since my injury) . I haven't completely given up on tkd yet, I may return in future...however for now I'm enjoying my new found art and progress

 

Excellent news about your knee!

 

Indeed thank you! I'd previously overlooked wing chun as an option (I know it doesn't have the best rep on here from what I've seen) but I found a local school which I liked. I'm studying the ip chun lineage...my sifu's sifu is actually one of a few in the UK to be certified by ip chun I believe

 

SheKicks would you be willing to say who your Sifu is or PM me who it is. Just curious.

I have to agree, Wing Chun in general (and here on MAP) doesn't have the best of reputations. I had some knee problems after overdoing my WSL Ving Tsun training, i had to give myself at least 6-12 months to recover from that, I am now doing White Crane and while i can get alittle bit of knee trouble from time to time, i am generally better than ever overall

 

Actually can't find where to send you a message. My sifu's sifu is shaun rawcliffe. They still go over to Hong Kong to train with ip chun every year I think!

 

i wish you success and enjoyment in Wing Chun, it's a simple martial art but not easy to master. Keep an open mind and you'll be fine.

 

I don;'t thinks that judo or bjj is good for your knee, because this two sports are totally depends on your knee or feet. And these two also require alots of strength.

 

I'd dispute the latter part of your statement - they don't really require lots of strength so much as they benefit from it, but then, so does every other martial art. I've certainly been beaten by smaller, weaker opponents frequently in BJJ and judo and I don't think I'm alone in that. Heck, look at something like Marcelo Garcia vs. Xande Ribeiro - both black belts and authorities in the art, yet Garcia beats him handily.

 

All that starting off on your knees for rolling doesn't look good for the knees. Do any of you BJJ guys train with people who never start that way because of knee problems?

 

Generally people tend to start from combat base or on their butt rather than the knees - especially those with more experience - (although you still see it loads) as those are better positions for stability and attack or to facilitate a quick defensive start, respectively.

No doubt starting in open guardvwoukd beva wise choice if you have knee issues though

 

Both people kneeling is a beginners mistake, it has almost no crossover to competition or real life.

I spent 2 plus years starting from open / butterfly guard and it improved my game no end.