Can You Get Staph from Jiu-Jitsu?

No one wants to get staph or any other type of skin infection, but some activities are more likely to allow these issues to occur than others.

If you train jiu-jitsu, there is a considerable chance that you could experience a staph infection. These infections can vary in severity and can be fatal in some cases. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can keep yourself and your training environment clean so that skin infections are less likely.

Anyone who trains jiu-jitsu should be aware of the risk of contracting a staph infection. That knowledge begins with an understanding of what staph is and why it is so prevalent in the jiu-jitsu community.

What is a Staph Infection?

A staph infection gets its name from the staphylococcus bacteria which causes it. Interestingly, this form of bacteria is often present on an average person’s skin without causing any health complications. However, staph becomes a problem when it begins to enter deeper into our bodies.

When staph travels below the surface of the skin, it can enter the bloodstream, various organs, and the skeletal system and cause complications. After entering the body, staph typically causes symptoms, including boils and other visible red marks on the skin.

In many cases, especially those that receive early treatment, staph causes nothing more than minor skin issues. However, when untreated, staph can develop into something more fatal. For instance, staph can lead to serious conditions such as endocarditis, an infection within the heart that can be fatal.

The go-to treatment for staph is antibiotics, which will resolve the problem in most scenarios. However, some types of staph have become resistant to antibiotics, making treatment far more difficult. With the rise of antibiotic-resistant staph, it becomes all the more important to know how staph can happen during jiu-jitsu and how you can prevent it.

Why is Staph so Common in Jiu-Jitsu?

Staph is common in jiu-jitsu for several important reasons. The first reason is that the intense nature of jiu-jitsu sparring often leads to small cuts and abrasions on the skin. These skin openings give the staph bacteria a chance to enter our bodies, which is when the problems begin.

Second, jiu-jitsu requires close contact with your training partners. Since staph bacteria can live on the skin of otherwise healthy individuals, this close contact makes it relatively easy for those bacteria to travel from one person to another.

Lastly, staph has a strong ability to survive for a while on physical surfaces, such as a jiu-jitsu gym mat. Unclean mats are especially likely to harbor these bacteria, posing a significant risk to anyone who trains on them.  

How to Prevent Skin Infections while Training Jiu-Jitsu

Now that you know both the dangers and the prevalence of staph infections in jiu-jitsu, it’s time you learn a few preventative measures. The staph prevention practices in the sections below should be a regular part of your training routine and are just as important as any other aspect of your jiu-jitsu journey.

Train on Clean Mats

The mats you train on should remain as clean as possible. Generally, it is the responsibility of the gym owner to keep their mats clean. However, since all practitioners benefit from having a clean training environment, it is a good idea to pitch in when it comes time to clean the mats.

You, one of your training partners, or your instructor should clean the mats you train on after every single training session. While this may seem excessive, the risk of staph is too great to neglect cleaning the mats as often as you use them. There are a few ways to clean mats but mopping with some form of disinfectant is the most common approach.

Shower as Soon as Possible

Every practitioner should shower as soon as possible after a training session. Showering just after training not only helps keep you safe from infection but also reduces the odds that you’ll spread an infection to your training partners or your home.

At the very least, you should wash your entire body thoroughly with regular soap. You can also invest in special anti-bacterial soaps to make your cleaning even more effective. Some of these soaps are specifically made to keep grapplers safe from staph, while others are generic over-the-counter products you can find at your local drug store.

Keep Your Training Clothes Clean

Along with showering, you should also take time to wash your clothes thoroughly as well. Again, the sooner you wash your clothing after training, the better.

You should also be sure to wash any items that your training clothes come in contact with. This includes your gym bag and any items inside that may touch your dirty clothes. Since staph can live on surfaces, cleaning your clothes and equipment is as important as cleaning your skin.  

Conclusion

Staph infections are distressing but are also an unfortunate reality of training jiu-jitsu. If you want to avoid staph and other skin-related issues, make sure that you keep yourself, your training clothing, and your training environment as clean as possible. With the right preventative measures in place, you can train jiu-jitsu while minimizing the risks that staph infections will occur in the first place.