If you’ve been grappling for a while then the chances are you will have used knee pads, or at least know of people who use them. This is because grappling can be hard on the knees and can cause inflammation in the joints. In time this can even result in arthritis so it’s something which should be taken seriously. Because of this, knee pain is one of the most common injuries in BJJ. As a result, many practitioners consider using knee pads which are effective in relieving the pain and make training easier.
Table of Contents
McDavid Knee pad with thick gel insert
McDavid has been a longtime manufacturer of knee pads and they are usually on the cheaper side of things. However, this does not mean low quality. These knee pads are easy to wear and non-intrusive. In short, they are effective in delivering pain-free training. However, it should be added that the thick gel insert isn’t the thickest. This means the McDavid’s would be ideal for grapplers with minor knee injuries, but may not mask the pain enough for those with more serious pains.
Venum Kontact Evo Knee pad
Venum is another brand with a long history associated with BJJ. Because of this, you know there will be some level of quality involved to uphold their reputation. The Evo knee pad also uses a thick gel insert to protect the knee. However, it is slightly thicker than the previous McDavid pad. Having said this, it is priced slightly higher – but is still affordable. Not only this, but the Venum Evo also has a small gel insert below the main knee cap. This means support towards your Tibia and Patellar tendon and not just the main knee cap.
Shock Doctor Knee brace
The Shock Doctor knee brace is designed for grapplers with more serious knee injuries. As this is a brace and not a pad, it is more invasive but arguably more protective than most knee pads. This means it has thicker protection covering not only the knee but the surrounding areas. It is also strapped on by velcro which means it’s less likely to slip off during sparring.
The only issue with the Shock Doctor is that it may be difficult to put tight Gi pants on over it, so it’s more realistic for Nogi training with shorts. It is also more expensive than the other options but it is probably the best option for those with serious knee injuries.
Sable Knee brace support compression sleeves
These are neither knee pads nor braces, but nonetheless, compression sleeves can be equally as important. For those with very minor knee pains, compression sleeves are the least cumbersome and will easily fit under your Gi pants. Whilst the gel insert is minimal, it does enough to offer some protection if falling onto your knees so it does have some uses. As this is the cheapest item on the list, it is a possible option for BJJ players who are on a budget.
RDX Knee support brace protector
The RDX knee support protectors are excellent value for money and are at the mid-end of the market in terms of price. However, in terms of quality, they offer a lot. The good thing about the RDX’s is that the gel insert is very thick. This means you can soak up a lot of pressure through the padding and not worry about the consequences. The only negative is they may be tough to get Gi pants over. However, it’s still doable and easily applied in spats or shorts whilst training Nogi.
Velpeau Knee brace
Another contender for the best knee pad is the Valpeau knee brace. This brace is thinner than the Shock Doctor but is also designed well and significantly cheaper. The benefit of the Velpeau brace is that it has built-in gel which targets the Patela as well as side stabilizers which protects the ligaments on the side of your knee. Whilst this brace isn’t as thick as others, it offers stability which is important if you need to keep your knee as straight as possible whilst training.
G-Form Pro X2 Knee pad
Whilst these are some of the more expensive pads on the market, they’re also high quality. The G-Form’s have a plastic outer layer on top of the compression sleeves. Bear in mind, these are mostly used in other sports, they can still be used in BJJ. However, one issue is that you don’t want to hit your training partners with your knee whilst wearing these as it may cause extra pain. Having said this, if the aim is to protect your knees then these will do the job.
McDavid Bionic Knee brace
The most expensive option on the list, the McDavid Bionic knee brace is another brace option for those with more serious knee issues. The knee brace is big and bulky but definitely does the job when protecting every aspect of your knee. Like other braces, it may feel a bit awkward under Gi pants but is perfect for Nogi grappling. Made of sturdy stuff, it’s designed to specifically support the ACL and MCL so may be a good option if you’re specifically struggling in those areas of the knee.
Bodyprox Protective Knee pads
A cheaper option, the Bodyprox Protective knee pads are cheap and do what they’re meant too. With a good layer of thick gel to protect the knee, they are another good option for grapplers on a budget. These are also designed to avoid slipping down the knee which can happen with some brands whilst training. With this said, it’s good to have peace of mind when training and not having to worry about pulling up your knee pads every 5 minutes.
Adidas Knee pads
These are fairly expensive for what they are when compared to the alternative McDavid and Bodyprox knee pads. However, they are solid enough and with Adidas you know the quality will be decent. Again, these aren’t invasive and do the job. There’s also a generous amount of padding which covers the entire knee.
Long sleeve Cantop Knee pads
These are a little different and as they are both knee pads but can also be used as compression sleeves. With a large amount of sleeve, these cover beyond the thigh and reach down to the middle of the shin. With this in mind, these are a good option to keep warm during winter. In terms of knee protection, they’re thick enough over the knee with generous padding.
Asics Reversible knee pads
These are basic enough in their design and function. However, they are also reversible which can be quite handy. Sometimes knee pads can get damaged or frayed whilst being washed. As a result, they may lose some of their protection over time. However, being reversible means you may get more shelf-life out of these Asics knee pads which last a long time.
NoCry Professional Knee pads
The NoCry professionals are effective in covering the knee. These pads don’t slip and serve their purpose of protecting the knee. At the mid-price range they are good enough and are light to wear whilst training. That said, they are pretty heavy duty and probably not great for BJJ. That being said if you have bad pains in your knees, these may be necessary.
Common knee injuries whilst training BJJ
Sadly, when training BJJ you will get injuries. This is the nature of any combat sport. Furthermore, it seems that the knees are one of the most common injuries due to their naturally fragile nature. Generally speaking, there are three main ways to injure your knee in BJJ.
The first way is by having someone’s weight land on you. Typically, this happens when you’re sparring takedowns. If your knee is in a stress position and someone lands on it awkwardly, this can easily break your leg. This can also happen from sweeps as well.
The second way is when applying submissions. There are countless videos of people breaking knee ligaments due to heel hook submissions. Similarly, kneebars, aoki locks, and even toe holds can snap the tendons in your knee. Always remember to practice caution and tap early when it comes to leg locks.
The last way is due to sheer bad luck or naivety. You may do a seemingly ‘safe’ move such as a bridge and blow out your knee. More commonly, some people naturally put their knees in bad positions for reasons such as finishing triangles or trying to retain guard. This can also badly damage your knees.
Do knee pads work for BJJ?
It’s fair to say that knee pads do indeed work when training BJJ. Of course, this doesn’t mean that they’re a silver bullet either. For instance, if you have a torn ACL then you may require surgery and it may take months or even years to fully heal. This doesn’t mean you can put a knee pad on and suddenly roll like normal.
On the other hand, knee pads are great if you’re coming back from injury as they provide another layer of protection. Due to compressing the knee, it will minimize your movements a little and make everything a bit safer. Similarly, if you have an ache or pain in the area which isn’t anything major, then once again knee pads play their role and can stop things getting worse. Due to their fairly low cost, it’s a no brainer for a grappler to own a knee pad if you’re serious about training for the long-term.
Summary
Overall, there are hundreds of knee pads out there to choose from. However, we feel that these are the best in both brands and value for money. Problems such as slipping down whilst training and disintegration during washing won’t really be found with these models and they have been battle tested in the gym. From McDavid to Asics, there is a good variety for those with niggling knee injuries to those with more chronic knee pains from years of BJJ training.
