Let’s face it, training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu isn’t exactly a hygienic activity and it is often associated with bacterial diseases such as ringworm, acne and staph infections. With this in mind, it goes without saying that hygiene is key. This isn’t just out of respect towards your own body either – it also applies to your training partners as well. Sadly, applying a quick spray of deodorant after training doesn’t quite cut it either!
Having said this, there are some rare cases where people just can’t shower after training. This could be a one-off where you’ve got to be somewhere quickly, but for some people it’s actually a common scenario – where they have to get off to work immediately, and their gym doesn’t have showers installed. Whether you should be training under these circumstances is up to you – but thankfully there are a few things you can do to clean yourself after training BJJ (provided you don’t have access to a shower).
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Use a cloth to give yourself a quick wash
Even if you’re the busiest person in the world – you should still be able to give yourself a quick wash with a cloth or flannel. This means carrying one to the gym, just like you would with a towel. After you’ve trained, quickly find a private place (preferably in the bathroom on a quiet spot in the changing room) and wipe your key areas with your cloth (make sure to apply water beforehand). This should mean your private parts, armpits, behind your knees, and your face.
Once wet, then put some soap on the cloth then apply it to the same areas. Then, wash the soap off by using a separate wet flannel that doesn’t have soap on it. Once this is done, you should have cleaned certain parts of your body. Although you’ll still be dirty in places, it’s at least something compared to completely neglecting your hygiene altogether.
Carry sanitizer with you
On a similar note, you can apply sanitizer to certain body parts as well. When thinking about sanitizer, most people think about applying it to their hands. However, this is only one aspect of using it. Like soap, you can also put it on areas of your body and it will protect your skin from getting infections. Remember, nothing beats having a shower – however this is at least better than nothing.
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Use anti-bacterial wipes
One of the best ways to clean yourself without showering is using anti-bacterial wipes. You may have heard of these, with brands such as ‘Dude Wipes’ and others. Basically, these have anti-bacterial properties that are in-built into the wipes. Therefore, you’re not just wiping body parts – but every time you wipe, you’re also adding a layer of protection.
If you do use anti-bacterial wipes, remember not to use the same wipe for every body part. For instance, if you’ve just wiped your groin, it would then be pretty gross to apply the same wipe to your face. Although this may seem like common sense to some, it may not be for others.
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Other ways to stay clean whilst training
Aside from the fact that training BJJ can be a bit dirty – there are other ways to stay clean whilst training. Here are a few quick tips that may help you in terms of hygiene.
- Keep a clean towel nearby to wipe sweat off your face and head whilst training so your sweat doesn’t dry as much.
- In no-gi, wear spats under your shorts. These will lessen the amount of bacteria that you get from the mats and other people.
- Make sure ear guards and other clothes are clean before training.
Still, nothing beats a shower…
At the same time, nothing beats a shower. In fact, if you didn’t wipe your forearms for instance, they may develop staph. Even if they don’t, you may feel a gross residue on your arm as the day continues. Similarly, you may also smell of stale sweat. Sometimes, people aren’t even aware if they smell but to others it may be pretty obvious.
Basically, you shouldn’t be training regularly if you can’t access a shower within one hour of training. Obviously, BJJ is a very physical activity and will make you sweat. Even if you just plan to drill or roll light, the likelihood is that you will start to sweat at some point. So, the advice given above is more of a last resort and if you have access to a shower, then use it.
If you’re particularly hygienic and can’t shower within 30 minutes of training, then you could use the same methods to keep your skin healthier for the short term. Of course, doing this would be ok and it doesn’t hurt to keep your body clean.
