BJJ is becoming more popular than ever before. It’s estimated that there are around 10,000 Brazilian jiu-jitsu gyms in the US alone. And while over 7,400 black belts have registered with the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation, that’s a marker only of those who want to go into competition. They’re vastly outnumbered by those looking to train, or perhaps only to learn the basics – it’s estimated that over 90% of white belts quit before they reach the blue belt. There’s also the perennial problem of blue belts disappearing from the gym when they’re unable to handle the increased expectations that are assigned by their upgrading.
This means there’s a lot of people doing BJJ at some level, even if the elites are still relatively few in number compared to other martial arts. Statista research showed that in 2016, over 53% of Americans aged 18-44 – where the majority of BJJ practitioners are likely to be, demographically – wear glasses. However, for rolling, they’re not the best option. For competition, the IBJJF specifically rules them out, “forbidden is the use of eye protectors, even if they are made for sports practices.” Even for practice, the chances of glasses getting knocked off from a choke are high, the weight of a fighter on top of them may break them, and then a session will have to be stopped to pick up the debris to make sure nobody injures themselves.
Fight and sight
Does this mean we should just go without vision correction on the mats? After all, BJJ is a close-up sport, and the triumphs of blind grapplers like Clinton Terry would seem to show that sight isn’t a prerequisite for success. Perhaps not. Going into a bout blurry under the lights could be disorienting, and an opponent will take full advantage. So what are the options?
Surgery is one, however the need to wear goggles when training post-procedure may be onerous, with Chicago Cornea Consultants warning “For patients who participate in contact sports, it is recommended to wear an athletic version of protective goggles during any sporting activity for several months after the LASIK procedure.” While we could certainly stay in shape over a few months off, BJJ relies heavily on muscle memory, and fight skills can get rusty.
Contacts for contact
Contact lenses can offer perhaps the easiest solution to fighting unsighted. Lenses over the uncorrected eye increase peripheral vision, which is essential to evade. Contacts can help with depth perception and won’t interfere with headgear the way that the legs of glasses would. While it’s true that contacts can be displaced by a big shot, so may be problematic for practitioners of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, the grappling of BJJ shouldn’t pose any issue to lenses falling out as they move with your eyes.
The mats perhaps aren’t the place for monthly contacts though. Sweat dripping into them can increase the risk of eye infection, and if one does get lost during the action, that can be a significant financial loss also. There’s also the issue in the event of recovery, a lens will need to be disinfected thoroughly before re-wearing as it’ll have picked up sweat and dirt from its time on the deck. Daily disposable contact lenses can be had for less than a dollar a pair in some cases, meaning it’s easy to stash a few pairs in your kit bag without starting a fight with your bank balance. Daily contact lenses that contain a wetting agent, such as 1-Day Acuvue Moist, let more oxygen through onto the surface of the eye and can help mitigate the eyes drying out in the heat of battle.
Bad eyesight is no barrier to BJJ. It certainly wasn’t to Gordon Ryan, who’s frequently pictured in glasses on his Instagram (now that he’s got his account back). And while BJJ is an individual sport, we’re never alone. Talk to the guys in the gym, to the trainers, and even to your opponents. You’ll find someone in the same boat. It might help see things more clearly.
