https://blackbeltsportsperformance.mykajabi.com/

Doctor Kickass, Sacramento, CA (2026)

02/10/2026

Testosterone-Optimizing Strategies for Jiu Jitsu Athletes
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In a sport like jiu jitsu, there is very little formal drug testing outside of the IBJJF, with potential plans for UFC BJJ beginning in 2026? As a result, many athletes rely on PEDs — and with the rise of master competitors, more athletes are turning to hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

This article outlines evidence-based strategies for optimizing testosterone for athletes who don’t want to go down that path.

1. Prioritize Energy Balance & Nutrition

2. Exercise Smart – Resistance Training!

3. Optimize Sleep

4. Be wary of with Supplements and questionable marketing strategies

5. Limit Exposure to Endocrine Disruptors

6. Minimize Use of Analgesics

7. Understand Recovery Methods and Environmental Factors

8. Recognize Seasonal Variations

9. Consider Effects of Sexual Activity

Reference
1. Lazarev, A., Pujalte, G. G., Philibert, C., Meek, S. E., Broderick, G. A., Zapp, D. G., ... & Hackney, A. C. (2026). Testosterone-Optimizing Strategies in Athletes. Sports Health, 19417381251411933.

02/07/2026

Can you return to combat sports without an ACL?
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In fighting and grappling the knee is the most commonly injured area. One of the most devastating injuries a fighter can have is an ACL tear, because complete tears often require surgery and extensive rehabilitation.

So if a fighter gets an ACL rupture it will require a reconstruction before they can return to training, right?

Evidence shows that is depends.

Copers vs. noncopers: 42% of people are copers, meaning they have enough leg strength and dynamic balance to function despite not having an ACL.

IDing a coper:
• No other injuries
• Minimal swelling • Full ROM
• Able to walk without a limp
• 70% quadriceps strength on bilateral comparison
• Hop on leg without pain
•1 or less incidents of knee giving out.

Many noncopers can become copers with a course of rehabilitation. This is why in Australia many athletes attempt PT initially opposed to going directly into surgery.

The UFCPI head PT often comments how many ranked UFC fighters are ACL deficient yet can still compete at the highest level!

But without an ACL arthritis risk is higher! Actually arthritis risk is elevated whether surgery happens or not. Meniscus tear risk is elevated however in ACL deficient knees.

ACL reconstruction is still the gold standard for ACL injuries, which is a decision up to the athlete, surgeon and other medical staff. However there are many high level athletes who return to activity without a functional ACL.

02/04/2026

Returning to MMA after ACL reconstruction
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UFC contender reported to require a 2nd knee surgery that will require him to be out for 9-10 months. While the exact surgery is not known my suspicion is this is because he had an ACL tear based on the projected timeline.

Mechanism of injury: Shavkat supposedly went into the Ian Garry fight with a partial ACL tear. The oblique kick is a common mechanism for knee hyper extension / knee valgus which is a common mechanism associated with ACL tears.

Return to sport:
Why does return to sport take so long?
When a ligament reconstruction is performed your body undergoes a process - ligamentization. This means your body break down the graft and gradually reforms the tissue so that it can become a ligament. This process can take 1-3 years!

So even though an athlete may “feel good” having no pain, feeling strong that ligament is still less resilient than how it was pre injury (where it was already not resilient enough). So when that ligament is stressed from a takedown, kick or leg lock it won’t necessarily be strong enough for the rigors of a demanding sport like fighting.

And remember this is Shavkat’s 2nd surgery. Most likely he came back too early after the last one, which is why he re-injured his knee.

If you are a serious athlete:
1. Work with sports physical therapist who understands the demands of your sport
2. Utilize objective data to confirm restoration of physical capacities
3. Do not rush the process or you are at risk of having another lengthy set back

02/02/2026

Rakhmonov’s Knee Re-Injured!
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Welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov had a complicated history of knee injuries. Supposedly he had a knee injury during his fight against Ian Machado Garry back in late 2024.

During 2025 he had an undisclosed knee surgery. Rumors of another injury in late 2025 while training. Early 2026 he was seen with a brace and crutches at a local event. His manager confirmed he had another surgery that will put him out for 9-10 months.

While the exact surgery was not disclosed based on that time frame it is most likely an ACL reconstruction, however potentially it may also be a meniscus repair, or both.

Based on this timeline he will not return to the UFC until late 2026 at the earliest, almost 2 years since his last fight!

Very often fighters and combat athletes return to training too early, which makes them prone to re injury.

Return to sport decision making should account for these 4 criteria: time, objective testing, sport readiness and tissue resilience.

I hope the Kazakhstan fighter makes a smooth and appropriate recovery.

02/01/2026

Reminder for when a Jiu Jitsu athlete asks me for advice on injuries or rehab tips on social media…

Content made by discord members on

01/28/2026

This is an important distinction for all those physical therapists who want to work with jiu jitsu athletes...

01/26/2026

Building Tissue Resilience: Missing Components in sports rehab for Jiu Jitsu
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In my clinical opinion, tissue resilience is the most commonly missing component in sports rehabilitation, particularly for grappling athletes.

Traditionally, return-to-sport decisions rely heavily on time and objective testing. While both are essential and should never be ignored, they are often insufficient on their own. Many Jiu Jitsu athletes “pass” objective testing with ease—demonstrating adequate range of motion, strength, and power—yet still feel unprepared or unsafe returning to the mats.

Why does this happen?

Time-based criteria account for biological healing timelines but fail to address whether the tissue has regained the capacity to tolerate sport-specific stress. Objective testing assesses global physical qualities, but it is often nonspecific to the demands placed on injured tissue during grappling, where joints and connective tissues are routinely challenged at end range, under load, and at high speeds.

For grappling athletes, whose sport inherently exposes injured structures to repeated mechanical stress, it is critical to understand how to rebuild tissue resilience, not simply restore movement or strength.

In my course, Treating the Jiu Jitsu Athlete II, I present an in-depth, evidence-informed framework on how connective tissue adapts to load. This provides rehabilitation professionals with a clear understanding of how to apply appropriate intensity, volume, and progression to restore—and surpass—pre-injury tissue capacity.

I also demonstrate how these principles are applied clinically to guide athletes from the acute phase of injury through a confident, durable return to the mats.

There will be only two in-person courses in 2026, a West Coast course and an East Coast course.

The West Coast course takes place Sunday March 1st. Do not wait to sign up as I expect this course to close out - Only 4 spots remain.

01/19/2026

Paper is finally published and ready for viewing

Reference
1. Piekarski M, Kreiswirth E, Barber Foss K, Jimenez ML, Myer GD, Montalvo AM. Knee Injury in Competitive Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Athletes: Implications for Training. Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach. 2026;0(0). doi:10.1177/19417381251400303

01/15/2026

Finding a Provider who understands Combat Sports
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One of the most common complaints I hear from combat athletes is being unable to find a medical provider who understands the demands of their sport (grappling, striking and/or mixed).

I started my page to help educate athletes, and over time I progressed to educating other rehab professionals with the release of “Treating the Jiu Jitsu Athlete”. Now I want to help athletes find these rehab professionals who are trained and ready to treat combat athletes!

Not every PT/AT/Chiro will be a black belt in Jiu Jitsu, but l hope to close the knowledge gap and progress the field of combat sports rehabilitation.

How can you get on the list?
Any provider who takes one of my course(s): Treating the Jiu Jitsu Athlete I, Treating the Jiu Jitsu Athlete II or Jiu Jitsu Rehab Masterclass will get free availability on my site so that athletes can find you. This ensures that I can confirm the provider has a base knowledge on how to treating combat athletes.

There will be distinctions based on profession, martial art skill and those who have completed my various courses.

Link in BIO to take my currently available courses and to find a provider who understands your sport

01/13/2026

Understanding Cardio for Jiu Jitsu
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When people complain about their Jiu Jitsu cardio you when to consider 2 main aspects:
•Efficiency: effectiveness of their movements ie technical skill
•Physical Capacity: aerobic base, anaerobic conditioning and muscular strength

So if people have “poor jiu jitsu cardio” it could be: an inadequate physical capacity or they are relying on a style of jiu jitsu they cannot maintain or a combo of both.

Here are the 4 most common complaints I hear from athletes in terms of jiu jitsu

When programming for an athlete it is important to:
1. Listen to their subjective issue
2. Perform objective testing to determine their physical capacity deficit
3. Consider the athletes style: movement-based vs control-based. Takedowns vs Pulling guard
4. Then establish a realistic plan addressing the athletes physical and / or technical deficits.

Which category do you fit in?

01/12/2026

Jiu Jitsu Rehab Provider Spotlight
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Meet Jose Cerda, one of the rehab professionals who truly gets jiu jitsu.

Brown belt in jiu jitsu - treating out of , Jose has taken all three of my courses—Treating the Jiu Jitsu Athlete I, II, and the Jiu Jitsu Rehab Masterclass. I have happily referred Jiu Jitsu athletes to him and heard great results.

If you’re a grappler in Orange County California —he is your person.

If you’re a clinician and want to understand the sport at this level…Treating the Jiu Jitsu Athlete 2026 is open for registration. Attendees will receive a listing in my database for providers who understand Jiu Jitsu!
 Become the provider your local BJJ community actually trusts.

Doctor Kickass

02/10/2026

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02/02/2026

02/01/2026

01/28/2026

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