🏥 Protect Your Skin – Protect Your Team 🥋🥊
Combat sports like Muay Thai kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/grappling, and MMA are high-contact activities that come with a higher risk of skin infections. Whether it’s ringworm, staph (including MRSA), or impetigo, infections can spread quickly in gyms and training spaces.
Here’s how you can stay safe and keep others safe too:
✅ Show up to Training PREPARED
- Show up to the gym clean and ready for training.
- Trim your nails (fingers and toes). Scratches or broken skin are opportunities for germs and bacteria to enter the body.
- Bring clean gear to every class. If you are doing multiple classes bring multiple tops and change between each class.
✅ Shower Immediately After Training – Use antibacterial soap and warm water as soon as possible.
- Use a body wipe like Defense Body Wipes if you can not shower immediately after training.
✅ Wash Your Gear Regularly – Gi, rash guards, shorts, gloves, and wraps should be cleaned after every session.
- Make sure you have a separate bag in order to store your wet clothes after training. This will also prevent potential buildup of germs and bacteria on the inside of your normal gym bag. We sell a bag that can be used for this purpose within the online store.
- Regularly clean the inside of your normal gym bag using 70% isopropyl alcohol and air it out to dry.
✅ Disinfect Mats & Equipment – We currently clean the mats after the morning, noon, and the evening classes. You can also help by doing the following:
- Use flip-flops/sandals when stepping off the mat.
- If not using flip-flops, please step into the tray with cleaning solution and wipe your feet on the towel before coming back to class.
- Feel free to use the sprayer and add more cleaning solution if the level of solution on the feet washing tray is running low.
- Notify the coach/instructor if the cleaning solution in the sprayer is running low/out.
✅ Check Your Skin Daily – Some people naturally will develop some skin irritations when first starting training due to mat burn. However, watch for redness, bumps, rashes, or unusual blisters.
- Moisturize the skin: Applying a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer can help keep the skin hydrated and resilient.
- Avoid shaving or exfoliating before or on training days: This can weaken the skin's protective barrier and make it more vulnerable to infection.
- Recognize and treat minor skin irritations early: Address any signs of skin irritation promptly, such as redness, itching, rashes, or unusual sores. When in doubt, use Lamisil or Tinactin AF (over-the-counter antifungal medications for treating Athlete's Foot) as your first step and see if your skin condition will go away.
❌ Do Not Train with an Active Infection – If you suspect you have a skin condition, sit out and see a healthcare provider.
✅ Cover Cuts and Scrapes – Open wounds are entry points for bacteria (including the bottom of your feet). Keep them clean and covered.
Why It Matters:
An untreated skin infection can lead to serious health issues and put your teammates at risk. Staying clean is as important as staying fit.
👊 Train Smart. Stay Clean. Respect the Mat and Your Training Partners.
