Think you know what’s lurking on the mats? In Safe MMA’s latest column for Fighters Only magazine, Dr. Asoka Wijayawickrama breaks down the most common skin infections fighters face — how to spot, treat, and most importantly, prevent them.
Skin infections are constantly evolving. And if you’re still using old-school hygiene tactics, you might already be behind.
The slap of leather on pads. Thud of bodies on mats. The strains of exertion. But there’s also a silent battle taking place, against opponents that don’t tap out and multiply fast: Skin infections. Gym owners are aware that these are on the rise significantly.
To learn more about these overlooked adversaries, we sought the advice of Dr. Asoka Wijayawickrama, a doctor and examiner at Imperial College Medical School, who is also a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt, contributor to the Safe MMA charity, and a cage-side medic. He bridges two worlds: the clinic and the cage.
“I’ve seen skin infections from both sides of the mat,” he explains. “I know how easily they can disrupt training, lead to pulled fights, or worse, turn into serious medical conditions. That’s why every fighter and coach needs to understand the three-headed monster: fungal, bacterial, and viral infections.” To help you identify and tackle them as soon as they emerge, he outlines below what to look out for and what to do next.
