Brown belt no-gi world champion. Photo: Personal Archive

Jason Yerrington is a black belt who lives and teaches in San Antonio, Texas and has Crohn’s disease. Many people find that Jiu-Jitsu, even with a disability, is a great enhancement of one’s life. Jason felt and still feels the same way. We wanted  to know what it’s like to live with such circumstances that interrupt one’s life and how it’s still possible to continue training.

In his case, it may mean knowing where the nearest bathroom is or having to wear an adult diaper. But the fact that he pursues his dreams regardless is inspiring and a learning experience for all of us.

Jason recently took second at the 2014 IBJJF Houston Open and he teaches regularly at his academy. We’ll let you learn more about the disease from him:

GRACIEMAG: What is Crohn’s Disease and how does it affect your daily life?

JASON YERRINGTON: Crohn’s Disease is an auto immune disease of the GI tract, which means that your body produces antibodies that start to work against you instead of for you. Crohn’s disease can manifest anywhere along the GI tract which basically is from the mouth all the way to the most southern region.

I first went to a doctor when I started to lose control of my bowels and was experiencing a lot of blood loss during the restroom breaks. I had to have a surgery called a colonoscopy. After the doctor came out and explained that I had an auto immune disorder known as Crohn’s. She then gave me a pamphlet of information regarding treatment options and also counseling options because she said the disease is incurable. The disease is incurable but mainly operates via outbreaks or at least for me thats what has happened. During the outbreaks I am for the most part chained to a restroom because I have to go an average of 27-32 trips a day.

For me there was a lot of blood loss because I had of 19 different places along my intestines that were legions or open scabs caused by the antibodies attacking my intestinal walls. I was extremely anemic and lost 36 pounds during my first outbreak mainly due to the fact that I couldn’t eat. Of course eating would cause a chain reaction that caused me to go to the bathroom more.

The most irritating thing of all was none of the doctors had an answer for any of the things that I was going through and they all contradicted each other. No one truly knows why someone gets Crohn’s or how to effectively treat the patient. Daily life was really how far away is the bathroom from whatever it is that you’re doing at that time. Driving to and from work became extremely hard and I had to resort to wearing diapers due to many unfortunate events.

Have you had Crohn’s throughout the entire time you’ve been training Jiu-Jitsu? 

All this being said I never stopped training in Jiu-Jitsu. I did take a six month break from competition during my first outbreak to try and get a handle on my new situation. I was an early purple belt when I was first diagnosed. Life off the mat was so much more complicated during the outbreaks but on the mat all that fades away. I’m not saying that I still didn’t know exactly how many steps it took to get to the restroom. In fact there were many days that it was extremely hard just to make it through class.

Jiu-Jitsu was my therapy. It is what kept me mentally sane; that and my wife. I trained and taught all throughout every one of my outbreaks. I have had three each which have lasted for a minimum of six months and none lasting longer than a year and a half. When I’m not having an outbreak I still go to the bathroom much more than a normal person but we’re talking about 6-8 times a day as opposed to 27-32 times a day. (I had to keep a journal of my restroom breaks cause the doctors wanted me to).

Ultimately I was able to bring everything under control when I finally said goodbye to conventional medicine and went to a PhD in mathematics whose name is Dr. Costi. He told me to go get some blood work and then based on the results he gave me some herbal supplements that weren’t for sale yet in the US and asked if I would like to be part of his study group. I said why not as I had already tried everything else the doctors. I had received contradicting advice from steroids to enemas to special inflammatory medicines and diet restrictions and nothing helped. My professor was about to send me to Brasil to see the doctors there but long story short: within four weeks of taking the herbal supplements (miracle pills) that Dr. Costi gave me I was able to get a hold of the outbreak and through diet (eating fresh, raw, and varied) and Jiu-Jitsu I have been able to keep it at bay for the most part. Dr. Costi has me do a two-week cycle of the herbal supplements (miracle pills) every six months. This is not a fool-proof thing. I still get outbreaks from time to time but they don’t last nearly as long and are much more manageable.

What’s it like to train with the condition?

Training while on Crohn’s is all about planning for the inevitable emergency. I never stopped training but sometimes due to the amount of blood-loss I had to step off the mat during super intense sessions. For the most part, though, that rarely happened. During my outbreaks I always have to wear an adult diaper, which is kind of embarrassing but it is the only way to ensure that I don’t make a mess.

A Jiu-Jitsu purple belt in action at San Diego tryouts: last all-expenses-paid berths in Abu Dhabi are coming to an end. Publicity photo.

The main WPJJ event in Abu Dhabi will only happen in April; still the climate is already heating up for the big Jiu-Jitsu stars already this February and March, when three more tryouts for the big event will take place to determine who gets free airfare, food and board for their trip to the United Arab Emirates.

The first of the three will be in Europe—Finland, to be specific—on February 18.

If you eligible and want to compete, click here.

MAJOR JIU-JITSU STARS IN ACTION IN BRAZIL AND CALIFORNIA

On March 3 and 4—with Rodrigo Minotauro in attendance, as you read here on GRACIEMAG.com yesterday—the picturesque town of Gramado will host the aces of the gentle-art world for the final qualifying event in Brazil.

Among the favorites: Tarsis Humphreys, winner of the absolute at the maiden WPJJ, back in 2009; Fernando Margarida, Marcus Bochecha, Celso Venícius, Bruno Frazatto, Guto Campos, Mário Reis, and a bunch of other hard-nosed competitors.

In the female division, according to the promoters, current world champion Gabi Garcia will be there—the Alliance ace always makes a point of competing in her birth state.

To compete alongside the big names in Gramado, click here.

Another shortcut to Abu Dhabi is the San Diego trials, on March 10 and 11, for which sign-ups only go till Sunday. Among the stars expected by the organizers, the likes of Xande Ribeiro, Lucas Leite and Clark Gracie.

Click here to compete in San Diego.

Faixa-roxa de Jiu-Jitsu em ação durante seletiva em San Diego: as últimas vagas para lutar em Abu Dhabi com tudo pago estão terminando. Foto: Divulgação.

O evento principal do WPJJ em Abu Dhabi é somente em abril, mas o clima começa a esquentar entre os astros do Jiu-Jitsu já em fevereiro e março, quando rolam três das últimas seletivas para quem quer carimbar, com tudo pago, sua ida aos Emirados Árabes.

A primeira seletiva é na Europa, mais precisamente na Finlândia, no dia 18 de fevereiro.

Para competir, basta clicar aqui.

Grandes craques do Jiu-Jitsu em ação no Brasil e na Califórnia

No dia 3 e 4 de março, com a aguardada presença de Rodrigo Minotauro, como você leu ontem no GRACIEMAG.com, a bela cidade de Gramado recebe os craques da arte suave para a última seletiva brasileira.

Entre os favoritos estão Tarsis Humphreys, campeão absoluto do primeiro WPJJ em 2009, Fernando Margarida, Marcus Bochecha, Celsinho Venícius, Bruno Frazatto, Guto Campos, Mário Reis e muita gente boa.

No feminino, segundo os organizadores, é garantida a presença da atual campeã mundial Gabi Garcia, gaúcha da Alliance que sempre faz questão de competir no seu estado natal.

A novidade pode ser a participação do ator e modelo Paulo Zulu. Isso mesmo. O faixa-preta de Rafael Haubert parece disposto a se testar de kimono. Zulu não dispensa seus treinos diários na Guarda do Embaú, em Santa Catarina, onde mora. “Conversei ontem com ele, que me pareceu entusiasmado. O pessoal aqui de Porto Alegre quando vai surfar na Guarda sempre passa lá e dá um treino com ele, que está sempre em boa forma”, revelou Fernando Paradeda, organizador do evento em Gramado.

Para lutar em Gramado, clique aqui hoje mesmo.

Outro caminho curto para Abu Dhabi é a seletiva de San Diego, nos dias 10 e 11 de março, cujas inscrições abrem no domingo. Entre os astros aguardados pela organização, Xande Ribeiro, Lucas Leite e Clark Gracie.

Clique aqui para competir em San Diego.