Kayron Gracie in photo by Mike Calimbas: his rubber-like guard returns at the Worlds after this one.

Having won gold at the last Pan-American Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Kayron Gracie was earnestly training to return to the World Championship in grand style.

On the days leading up to the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo, where he was set to face Rafael Lovato Jr., however, the son of Carlos Gracie Jr. felt something had gone amiss with his knee. Kayron went all out in trying to recover in time to take to the mats in Long Beach, but to no avail.

“I had an MRI done and could see that my knee was indeed injured. I hurt it in competition training for the 2012 Worlds. I was playing half-guard with a friend and felt pain in my knee,” Kayron commented.

“The main problem is that I don’t have hardly any mobility in the joint. Right now I’m just icing it and doing physiotherapy. I’m bummed out because I can’t compete, but it’s something that happens to every athlete … But I’ll be back in competition soon,” the Jiu-Jitsu professor at GB in California said in closing.

To find out who’ll be competing an further information regarding the 2012 Worlds, click here.

Georges St.Pierre at Renzo Gracie's New York academy prior to injury / Photo: Luca Atalla/GRACIEMAG.

“The treadmill takes the pressure off the legs, as though you were on the moon. It’s great for recuperating after knee surgery,” explains Ótono Filho, the physiotherapist at team Nova União Ceará, who works with the likes of Caio Magalhães, Eduardo Cachorrão, Carlos Índio and other Jiu-Jitsu black belts.

Watch GSP in action as he returns to activity. What do you think is the most important part of getting back in the saddle, gentle reader? Expert help, modern resources, or a strong mind that doesn’t let you get discouraged? Share your experience with the other Jiu-Jitsu practitioners on GRACIEMAG.com.

Augusto "Tanquinho" Mendes maneuvers on his way to winning the absolute division of the 2010 South American Championship. Photo de Hugo Valente.

Jiu-Jitsu champions and stars of the  UFC are human just like you and me, and evidence of how that is true is the fact that they get hurt too.

Take a look at what UFC champion GSP posted this week on Facebook: “A month has gone by since the operation [on his knee] and I’m pleased with the results. It really is unbelievable what the human body is capable of. Now on to physiotherapy, manual therapy for scarring, ice, ultrasound, compression, ligament exercises, pedaling… I’d love to hear more tips from you guys to help me.”

The topic has been off the hook, with over a thousand comments. In the gi competition world, another slick martial artist has been working hard with his physiotherapists to recover from a troubling injury, to his spine. Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes  Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes (Soul Fighters) went under the knife on November 23. Proof that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, the black belt returned to training for some drills and spins, doing light repetitions with his girlfriend, Mackenzie Dern.

(CHECK OUT TANQUINHO AGAINST SANDRO BATATA AT 2011 WORLDS)

“It’s been a month and a half since surgery and I’m feeling better with every day. I’m making great progress but don’t have a return date yet. I hope to be back in training within three months and maybe even compete at the Worlds by year end,” the 2011 world runner-up told GRACIEMAG.com from the United States.

“I feel everything happens for a reason; God is always in control. If He picked me to go through what I’ve been going through, it’s because I needed it; I believe He has something good in store for me in the future. I know I’ll be a better man after getting through this latest injury,” he reflected.

Tanquinho wrapped up by conveying five recipes for you to recover from injury shipshape—and return to training even better still.

1. KEEP CALM

One of Jiu-Jitsu’s most useful lessons, in no matter what fight situation, also applies to those suffering from injury. Don’t panic or despair. An injury, even a herniated disc like the one afflicting Augusto Tanquinho, doesn’t mean the end of one’s career or Jiu-Jitsu training.

2. SEEK EXPERT ASSISTANCE

Health isn’t something to take lightly. Jiu-Jitsu teaches you to always seek the best way out. Where injury is concerned, the most efficient solution is to consult a medical specialist, the best one you can find.

3. DON’T GO OFF HALF-COCKED

Trust the “master” you’ve picked to help you get well. Follow the doctor’s orders rigorously, especially during the post-operative stage.

4. PATIENCE, A TRAIT OF JIU-JITSU

Take it slow, be patient! Recovery takes time, and you won’t leave the operating table and be ready to put your gi back on in just a week or a month.

5. PHYSIOTHERAPY IS DISCIPLINE

If you seek to be a better martial artist, nothing puts you to the test more than physiotherapy. Dedicate yourself to the max; it’s time to bolster your body for future battles.

This Wednesday, Cigano underwent surgery at São Paulo’s Albert Einstein hospital, one of the South American nation’s finest, and everything went according to plan. Junior is already recuperating in his room, and his recovery time is estimated to take 30 days. Luiz Dórea, the fighter’s boxing coach, commented on the surgical procedure as soon as it was over, and posted a photo: “The operation was a success. Thank you, Lord.”

GRACIEMAG.com joins the fans wishing for Cigano’s speedy recovery.

First, Rodrigo managed to convince his father, Hamilton Nogueira, to fly to Rio to support him in one of his fights for the first time. “My father always gets nervous, but every time he’s ever watched one of Rogério’s fights it ended in a win by knockout. It had happened twice! At UFC Rio he finally agreed to watch it live, and the outcome was no different: it was a knockout, too!” said the heavyweight’s twin brother.

Another boon to his performance came last week. To step into the ring in the perfect zone and gain further mobility, he called on physical conditioning coach and GRACIEMAG columnist Alvaro Romano, who has worked with Jiu-Jitsu and MMA stars for the last 25 years, to fly down from San Diego, California, to work with him.

Minotauro and Romano practicing breathing techniques on the beach /

Romano took up the task of guiding Mino through his final preparations, using Ginástica Natural breathing and mental training techniques, as Minotauro explains:

“I really like doing Ginástica Natural. For me what I like most, besides the mobility on the ground it provides me, is that Ginástica breathing helps me focus a lot during the fight.

“For this last fight we only did three days of Ginástica Natural training.

Three days from the fight, in the final stage of preparation, we worked on breathing and it got me super focused.

Two days before the fight we did two hours of breathing exercises. Then we did three intense sessions starting in the morning, which made it feel like my head was flooded with blood, causing me to think quicker, rationalize better. Ginástica makes my body more agile, and the breathing exercises make my mind more agile, allowing me to think quicker, concentrate more, rationalize better, putting me in a mindset whereby I can contain my emotions when it’s time to fight.”

In the following video you can see a completely relaxed Rodrigo in a prime state of concentration six hours before heading to the fire pot that was the HSBC Rio on August 27.

Friendship, health, surpassing limits – synonyms for the Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle, as proven by the promotion via Twitter. Photo: Ally Almeida.

How has Jiu-Jitsu changed your life? That’s what the champ @PabloPopovitch asked via Twitter, offering a year’s subscription to GRACIEMAG and a limited edition T-shirt for the two best answers and a six-month subscription to the best Jiu-Jitsu magazine on the planet to the third-, fourth- and fifth-place responses.

The big winner was Branden Hussey, otherwise known as @El_Bandido.

He tweeted: “3-limb amputee with muscular dystrophy. No longer in therapy due to BJJ. Flexibility great now. Got green belt Saturday.”

Second place went to João Souza, @JoaoStil:

“I always practiced sports, but after a car accident I lost the use of my foot, Jiu-Jitsu brought me back to life!”

In third, Leoni Munslow, @She_ra_leoni:

“JJ has given me the belief that I can achieve, learn, laugh, love and succeed with a team of friends by my side”.

In fourth, @dimebag4510:

“BJJ has taught me to believe in myself! Stand up for myself, and to walk through life with my head held high!”,

In fifth, Master Adilson Higa, who often features here on GRACIEMAG.com. @AdilsonHigaDorv:

“JJ changed my life in 2009 when I sufferered a motorcycle accident and had my arm amputated. Now I have 11 titles in 11 tournaments.”

“The main idea of the promotion was to, in a creative way, make known how Jiu-Jitsu can truly change a person’s life,” remarked Popovitch, our GMA in Florida. “There were many emotion-filled messages. It was a lot of work but was worth it!”

Pablo will contact the winners via Twitter to award them. Congratulations to all who participated.