This dissertation evaluates veteran participation in the martial art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) as a tool of reassimilation for veterans suffering from anxiety, stress and/or combat PTSD associated with military deployment. From the onset of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn, challenges associated with U.S. Veteran assimilation and reintegration have been increasing. Coping with long term displacement, trauma, loss, and making sense of identity shifts between being an active duty service member and civilian can often present challenges when navigating back into civilian life. By utilizing a neuroanthropological lens, ethnographic inquiry, surveys, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups, this research advances anthropology’s understanding of how sport participation may have the ability to combat assimilation and mental health challenges that are a result of combative trauma exposure. I examine BJJ as a physical and mental tool for strengthening social bonds, buttressing identity formation, and easing the burden of transitioning into a civilian life after enduring time within a combative theater. This analysis is a building block for future research that will explore BJJ as an avenue of elective intervention for veterans suffering from stress and anxiety disorders associated with time in service.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art which proposes to control the opponent through falls, immobilizations and joint blocks. The present study aimed to analyze the profile of orthopedic injuries of Jiu-Jitsu fighters in the state of Sergipe.A total of 137 fighters were evaluated, 126 males and 11 females, through the orthopedic and physiotherapy services in the University Hospital at Universidade Federal de Sergipe, as well as in martial art training centers in Aracaju.They presented an average of 5.77 ±5.07 years of sports practice. In addition, 85.4% of the participants already suffered some type of orthopedic injury in jiu-jitsu practice. Being the sprain the most prevalent lesion with 61,5%, and the blue belt athletes with the highest prevalence of injuries (30.8%). The anatomic region most affected was the shoulder (21.7%), followed by the knee (20.5%), hand (12.3%), ankle (11%) and elbow (10.4%). Most of these lesions were considered of mild severity (35,9%), and the treatments most used by them were medications and physiotherapy. They had an average of 21.32 ±14.5 physiotherapeutic sections. / O Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) é uma arte marcial a qual tem como objetivo o controle do adversário através de quedas, imobilizações e bloqueios articulares. O presente trabalho teve o propósito de avaliar o perfil de lesões ortopédicas dos praticantes de Jiu-Jitsu do estado de Sergipe. Foram avaliados 137 lutadores, sendo 92%(126) do sexo masculino e 8%(11) feminino, através dos serviços de ortopedia e fisioterapia do Hospital Universitário da Universidade Federal de Sergipe, bem como em centros de treinamento da arte marcial no estado de Sergipe. Foram realizadas entrevistas guiadas por questionário pré-estabelecido somado a avaliação médica da equipe. A média foi de 5,77±5,07 anos de prática esportiva e, além disso, 85,4% dos participantes já sofreram algum tipo de lesão ortopédica na prática desse esporte. Oentorse foi a lesão mais prevalente com 61,5 %, e os atletas de faixa azul com a maior prevalência de lesões (30,8%). A região anatômica mais acometida foi o ombro (21,7%), seguido do joelho (20,5%), mão (12,3%), tornozelo (11%) e cotovelo (10,4%). A maior parte das lesões foram consideradas de gravidade leve (35,9%), e o tratamento mais utilizado pelos atletas foi conservador através de medicações e fisioterapia, com uma média geral de 21,32 ±14,5 seções fisioterápicas. / São Cristóvão, SE

Title: Axial system straining during martial arts and after care compensation of injuries Objective: The main goal of this diploma thesis is to bring complex view on injuries of axial system, which happend during martial arts. This thesis is going to define the ijuries and offer an alternative compensation of these injuries. Furthermore, the focus is on summarizing current knowledge about this issue Methods: The thesis is based on literary research and has an analytical-descriptive character. The studies used meet predetermined criteria. The work is divided into several parts. The first part, called the theoretical background, focuses on the description of combat, further analyzes the axial system of man and also the biomechanics of the components of the axial system. The next part discusses the load of the axial system in the fights. After that, the work deals with injuries in combat. Results: Based on the findings of individual studies, it can be said that the vast majority of all injuries incurred during judo and Brazilian jiu jitsu are orthopedic. Large joints were most affected by the injury. Injuries within the axial system occurred rather sporadically and were mostly head and cervical spine injuries. Keywords: axial system, axial system injuries, fights, judo, Brazilian jiu jitsu, combat in...