Doctor of Physical Therapy
Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt
Former MMA
Open Ankle Dislocation / Fracture from a Toehold
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Original video .culture
Athlete
05/14/2026
05/14/2026
Combat athlete rehab
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Common missing components in traditional rehab / physical therapy
05/07/2026
Return to Jiu Jitsu After Injury Case Studies
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One of the most common requests from my online rehab course was for more CASE STUDIES — so that became one of the biggest additions to the live, in-person course.
We’ll go through real jiu jitsu athletes dealing with real injuries, and how I used my rehab framework and testing process to determine readiness for return to rolling.
Since several attendees are taking the course for a second time, I’ll be presenting an entirely new set of case studies covering the full progression from acute injury → return to sport.
Shoulder surgeries, meniscus repairs, chronic rib injuries, and more.
Earn CEUs while learning how to confidently rehab jiu jitsu athletes.
This will be far the most fun continuing education course you will take.
Don’t get neck flipped
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Retired UFC fighter injured his neck in his last fight. Thankfully it wasn’t really serious but bad enough he required some injections to address the pain.
The injury was a hyperextension of his cervical spine. This mechanism can injure cervical facets, strain muscles, cause burners or stringers or severe cases spinal cord injuries.
Good words of advice “Don’t get neck flipped”
Video content
Anatomical art
05/01/2026
Determining which ACL graft option is best for Combat Athletes
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Physical therapist -
Orthopedic Surgeon -
Both black belts
Glimpse into Shavkat’s Rehab
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Here is a very small glimpse at ‘s rehab. While the official surgery has not been disclosed he was reported to have a brace and crutches back in January post op. I suspect it is a ACL recon and meniscus repair. With reports to be out for 9-10 months.
The biggest takeaway is the quad atrophy. While girth measurements are not a stand alone return to sport test there is moderate correlation between thigh size and quad strength isometric limb symmetry index (Krahn 2025). That is a standard return to sport test.
Statistically UFC fighters are out on average 14 months from ACL surgery -> 1st fight (7.9-19.5 months range) (Ghahremani 2024). Considering this is the 2nd knee injury with significant quad atrophy I suspect he will not be back in the Octagon until mid 2027
Reference
Krahn, A. N., Monson, J. K., LaPrade, R. F., Eggleston, G. G., & Greufe, N. A. (2025). The Clinical Utility of Thigh Circumferential Measurement in Association with Quadriceps Limb Symmetry. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 20(6), 885.
Ghahremani, J. S., D**g, H. W., Watarastaporn, ., Al-Khatib, N. A, Khalil, L. S., Mehran, N. (2024). Detensive pertormance declines in ultimate nghtin championship fighters tollowing anterior cruciate ligament
reconstruction. Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation, 6(5), 100961.
04/27/2026
Not every physical therapist will be a black belt… but you can still learn to treat like one
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Treating the Jiu Jitsu Athlete II is coming to the East coast to level of rehab providers on managing injured Jiu Jitsu Athletes.
CEUs
Lecture
Live practice
Free listing as an approved “Jiu Jitsu Provider”
Link to sign up in BIO