The weight-cutting jiu-jitsu fighter must navigate a unique set of challenges compared to other combat sports athletes. Unfortunately, most of us rely on guesswork and pseudo-science to try to hit our target weight on comp day.
This is usually achieved through a combination of long term weight loss and short term weight loss before weigh-in followed by rehydration, recovery and weight gain post-weigh-in. However, this does not mean that the concept of cutting weight does not apply to jiu-jitsu.
At a bare minimum, you should aim to weigh-in at the upper end of your weight division range. Weighing 87kg in the kg division and fighting against athletes who may be cutting from 94kg several days before the competition is not providing you with every possible advantage. First of all, weight or body mass BM encompasses everything we are made of and makes up the mass which registers as weight when we step on the scales.
This includes fat mass and lean mass. Lean mass encompasses all which is non-fat mass, i. Obviously some of this mass is more easily altered and becomes the target of weight-loss interventions. Once fully grown, intentionally altering bone and organ mass becomes difficult if not impossible and dangerous!
This leaves muscle, fat, fluid and gut contents. Chronic weight loss occurring over weeks to months includes that which is lost from fat stores and even muscle mass although generally muscle loss is not the goal, and unless you are currently training like a bodybuilder and about to stop this style of training, or coming off a cycle of steroids, is actually harder than most people think.
