Paige Clymer on Injury, Recovery, and Competing at the Highest Level
This Month’s Guest: Paige Ivette Clymer
Black belt. ADCC double gold medalist. Technician. Competitor. Coach.
In Episode 007 of the Doctor Jiu Jitsu Podcast, I sat down with my good friend Paige to talk about the injury that sidelined her… and, the mindset, training, and recovery process that brought her back even stronger.
We’ve both torn our ACLs. We’ve both had surgery. And we’ve both walked the long, slow road back to the mats. This episode is raw, honest, and packed with lessons for any athlete who wants to compete, recover, and stay in this game long-term.
Injury & ACL Recovery: What Most People Get Wrong
Paige tore her ACL during training in 2022 and waited over 4 months for surgery. She used that time to prehab—focusing on quad strength, glute stability, and mental prep.
“I gained 10 pounds of muscle during recovery. I wasn’t rolling, but I was working.”
She didn’t return to live training until 9 months post-op—not because she was scared, but because her body (and her coach) weren’t ready.
Train Smart or Break Down
We talked about the myth that bracing equals recovery, and the reality that biological healing takes time.
“You can’t rush biology. You can’t fake tissue capacity. It’s not about time—it’s about strength and readiness.”
This is something every grappler needs to understand. Recovery isn’t a clock. It’s a process.
High-Level Performance: What You Don’t See
In her Who’s Number One match, Paige handled pressure, cardio fatigue, and a nasty guillotine attempt like a pro. What you didn’t see was the anxiety, the sleepless night, and the panic leading up to it.
“I was crying the night before. Couldn’t sleep. I was so anxious. But I kept training anyway.”
We talk breathwork, visualization, and the psychology of stepping out under the lights.
Injury Prevention: It Starts with Awareness
We both agree: one of the most dangerous things on the mat is ego combined with poor awareness. Paige breaks down how many knee injuries happen (valgus stress, takedowns into the side of the leg, heel hooks, etc.)—and how gyms can do better.
“We literally have a sign at Legion with banned techniques. Not to be soft—but to keep people healthy.”
Training Over 30: What Changes, What Doesn’t
Paige is 33. I’m 37. And we’re both still pushing. But how we train has changed. We talk about flow vs force, choosing the right partners, and protecting your body while still pushing your limits.
“It's not about going hard every round. It’s about exchanging energy the right way. Be like water.”
Fuel, Food, and a Few Surprises
We close out talking about real food, training fuel, and recovery nutrition.
Highlights:
Paige’s go-to: chicken tikka masala or venison
Why she drinks protein in her coffee
How she balances macros when she’s training 6 days a week
Final Takeaway
Whether you’re recovering from injury, prepping for comp, or just trying to train smarter, this episode has something for you.
“Don’t wait until it’s too late to fix the holes in your game—or your body.”
Episode 007 is live now on YouTube and doctorjiujitsu.com/podcast
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Dr. Megan Lisset Jimenez
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