Jiu-jitsu isn't something you casually do.

For the athlete balancing training, work, recovery, and real life

Olá. Bem-vindos. Bienvenidos.

If you're reading this, you probably already know. Jiu jitsu isn't something you casually do. It's something you build your life around, in the pockets of time between all your other responsibilities. It’s the part of your day that’s just for you. Where everything else fades, and you’re present, locked in, and moving.

But let’s be honest. Some days, that balance feels impossible.

You wake up sore from training the night before. Your neck is tight from that one guillotine you almost escaped. You power through your morning meetings with an ice pack hidden off-screen. You wolf down lunch so you have a shot at making it to open mat. Or you skip it altogether because work ran late, and you still need to get groceries, answer emails, or be fully present for the people you love.

You want to train harder. Smarter. You want to improve, compete, stay healthy. But your body doesn’t recover like it did in your twenties. You don’t have time for injuries. You don’t want to be the person who burns out, checks out, or has to tap early… not from the roll, but from life.

This is the side that jiu jitsu people don’t talk about enough. The side where we’re not full-time athletes, but full-time humans… with bills, jobs, relationships, and a hunger to keep growing.

That’s why I’m here. That’s why I started this.

Who am I and why should you care?

I’m Dr. Megan Lisset Jimenez. Orthopaedic Sports Surgeon. Jiu jitsu brown belt. Army Officer. Recovery nerd. Fiancé, dog mom, teammate, and human.

I’ve spent the last decade working with high-performance athletes, soldiers, and everyday movers. I work with people like you and me who don’t have the luxury of endless time to train, rest, and recover.

I’ve seen what happens when people ignore the warning signs. I’ve operated on them. I’ve been one of them. I’ve rushed back too soon. I’ve trained through pain. I’ve gotten injured right when momentum felt like it was picking up.

And I’ve also learned how to rebuild smarter.

This newsletter is my way of giving back. It’s a place for education, for insight, for straight-up truth. It’s for people who care deeply about this sport and want to stay in it for the long haul without sacrificing their careers, relationships, or long-term health.

What you can expect from this space

Every week, you’ll get practical insights you can use in your day-to-day life.

We’ll cover:

Smart Cross-Training for Combat Athletes

How to stay conditioned without overtraining or breaking down. You don’t need to be in the gym six days a week to build strength. You need intention and a plan. I’ll show you how to train around your jiu jitsu without burning out.

Recovery That Meets You Where You Are

I’ve tested it all. Ice baths, breathwork, red light, sleep tracking, saunas. I’ll break down what actually works and how to make it fit your lifestyle… not the other way around.

Injury Prevention That’s Not Just Rest and Ice

We’ll talk through the most common injuries in jiu jitsu. From rib bruises to rotator cuffs to neck strains, and how to adjust your training and recovery to minimize long-term impact.

Mindset Work That Isn’t Fluff

Mental toughness isn’t just about pushing through. It’s about learning how to pull back when needed, how to stay focused under pressure, and how to manage stress in and out of the gym. These are tools I use with athletes and soldiers, and I’ll share them with you here.

Nutrition for Real Life

You don’t need a PhD or 20 supplements to take for performance. You need fuel that works in your schedule and doesn’t derail your energy. I’ll help you simplify this.

Lessons From the Field and the Mat

From treating soldiers returning from deployment to coaching teammates through ACL rehab, I’ve seen what recovery really takes. These stories won’t be theoretical. They’ll be drawn from real people, real cases, research, and results.

And yes, there will be stories from my own training. What I’m working on, what I’m struggling with, what’s helping me get better.

Why this matters

Because too many athletes quit the sport. Not from a lack of love, but from chronic pain, mental burnout, or life pulling them too far away to return.

Because there’s still a gap between the knowledge we have in sports medicine and the way it’s delivered to everyday athletes.

Because you should not have to choose between being a great teammate and a great parent. A great grappler and a respected professional. A consistent athlete and a healthy, functional human being.

And because this sport means something. Jiu jitsu teaches us how to stay grounded under pressure, how to move with control even when we’re exhausted, and how to keep showing up with humility.

That mindset belongs outside the gym too.

Let’s build a system that supports you

You don’t need more reps. You need better systems. You don’t need to train harder. You need to recover better. You don’t need a new body. You need to work with the one you’ve got and learn how to keep it in the game.

If this speaks to where you’re at, subscribe. Forward it to your coach. Share it with your training partners. Let’s make this a resource for every athlete who’s trying to stay sharp in every area of life.

Training doesn’t stop when you leave the mat. Neither does growth.

I’m glad you’re here.

—Dr. Megan Lisset Jimenez

Surgeon. Soldier. Brown Belt. Still learning. Still showing up.