Gua Sha Tools For BJJ Recovery

Tired of sore muscles or joint pains? Are you having trouble sleeping because your entire body is aching after Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training? Gua Sha tools are your best bet.

Injury can not only slow you down during a training session but it can also take time to recover if not treated correctly. What’s more? You can suffer from long-term soft tissue damage if you don’t address your sore muscles.

A Gua Sha can help alleviate your muscle pain after a strenuous BJJ session. This ancient massage tool can help improve blood circulation, muscle recovery, and lymphatic drainage to reduce muscle pain and inflammation.

Want to know how to use a Gua Sha tool, more about the practice, and the best tools to use? Read on!

What Is Gua Sha?

Gua Sha is an ancient massaging and healing technique that has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries. It is a form of massage that uses a tool to scrape the skin.

This tool can be anything from a stainless steel scraper to a piece of jade. The historic massage tool aims to improve blood circulation and help the body drain toxins.

It helps treat muscle and soft-tissue conditions, including muscle pain, inflammation, and even arthritis. Users also use Gua Sha as a preventative measure to keep their bodies healthy.

Some people prefer to do Gua Sha by themselves at home using tools like stainless steel scrapers or jade stones. Others choose to seek out professional treatments from licensed acupuncturists or massage therapists who have been trained in the technique.

Why You Should Start Using Gua Sha

Although many people use Gua Sha as a face massager, you can also use it for other body parts. The upward motion of this handheld massage tool improves blood circulation in the body.

The increase in blood circulation in the body relieves signs of muscle inflammation and enhances tissue recovery. Moreover, Gua Sha has been used by many people as a sculpting tool, and this could also help tighten your body skin.

Consistent use of Gua Sha has been shown to reduce muscle damage and improve recovery time effectively.

Different Types of Gua Sha

The most popular type of Gua Sha tool is the Jade Gua Sha. Jade is an essential gemstone in Chinese culture. Many ancient and modern Chinese believe that jade possesses a positive “qi” that rids the body of negative energies.

A rose quartz Gua Sha is believed to bring various skin benefits. It is said to be ideal for people with reactive and acne-prone skin. In Chinese culture, rose quartz is related to the heart chakra.

Unlike the first two materials, a stainless steel Gua Sha is self-cooling, making a significant difference since the first two materials generate heat. Furthermore, a stainless steel Gua Sha is more durable.

Why Is Stainless Steel the Best Option?

Jade and rose quartz Gua Shas are very porous and easy to break. These stones often trap bacteria inside, causing them to develop mold over time. Because of this, you increase the risk of contracting skin infections when you use an unsanitary Gua Sha.

Moreover, environmentalists previously reported that mining jade is harmful to the environment. Because of these reasons, using stainless steel Gua Sha tools as an alternative to the traditional jade Gua Sha is more practical and environment-friendly.

How To Use a Gua Sha for Muscle Scraping

First, you need to use body oil or serum to lubricate the body part you want to treat. Next, you will use the Gua Sha with a long scraping motion along the body’s meridians.

Chinese culture believes that our body possesses meridians of lines where our ‘qi’ flows. They believe that we can use the Gua Sha to guide the qi inside our bodies and help it travel through the meridians.

Most professionals also recommend using Gua Sha on body parts where the pain is more evident. In addition, experts say that using Gua Sha between shoulder blades can strengthen the lung.

Best Gua Sha Tools Recommendations

At Granite Bay Jiu-Jitsu (GBJJ), we only use high-caliber Gua Shas to care for our muscles and ensure optimal recovery. Here are some of the best Gua Sha tools we found on Amazon. All of these products are tried and tested:

STICKON Stainless Steel Gua Sha Scraping Massage Tool Set

This set contains five different medical-grade Gua Shas, all made with great attention to detail. The set includes a double-beveled Gua Sha, which can help reduce post-workout muscle tenderness and accelerate tissue recovery.

• Average rating: 4.6/5 stars
• Where to buy?: Buy this Gua Sha set here.
• What do customers like about this product?
  • Acupuncturist-approved
  • Great set for Gua Sha beginners
  • A wide diversity of usage (can be used on multiple body parts)

Stainless Steel Gua Sha Scraping Massage Tool Set

This four-piece Gua Sha set is perfect for beginners. The size of this Gua Sha is ideal for neck and shoulder use, but this can also be used for larger body parts like the back or legs.

Most of the tools included in this set are meant to be used for smaller body parts like the palms, neck, and heel.

Among the sets mentioned in this post, this one is the crowd favorite.

• Average rating: 4.8/5
• Where to buy?: Buy this Gua Sha set here.
• What do customers like about this product?
  • Approved by many physical therapists
  • Easy to store
  • Ideal for smaller body parts

GYX COELE Stainless Steel Gua Sha Scraping Massage Tool Set

Easy on the hands, this Gua Sha set is perfect for people whose hands hurt after long hours of BJJ. The design of the tools included in this set is meant to prevent scarring and promote tissue regeneration.

• Average rating: 3.5/5
• Where to buy?: Buy this Gua Sha set here.
• What do customers like about this product?
  • Top-quality equipment
  • The set includes more equipment in the price range. This diversity in the set improves the tool’s usability

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