All right. I'm a grappler. So this is a big problem for me?

Question

I'm getting bad cramps in my legs. In every muscle... The calf, the Hamstring the quad. Sometimes I think even the hip. Leg cramps to me are like forearm crams to an arm wrestler. What could it be or what should i do. It's starting to happen everyday. I would of beat some guy like 100 pounds more then me if my hooks did not cramp up. Advice?

Answer 1

I get real bad cramps and I do triathlons and running marathon.  Proper hydration is the key and make sure your body is use to the work load it is doing.  Weight training and cardio will help with the work load in training along with proper nutrition.  Most sports drinks do not have what you really need.  Gatorade in powder form is much better than the bottled gatorade bought at the stores.  You might want to do some research.  Many of us endurance athletes use  Heed (there are a few good ones out there including gatorade endurance in powder form) at hammernutrition.com.  I called them myself and they can answer a lot of your questions and I DO NOT WORK FOR THEM.  It does not hurt to do a little research.  Tonic water helps after a cramp comes and you are at home trying to relax.  The quinine in it will help relax the muscles (tastes nasty so a little orange juice with it is better.  Good luck!

Answer 2

You may need to hydrate your body. Get some electrolytes and potassium in your body. (gatorade, bananas, etc)  

Answer 3

You're not a grappler.  

Answer 4

You might be getting dehydrated. So drink alot of water and drinks like powerade. Or you might not have warmed up enough, so get a good long warm up in and stretch after you warm up. That used to happen to me a lot of times in XMA after I would be kicking for too long (yes i know totally different styles but got tons of cramps that made it hard to perform.)

Good luck on your grappling hope i could help.  

Answer 5

Lots and lots of water!  Lay off the creatine, if you're taking that.  Get more potassium - eat bananas.  Make sure to warm up and stretch more than you are doing.  

Answer 6

You might want to increase fluid intake.

You could be dehydrating during your workouts.