RISK 01
Skin-to-skin contact
Prolonged, full-body contact is the sport. There's no replacing it, only managing it.
Coaches Course · CSH Safe Gym
The mat is
your responsibility.
You are the first person who sees a skin problem in your gym, and the one who decides what happens next. This course is the practical version: how to spot it, what to say, who sends them where, and how to keep the room clean so it happens less. Fifteen minutes, four modules, a certificate at the end.
01
2 minutes
Module one
The invisible opponent.
Why a quick mop isn't enough, what an outbreak actually costs, and why skin is the piece of competition equipment nobody checks.
A healthy mat is a safe mat.
Jiu jitsu, MMA, wrestling, judo: any sport that lives on the mat creates the ideal conditions for skin infection. Sweat, friction, and hours of direct skin-to-skin contact. Biologically, it's a perfect storm.
An outbreak doesn't just cost your athletes their competition eligibility. It costs you your reputation, your members and your income. This module is about what you're actually up against.
"Outbreaks shut down training. They put your athletes' health and competition eligibility at risk. The maths is brutal: one missed lesion can take ten people off the mat." Dr Asoka Wijayawickrama
The perfect storm
Four risk factors come together in every session:
RISK 02
Warm, damp conditions
Sweat and humidity on mats are a textbook breeding ground for bacteria and fungi.
RISK 03
Cuts and abrasions
Mat burn, scrapes and nicks are entry points. Broken skin is an open door.
RISK 04
Shared kit
Gis, pads, water bottles: all of them carry it, especially after a night in a zipped bag.
The non-negotiables
Three rules of mat safety.
RULE 01
If it's open, cover it.
Cuts, scrapes and abrasions are cleaned and covered with a secure dressing before anyone steps on the mat.
RULE 02
If it's red, wet or weeping, no training.
Any suspicious, oozing or symptomatic skin lesion means off the mat. No exceptions.
RULE 03
If in doubt, sit them out.
Always err on the side of caution. Anything you can't explain gets looked at before they train again.
02
4 minutes
Module two
Skin health and
member safety.
Spotting it and acting on it. The big four: the infections behind almost every outbreak in combat sports, plus three more you can't afford to miss.
"Plenty of athletes try to tough out a rash. Infections aren't about pain tolerance, they're about how contagious they are. Spotting it early keeps everyone training." Dr Asoka Wijayawickrama
The big four
Fungal · Tinea corporis
01
Ringworm
The fungal one · Tinea corporis
A fungal infection, not a worm. Starts as a flat, scaly patch and develops into the classic ring with a raised border and a clearing centre. Red and itchy.
- Look for
- Ring-shaped rash with a raised, scaly border and a clearing centre.
- How it spreads
- Skin-to-skin, contaminated mats, towels, shared kit.
- Coach's action
- Off the mat. Antifungal treatment and 72 hours minimum, or a doctor's say-so.
Bacterial · Staphylococcus aureus
02
Staph and MRSA
The bacterial one · Staphylococcus aureus
MRSA, the methicillin-resistant strain, is the one to fear: resistant to common antibiotics and quick to turn serious. Frequently mistaken for acne or a spider bite.
- Look for
- Red, swollen, painful bumps: pustules, pimples or boils filled with pus. Fever in severe cases.
- How it spreads
- Enters through broken skin. Shared razors, towels, kit.
- Coach's action
- GP the same day; A&E if it's spreading or there's a fever. Antibiotics. Off the mat until medically cleared.
Viral · HSV-1
03
Herpes gladiatorum
Mat herpes · Herpes simplex virus type 1
A virus. Highly contagious, recurrent, and career-affecting if it's mismanaged. It starts with tingling, itching or burning, which is your early warning.
- Look for
- Clusters of small, painful, fluid-filled blisters on a red base. Face, neck, ears, arms.
- How it spreads
- Direct skin-to-skin contact with open sores. Highly contagious.
- Coach's action
- Off the mat immediately. Antiviral medication (aciclovir, from a GP). No training during an outbreak, even on medication.
Bacterial · Staph/Strep
04
Impetigo
The honey crust · Bacterial (Staph/Strep)
Highly contagious, and known for its honey-coloured crust. Usually appears round the nose, mouth and other entry points.
- Look for
- Small sores or blisters that burst and leave a honey-coloured crust.
- How it spreads
- Skin-to-skin. Moves fast through families and teams.
- Coach's action
- Off the mat immediately. GP or pharmacist for antibiotics. Cleared before they return.
Clinical photographs courtesy of the CDC Public Health Image Library and Wikimedia Commons.
Beyond the big four
| Infection | Cause | What it looks like | Coach's action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folliculitis | Bacterial or fungal | Small red bumps or pus-filled pimples around hair follicles, in high-friction areas (back, thighs). | Pharmacist, or GP if widespread. Off the mat until it's cleared. |
| Molluscum contagiosum | Viral | Small, raised, flesh-coloured bumps with a central dimple. Appear in clusters. | Highly contagious. GP to confirm. No training while the bumps are present. |
| Cellulitis | Bacterial | A spreading area of red, warm, swollen skin. Often painful. Can spread fast. | GP the same day or 111; A&E if there are red streaks or a fever. Off the mat until the antibiotics are finished and it's resolved. |
The conversation
How to have it.
Privacy matters. Never raise a suspected skin problem in front of the class; public shaming destroys trust and teaches people to hide things. Lead with concern, not accusation.
Don't say
"You've got ringworm, get off my mats."
Say this instead
"I've noticed something on your arm and I want to make sure you're alright. Can we have a word over here?"
Then state the policy plainly: "For everyone's safety the rule's the same for all of us: anything that might be a skin infection gets looked at by a pharmacist or GP before you're back on the mat." Follow up privately a few days later. It's the follow-up that keeps the relationship.
03
4 minutes
Module three
Mat maintenance
and gym protocols.
How to clean a mat properly. Why most gyms get it wrong, and the five-step protocol that separates a clean room from a wet mop and a prayer.
Why mopping isn't cleaning.
Mopping a dirty floor doesn't kill anything. It moves it around. Pathogens hide under organic matter, in hair, in dust, and mopping over it makes a soup that lets them survive the disinfectant.
That's why a proper clean always starts with a dry vacuum. Always.
"Contact time is non-negotiable. Most disinfectants need five to ten minutes wet on the surface to actually work. Spray and wipe in thirty seconds kills nothing." The protocol
The five-step protocol.
Clear
Remove all kit and debris from the surface. Pathogens hide in shadows.
Dry vac
Vacuum the whole mat. Mopping over dirt moves it, it doesn't clean it.
Apply
Spray a tested disinfectant at the correct dilution. Measure it, don't guess.
Dwell
Wait five to ten minutes. Contact time is non-negotiable for bacterial and fungal spores.
Dry
Air dry or wipe with a clean cloth. Stops slips and stops re-contamination.
Cleaning cadence.
Build it into the rota, not into "when someone remembers."
Daily
- Mat clean: morning and evening
- Vacuum and disinfect the whole surface
- Hand sanitiser topped up at every entrance
- Visual check of mats for damage
Weekly
- Walls (the sweat splash zone)
- Check beneath the mats
- Cage padding, ropes, post pads
- Changing rooms deep clean
Monthly
- Ventilation filters and air handling
- Kit lifespan inspection
- Restock first aid and mat-side kits
- Check cleaning chemical stock and dates
The mat-side kit.
Contamination doesn't wait for cleaning hours. Equip your coaches to handle small incidents mid-class, not just after.
Sanitiser and towels
Hand sanitiser at every mat entry. Personal sweat towels for everyone. Never wipe sweat onto a partner.
Wound kit
Sterile saline or cleansing wipes, washproof dressings in several sizes, tape. Stop the drill, clean, cover, carry on.
Disinfection on demand
A tested surface spray (quaternary ammonium) and disposable paper towels for an instant mat clean when something happens.
04
5 minutes
Module four
Chemical literacy
and safety.
Know what you're spraying. Read the label, learn the symbols, respect the dilution. Most cleaning failures, and most chemical injuries, come from someone who skipped the back of the bottle.
Reading the label.
Four words decide whether a product actually does what you need:
The words to look for.
- Broad-spectrumEffective against a wide range of pathogens: bacteria, fungi and many viruses. Your baseline.
- VirucidalKills viruses, including enveloped viruses like HSV-1 (mat herpes). Essential for combat sports.
- FungicidalKills fungal spores, including the dermatophytes behind ringworm. Often needs the longest contact time.
- SporicidalKills bacterial spores. Not always necessary, but the standard for outbreak response.
Hazard symbols.
The diamond pictograms on every cleaning product. If you can't read these, you can't safely run a gym. Three you must know:
GHS 07
Exclamation mark
Irritant. May cause skin or eye irritation, an allergic reaction, or breathing irritation. Use with ventilation and gloves.
GHS 02
Flame
Flammable. Keep away from heat, sparks and open flames. Never spray near electrical equipment.
GHS 05
Corrosion
Causes severe skin burns and eye damage, or corrodes metals. Gloves, eye protection and ventilation, every time.
Safety non-negotiables
Don't guess it.
SAFETY 01
Dilute to the label.
Too strong wastes product and risks skin damage. Too weak kills nothing. Use a measuring jug, every time.
SAFETY 02
Wear the gloves.
Gloves and eye protection when handling concentrate. Ventilation when applying. Your hands aren't a test sample.
SAFETY 03
Never mix.
Bleach and ammonia make toxic chlorine gas. Mixing cleaners can be deadly. One product, one job, one label.
Your six-step action plan.
When you suspect an infection, this is the play. Learn it.
Inspect
Daily visual check during warm-ups and drilling. Look for scratching, rashes (neck, arms, face), loose dressings, dirty gis.
Act
If you spot something, take the athlete aside privately. Never in front of the class.
Remove
Send them home, with the rule stated plainly: it gets looked at before they train again.
Refer
Pharmacist or GP for diagnosis and treatment. A&E for severe or spreading staph.
Clean
Deep clean the mats and any affected kit straight away, using the five-step protocol. Stay vigilant for 14 days.
Verify
Only let them back once a doctor has confirmed it's resolved and no longer contagious. No exceptions.
Final step · Coach certificate
Earn your
CSH Safe Gym Coach certificate.
Fifteen multiple-choice questions drawn from every module. Pass with 80% (12 out of 15) to unlock your printable certificate. Get one wrong? Try again. You've earned the right to be sure.
Ready?
Do all four modules first if you want a fighting chance. Then hit the button.
Question
1 / 15
