Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is often hailed as the perfect martial art.
But what is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu good for?
In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu made popular by the Gracie family and find out what makes it so special.
If you’re considering picking up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, you might be wondering what the benefits are.
Life-Changing Martial Art
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a grappling martial art that has become increasingly popular in recent years.
It is similar to other martial arts such as Judo and Wrestling, but with its own unique grappling techniques and ground fighting methods allowing a weaker person to fend off stronger opponents.
Why Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Is Good For You
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is more than just a sport.
It is a lifestyle that can change your life for the better in many ways.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is often hailed as one of the most functional martial arts styles in the world.
Whether you’re looking to get in shape, learn self-defense, or compete in tournaments, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has a lot to offer.
So, what are the benefits of BJJ?
The 16 Benefits Of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is often lauded as being one of the most effective traditional martial arts for self-defense (compared to Muay Thai, Japanese JuJutsu, MMA and many other martial arts).
1. BJJ Is An Excellent Cardiovascular Workout
One hour of rolling around on the mat can burn up to 600 calories! It is not easy to think of a more physically demanding activity to get in shape.
This will surely improve your cardiovascular health. It gets your heart rate up and gets you breathing hard when trying to secure those joint locks.
And because it’s a full-body workout, you’ll tone muscles all over your body.
As with many martial arts, BJJ can be a great addition in your weight loss journey.
2. BJJ Builds Strength And Flexibility
Grappling involves using every muscle in your body, which will lead to increased strength and power.
And because you’re constantly stretching and pulling your body in different directions, you’ll become more flexible.
Your anaerobic endurance will improve vastly while mastering this unique style of fighting. The physical benefits of Jiu Jitsu are truly on another level.
3. BJJ Improves Coordination And Balance
Have you ever tried to stand up after being taken down by a larger opponent? It’s not easy!
Coordination and balance are essential for success in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
The dynamic movements of BJJ will help to improve your balance and coordination over time.
4. BJJ Teaches Self-Defense
One of the main reasons people start training BJJ is for self-defense purposes.
And with good reason – Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an incredibly effective form of self-defense for all fighters.
In fact, many police forces and military units around the world use BJJ as part of their training regimen in learning self defense. Mastering BJJ is a fantastic way of learning this skill set.
5. BJJ Boosts Confidence
Learning how to defend yourself can be a major confidence booster.
But even if you never find yourself in a dangerous situation, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu will give you the confidence that comes with knowing you can handle yourself in any situation.
As you progress in BJJ, you’ll develop a greater sense of confidence and self-esteem. This martial art is especially great for kids as it helps with both physical and mental development.
The physical and mental challenges of the sport will help you to feel more capable in all aspects of your life. This will also translate into other sports as well.
6. BJJ Promotes Discipline
Like any martial art, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu requires discipline in order to be effective.
But the discipline required for BJJ goes beyond just showing up to class on time – it also requires practice and dedication to improving your technique, drilling moves over and over again, and competing against other grapplers.
All of this leads to increased discipline both on and off the mat.
Learning BJJ skills can help you in other areas of your life as well.
7. BJJ Builds Character
The grapplers I know are some of the most humble, respectful people I’ve ever met. Hence the name “gentle art.”
There’s something about going toe-to-toe with someone that builds character like nothing else can.
If you want to become a better person, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu will help you get there.
8. BJJ Fosters Community
The grappling community is tight knit and supportive – once you become part of it, you’ll always have friends wherever you go. BJJ athletes are straight up great people.
No matter where you are in the world, there will always be a place for you at a local Jiu Jitsu gym.
9. BJJ Improves Your Focus And Concentration
In order to be successful in Jiu Jitsu, you must be able to focus intently on what you are doing and not get distracted. No wonder people call it “human chess” as critical thinking skills are a prerogative here.
This skill will transfer to other areas of your life, helping you to be more successful in everything you do.
10. BJJ Helps Relieve Stress
Training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a great way to relieve stress and tension from your day-to-day life.
The physical activity and the focus required for BJJ will help clear your mind and leave you feeling refreshed after each session.
The physical and mental challenges of BJJ can help to take your mind off of everyday stressors. It’s a great way to clear your head and relax.
11. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Promotes Teamwork
In order to be successful in the sport, practitioners must learn to work together with their partners.
This teamwork can translate into other aspects of life, such as work or school projects.
12. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Improves Problem-Solving Skills
Practitioners must be able to think quickly and creatively in order to submit their opponents.
This type of thinking can be applied to solving problems in other areas of life as well.
In order to be successful in BJJ, you need to be able to think on your feet and come up with creative solutions to problems quickly.
These skills can transfer over into other areas of your life as well.
13. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Encourages Goal-Setting
In order to progress in the sport, practitioners must set goals and work hard to achieve them.
This type of dedication and determination can be applied to other areas of life as well.
The stripe system (BJJ belts) in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is quite intricate and takes serious planning.
That black belt is right around the corner!
14. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Fosters Sportsmanship
One of the core values of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is respect for one’s opponents.
This sportsmanship helps participants develop positive relationships with others both inside and outside of the training environment.
15. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Teaches Leadership
As you progress in Jiu Jitsu, you may have the opportunity to take on a leadership role within your academy or team.
This experience can help you develop important leadership skills that will benefit you in other areas of your life.
16. BJJ Teaches Respect
In Jiu Jitsu, respect is paramount. You must learn to respect your instructors, training partners, and opponents. This experience will teach you the importance of respect both on and off the mats.
The Importance of Training Partners in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
No matter what level you are in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, having a good training partner is crucial.
A training partner can help you push yourself to your limits and beyond, and they can also help you stay motivated when things get tough.
Here are some of the reasons why having a good training partner is so important:
- Training partners can help you push yourself to your limits
When you are training alone, it is easy to coast through your workouts and not push yourself as hard as you could.
Having a training partner who is always trying to better themselves can help motivate you to do the same.
A good training partner will push you to try new techniques and drills, and they will also challenge you when sparring or rolling.
- Training partners can help keep you motivated
It is easy to lose motivation when training alone, but having a training partner can help keep you on track.
If you see your training partner making progress, it will inspire you to do the same.
Likewise, if your training partner is struggling, it will motivates you to step up and help them out.
- Training partners can help improve your technique
By drilling and sparring with a variety of different partners, you will be exposed to different techniques and styles that can help improve your own game.
Grappling with a bigger, stronger opponent will force you to learn how to use leverage and proper technique to survive; on the other hand, rolling with a smaller, quicker opponent will teach you how to use speed and timing to your advantage.
- Training partners can provide emotional support
Training for any martial art can be tough mentally and emotionally, but it is especially true for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
The sport is notorious for its emotional ups and downs, from the highs of winning a match or mastering a new technique, to the lows of losing or getting submitted.
Having a good support system in place is crucial for any athlete, and your partners can be that support system for you.
They understand what you are going through because they are going through it themselves, and they can offer advice, encouragement or just a shoulder to cry on when needed.
How To Get Started In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is often considered one of the most effective martial arts for self-defense, as it emphasizes techniques that can help someone escape from or avoid an attacker who has the advantage of size or strength.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioners train it recreationally as well as competitively supplementing other mixed martial arts.
If you’re interested in getting started in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training, there are a few things you’ll need to do.
- Find a good school with experienced instructors.
- Once you’ve found a school you’re comfortable with, you’ll need to purchase a gi (the traditional uniform worn in Jiu Jitsu) and some other training gear.
- Most BJJ academies will also require you to purchase a yearly membership.
Once you have all of your gear and have joined a school, you’ll be ready to start learning effective self defense systems with this exciting martial art!
If you want to learn BJJ now, you can check out our 7 Day BJJ Starter Program.
