Brazilian jiu-jitsu is more than just a martial art and a sport. It is a lifestyle that can transform your life for the better. Brazilian jiu-jitsu got to limelight due to Renzo Gracie’s incredible success in UFC.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu has since grown into more than a martial art or a sport. It has become a way of life for millions of people around the world due to its incredible benefits.
There is a widely held misconception that Brazilian jiu-jitsu is just for wrestlers. However, that isn’t true because BJJ benefits spill into virtually every aspect of life. Here are a few BJJ benefits you can expect to experience within the first few training sessions.
Physical BJJ Benefits
Weight Loss
There is no more natural way to keep fit and lose weight than Brazilian jiu-jitsu training. It is a vigorous exercise that works every muscle on your body, so trainees can expect to notice a difference almost instantly. But the most exciting part is that you can tell how hardworking you are!
One mistake people often make when training for weight loss is focusing too much on how many calories they have burned and the time they spend on the treadmill.
But with BJJ, your focus shifts to facing off against an opponent. Research has found that most top wrestlers got into jiu-jitsu as a weight loss exercise, but later fell in love with it and made a career out of it.
Energy
The fact that intensive workouts may make you feel more energized may sound counter-intuitive. But that’s the truth. Science has found that seemingly passive activities such as browsing and watching television are not relaxing at all.
Instead, physical activities and sports are not only re-energizing but also helps relieve stress. That’s the reason most training academies offer training early in the morning.
Most professionals find themselves better prepared for a long, tiresome day when they start their day with vigorous training. Starting the day with a strenuous training is a common practice among the world’s most successful professionals.
Students can as well benefit tremendously from BJJ training since workouts can aid in studying, and can increase concentration.
So, it is time to take a break from your desk and books and step into the mats. You will find that you will be more energized throughout the day than if you didn’t train!
Self-Defense
BJJ, like other martial arts, can instill self-defense. The most significant difference between BJJ and other martial arts is that the former focuses more on the self-defense aspect.
BJJ doesn’t involve any punching like other martial arts such as karate and boxing, where you have to hit the opponent to defend yourself. Brazilian jiu-jitsu is simply about subduing the opponent without hurting them.
In self-defense, punching isn’t as effective as controlling the movement of an opponent and making them submit. That’s why law enforcers and the military derive their training techniques from BJJ.
Physical Endurance
Improved endurance and strength are some of the direct BJJ benefits that makes it more than a sport or martial art. Of course, trainees tug and pull each other’s color and sleeves as they roll on the mat.
You might also find yourself in strangleholds, joint locks, and difficult positions during training sessions. Rigorous BJJ training sessions can put your body through hardship.
Doing so not only makes your arms stronger and grips tighter but also increases your body’s overall endurance and strength. Practicing BJJ consistently can make your physical endurance stronger than ever.
Mental BJJ Benefits
Patience
Your simple brute strength may not be enough for you to be successful in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Most beginners are tempted to go full-blown in their first few classes to try to win a match. But the problem with that mentality is that you are likely to injure your training partner or injure yourself.
You are also likely to run out of gas quickly. Never press yourself off the opponent when you find yourself in a bad position.
Instead, try to incorporate the Brazilian jiu-jitsu techniques that you have learned. Being composed and keeping calm allows you to think more strategically.
Jiu-jitsu teaches you to be patient and relaxed and how to roll safely and fluidly.
Critical Thinking
Unlike other martial arts, such as boxing and karate, which are games of dominance, BJJ isn’t just about dominance. It is a game of mental fortitude as well. Many aspects of BJJ are similar to the game of chess.
The more you train and the more techniques you learn, the more you can notice your opponent’s next move.
Learners become aware of the traps and strategies that they can use on their opponents after getting accustomed to the BJJ fundamentals.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu makes you not only a grappling ninja but a critical thinker and problem solver as well.
Stress Relief
Like any other sport, BJJ can help relieve your stress levels. Whether you’re having issues with your spouse or frustrated with your unreasonable workmate, jiu-jitsu can help you overcome all these. Step into the mats, and you will be amazed by how quickly it takes to refresh your mind.
The level of concentration needed in BJJ ensures that you only focus on the rolls. You don’t have to worry about getting chocked out or your stressors since your focus switches off to the BJJ techniques once you step into the mats.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu has continued to grow and catch the attention of the public since the popularization of MMA. More and more professionals and athletes continue to incorporate BJJ into their workout routine.
Virtually everyone agrees that Brazilian jiu-jitsu is more than a sport and martial arts. Millions of people around the world have made it a way of life. But honestly, Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a life-changing sport.
With BJJ’s rigors, and after countless rolling sessions, you will experience all the mental and physical benefits associated with this sport-like lifestyle. It is an effective way to build your physical strength and improve your overall mental health.
