Unsure about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? Here are 8 of the most important reasons why it’s the perfect martial art for you.
1. It Builds Your Character
If you're willing to stick to your training and work hard towards your goals, then you'll not only build resilience but also develop essential traits such as patience, self-discipline, confidence, respect and humility. The character traits you'll gain from BJJ are also essential for leadership roles and will directly impact how you tackle daily life tasks such as study, building and maintaining relationships and succeeding at work. Ultimately, your overall quality of life will greatly improve.
2. It's the most practical martial art for self-defence
In a real life-threatening situation, you can run away or end things with your fists. Everyone has a puncher's chance, but if you can’t knock them out, jiu jitsu is one of the most powerful and practical tools for you to use. Majority of street fights end up on the ground - not standing. BJJ focuses on getting your opponent on the ground and subduing them without using punches and kicks. Train BJJ consistently and you will also be able to defend yourself while using the least amount of force necessary.
3. It's great for your physical health
It goes without saying that BJJ is one of the most intense workouts you will ever experience. From your neck to your calves, BJJ is an excellent full-body workout in that you will be required to activate all of your muscle groups. Building strength and improving overall muscle tone is an inevitable effect of training BJJ. Not only will you become stronger by training jiu jitsu, but you will also greatly improve your aerobic fitness. Many BJJ moves also require flexibility, and at the start some moves may not come easily to you. By practising these moves you will by default become more flexible.
4. It’s great for your mental health
We've mentioned the physical benefits, but what about the mental ones too? Jiu Jitsu training will assist you with learning to master your thoughts and impulses, which will help to combat stress and anxiety. Joining a BJJ community will also help stave off feelings of isolation. Being part of a community has many positive effects on mental wellbeing by providing a sense of belonging and purpose. Odyssey Jiu Jitsu Academy is part of GFTeam, which is an international community with affiliate gyms spread all over the world.
5. It improves your ability to problem solve
BJJ will put you in situations where you will have to overcome many mental and physical obstacles. When training, your mind will constantly be focussed on how to maneuver opponents and put them in positions so that you can take advantage of them. This is exactly why BJJ is also referred to as being like "a game of human chess”.
6. It improves your overall mental capacity
By consistently training BJJ, you'll vastly improve your ability to think quickly on your feet and be strategic in high pressure situations. If you are ever in a position where an opponent swings the fight in their favour, you'll be trained to execute your next move with intelligence. It's no wonder why BJJ is known for being a popular sport amongst highly educated and successful people!
7. It takes you outside of your comfort zone
Jiu jitsu will constantly challenge you and place you in positions that are extremely uncomfortable. It takes a while to get used to the feeling of being crushed or choked by an opponent and, for most people, trying to submit an opponent doesn’t come naturally. However, consistent training will eventually teach you to remain calm and think clearly when uncomfortable. If you are all about self-improvement then you must take yourself outside of your comfort zone.
8. It's perfect for women
BJJ has quickly grown to become one of the most popular martial arts among female athletes. Most notably, it allows a woman to defend against a much bigger and more powerful attacker. By learning how to fight off your back by using joint locks, sweeps, and chokes, a woman can use many BJJ techniques to defend if she finds herself on the bottom of an attacker. For example, she could use a swift armbar to break the attacker’s arm.
Now that we've convinced you as to why BJJ is for you, feel free to book in a trial class at our studio in Bibra Lake, Cockburn. We look forward to seeing you on the mats soon.
