Benefits of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, abbreviated as BJJ, is a self-defense martial art and combat sport centered around ground fighting, grappling, and submission holds. When practicing BJJ, you’re trying to gain a dominant position by controlling your opponent through a variety of techniques that forces them into submission.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can teach a smaller or weaker person to successfully defend themselves against bigger and stronger opponents. You can do this by using leverage and weight distribution to bring the fight to the ground. Once you do that, you can use submissions to defeat your opponent. This training can be used in self-defense situations or for sport grappling tournaments. BJJ is not only considered a martial art, but it’s also a sport and a way to promote physical fitness, mental health, and character building. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a way of life.

While Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu might be challenging, it is a very rewarding martial art. In fact, there are many benefits to practicing BJJ that can positively affect every aspect of your life. Here are just a few benefits you’ll experience during the first few months of training:

Excellent Aerobic Exercise

If you want to become healthier and increase your longevity, you’ll definitely want to do some aerobic exercises. BJJ is a fantastic form of aerobic exercise. The cardio will help keep your heart in good shape, and your body will feel so much better as you get more oxygen to your blood.

Sparring rounds, also known as rolls, tend to be five minutes long and include both high- and low-intensity efforts with very little rest. This is what makes BJJ sparring such a great form of exercise. It is one that requires aerobic and anaerobic endurance.

Get in Shape

Training in BJJ is excellent for losing weight and keeping the pounds at bay. This martial art works every muscle in your body, so you’re likely to notice differences pretty early on in your training. Plus, rather than focusing on the “Calories Burned” counter on the treadmill or how much time you’ve put into the workout, you’ll be focused on your technique and facing off against your partner.

Build Strength and Flexibility

When you train diligently in BJJ, you’ll start to see yourself becoming stronger. As long as you are performing this martial art regularly, you’ll be building strength and improving muscle tone.

The moves you make when performing BJJ, called grappling, require good flexibility. While some moves may be a bit harder to perform when you first start training in this martial art, once you start practicing it more and more, your body will become more flexible.

Learn Self-Defense

In real life altercations, closing the distance and controlling your opponent is much more effective than just punching them. In fact, many law enforcement officers train in specialized programs developed from BJJ techniques. This is because, in many cases, the safest way to diffuse a situation is through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu techniques. When you train in BJJ, you’ll be learning valuable self-defense skills, such as ground survival techniques, how to restrain opponents, and submissions techniques. As you continue your training, your confidence and knowledge will grow!

Get Better Sleep

Do you have a hard time falling asleep at night? If so, BJJ might be able to help with that. This is a martial art that syncs your body and mind, ultimately leading to a calmer self in the evenings. In addition, it’s also a balanced workout that will end up helping you sleep better on a more consistent basis.

Always Something to Learn

There’s a lot to learn in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, including basic positions, transitions, submissions, and sweeps. There are just so many techniques you can learn. No one opponent will ever be the same, so you’ll constantly be forced to learn how to adapt and which techniques to use. You’ll also learn other concepts, such as leverage, balance, framing, and much more.

Reduce Stress and Fight Depression

When you commit to learning Jiu-Jitsu, you’ll be getting into excellent shape. While this is great for your physical health, it’ll also help reduce stress. Through Jiu-Jitsu, you can combat stress, anxiety, and depression by learning how to master your impulses and thoughts. If you feel upset or frustrated after a long day, BJJ is a neutral space where you can quickly forget the stress weighing on your mind as you are sparring or learning new techniques. As you continue training, you will build your confidence and self-esteem, making it easier to overcome challenges and problems that before seemed insurmountable.

Become Part of a Community

When you begin training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, you’ll be introduced to a gym community, as well as a more extensive international BJJ community. These communities exist in both the real world and online, and they are very helpful and supportive. You will find that you might make quite a few friends during your BJJ journey as you spend days, weeks, months, and years learning and growing with these people. These people come from all walks of life. You’ll meet everyone from professional Jiu-Jitsu athletes to business owners, parents, and doctors.

Have Fun

One of the best parts of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is how much fun it can be! This is a sport you continue to train in throughout life, and many people, even though they don’t ever compete, continue to practice because of how happy it makes them and how much fun they’re having. The effectiveness of the sport and the atmosphere of the BJJ communities create the perfect space for you to learn, have fun, and grow.