Benefits of Jiu Jitsu
There are many benefits to jiu jitsu, some obvious and some not so obvious.
When you train Brazilian jiu jitsu not only will you get a really tough workout, but you will also learn an extremely useful skill.
On top of that, it is one of the most welcoming martial arts communities.
You can literally travel to almost any place in the world and pop into a jiu jitsu gym, I guarantee you will be welcomed with open arms – arms will likely be trying to strangle you of course.
Jiu jitsu is an endless puzzle, in the sport there will be many highs and lows – days when you leave the mat feeling like a jiu jitsu god and days when you leave and never want to go back.
Jiu jitsu rewards those who deal with these natural frustrations and who choose to continue to show up.
The Main Benefits of Jiu Jitsu Are:
- its fun
- its addicting
- its an excellent workout
- provides increased mobility
- its very good for self defense
- you gain a supportive community
- health benefits (cardiovascular and weight loss)
One of the main reasons someone may sign up for bjj is that it is a very effective method of self-defense in daily life.
You can get out of dangerous circumstances by employing jiu jitsu in close quarters combat.
Every opponent in Jiu Jitsu has a unique physique and set of moves, thus it is important to recognize that quick decision-making under stressful situations is required.
Benefits of Jiu Jitsu Pros and Cons
| Pros: | Cons: |
| You Learn Self Defense | You are constantly think about jiu jitsu |
| You Lose Weight | You have to do more laundry |
| You Gain Friendships | |
| You Feel Amazing After Training | |
| You Gain Self Confidence | |
| You Learn Discipline |
Above all, learning jiu jitsu is enjoyable.
When you defeat your adversary after playing mind tricks and cunning, chess-like strategies with them, it is a wonderful feeling. Especially since in jiu jitsu you are able to spar with full force without the high chance of injury (as seen in other martial arts such as those that are striking based).
When you begin to practice Jiu Jitsu, you will also gain an invaluable community. It is more than simply a gym community. It is a thriving, world-wide community.
If you ever meet another bjj practitioner you will find you have an immediate connection with them since they know the struggles and highs and lows of jiu jitsu too.
You will undoubtedly become close to your training partners since they will experience all of the highs and lows of jiu jitsu with you.
What is Jiu Jitsu
If it is asked to anyone – what is Jiu Jitsu, this would most often refer to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Here is chart comparing brazilian jiu jitsu against other common martial arts:
BJJ General Process:
Survive > Escape > Control > Submit
However its origins are traced back to ancient India around 4000 years ago. From India it went to Japan where The name Jiu Jitsu was formed from the Japanese word “Ju” meaning “gentle” and “Jutsu” meaning “art”; essentially, jiu jitsu is the “gentle art.”
In 1915, renowned Japanese judoka, Mitsuyo Maeda, went to Brazil to spread the teachings of Jiu Jitsu.
Five students of his, Carlos, Oswaldo, Gaston Jr., George, and Helio Gracie went on to create Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
They enhanced the efficiency of already existing methods while also developing new ones and giving origin to a unique martial art.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a grappling-based martial art that has been refined over time. Its central idea is the ability to subdue a resisting opponent through control.
The art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) is heavily based on the ability to take an opponent to the ground and wrestle for dominating control positions from which the opponent can be rendered harmless.
Control is often simpler on the ground than in a standing posture since an opponent cannot generate massive amounts of force through full use of their largest muscle groups.
Is Jiu Jitsu a Good Workout
BJJ is quite possibly the most advanced functional training system on the planet right now.
Along with being a great functional strength workout, you’ll also gain flexibility and fitness.
Tied in with the philosophical benefits of the martial art are the many physical benefits, such as increased:
- flexibility
- speed
- strength
- coordination
- spatial awareness
Jiu Jitsu – The Ultimate Compact Workout Routine
Jiu Jitsu is a compact workout routine because while practicing it makes use of all of the muscles in the body which makes Jiu Jitsu one of the most outstanding martial arts to practice.
The many techniques and positions, which includes:
- X-guard
- closed guard
- rubber guard
- the banana split
See our guide on basic positions and terms here.
All improve practitioner’s flexibility and mobility…whether they like it or not ; )
The new and unusual moves that one has to do in jiu jitsu really opens up the largest muscle groups in your body.
Jiu Jitsu is also a great workout routine for those wanting to lose excess weight.
A balanced diet and avoidance of unhealthy habits and then a compact workout like jiu jitsu can definitely get you your desired shape.
Jiu Jitsu is not tedious like traditional exercises.
It is fun as there are never ending moves in jiu jitsu that keep on attracting to the mat. All these moves that we learn in jiu jitsu not only keep us fit but can also be a great way to defend ourselves both on and off the mat.
Is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Good for Self Defense
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is great for self defense when compared to any other martial art.
Jiu Jitsu teaches us to control the movements of our opponent.
In the training room every opponent will show you different reactions and how you learn to deal with these reactions will make you a better martial artist and better able to defend these in a self-defense scenario.
So years of practicing Jiu Jitsu can make you adept at how to grapple different shapes and sizes of people and their reactions.
Often a practitioner does not realize how good their techniques have gotten as the training partners in the gym are also improving alongside them.
Only when a person is attacked or challenged by a person who is not practiced in this manner does the individual understand the power of Jiu Jitsu.
If a Jiu Jitsu practitioner gets attacked, they know how to control and submit the attacker while reducing damage to themselves and their opponent.
They have been in countless intense grappling situations for the gym so they will be more comfortable in those scenarios than someone untrained in jiu jitsu.
This way of controlled submission has been effective in both MMA and in street fights.
Jiu Jitsu gives a sense of freedom to move around without the worry of not being able to defend ourselves in everyday life.
What is BJJ Training
BJJ training is not just a workout routine but a lifestyle for many.
In this martial art, there are no shortcuts to learning. You have to devote yourself to the training day in and day out.
White > Blue > Purple > Brown > Black
Based on the level of technical knowledge and practical skill within the art you get each belt. It is not easy to reach Black Belt. Usually, it takes 10 to 15 years of consistent training.
When you start your journey after ~a year of dedicated training, you can likely reach blue belt.
After the first 6 months or a year you can increase your training to three or more times a week.
If you are looking to take your bjj training more seriously it is not uncommon for trainees to make it to the gym 5 days or more per week.
However, in this high frequency of training its important to
- monitor your recovery
- be aware of how much you are learning and retaining
- schedule lighter, more drilling focus days and more intense sparring sessions
What is BJJ Sparring
BJJ sparring is a great form of training to enhance one’s techniques.
Sparring is the time when a student of Jiu Jitsu gets the opportunity to showcase their learning on a fully resisting opponent.
In some gyms sparring starts after you receive you first stripe in bjj and are ready to spar and in others it may be up to the coach or even your own decision.
It is not recommended to spar until you are fully comfortable and ready.
Stripes are used to motivate students and also for the instructor to keep track of the time of training and the skill level of the student.
One of the first rules of sparring is to learn to control yourself and try to act methodically during the intense scenario of sparring where you are trying to submit your opponent and they are trying to do the same to you.
Keep your mind calm and try to use the techniques you have learned thus far in your bjj journey.
In the first six months of sparring, your primary goal should be to survive and escape..
To do that, you have to be observant. If you observe how the experienced practitioners spar you will understand the pattern of movements and techniques.
Also learn to prevent yourself from the situations that can lead to submissions. When you are observant and work on the ability of escaping from poor positions you can then work towards learning submissions.
Sparring can intimidate you, but you can get through it.
Learning to survive in tough situations is one of the pillars of bjj.
Is Jiu Jitsu Dangerous
Is Jiu Jitsu dangerous? Absolutely not, in fact it is one of the safest combat sports according to recent research.
In the research, it showed that only 46 injuries occurred out of 5022 total match participants.
The most common injuries that occurred were orthopedic injuries such as sprains.
One of the main reasons behind it is that Jiu Jitsu doesn’t have the same dangers as other striking based martial arts.
As in jiu jitsu, you only focus on grappling (since there is no striking).
In the learning process there is hardly any chance of injury. In sparring there is, but you should only spar when you feel ready and should be partnered with an experienced partner to make the probability of injury very low.
Training with experienced partners is probably the number one thing you can do to limit injuries in bjj.*
If you’ve made it this far you might be thinking is Jiu Jitsu hard to learn? The answer might surprise you.
Learning Jiu Jitsu – Is it Hard?
Learning Jiu Jitsu – Is it Hard? The answer is a simple no.
The founding fathers of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu had the belief that Jiu Jitsu can be taught to any person who is interested in it.
Thus learning BJJ moves is not physically hard and regardless of the size of your body, strength and athletic level you can adapt to it.
While the basics may be learned within weeks or months of attending the first class and significantly increase a practitioner’s ability to protect themselves, mastering the wide range of skill demands an open mind, a ton of devotion, and ultimately, patience.
Additionally, it takes time for you to gain muscle memory and become proficient with jiu jitsu techniques. The ordinary individual likey isn’t accustomed to some of the fundamental movements found in jiu jitsu like “shrimping” or the “hip escape”.
Finally, practicing consistently and showing up are the fundamentals of acquiring any art form. Jiu Jitsu is ultimately an art, and if you practice it consistently, it will come naturally to you with time and practice.
Thanks for reading and see you on the mat – zack
