Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Do you know that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (also known as BJJ) is one of the safest martial arts? It results in fewer injuries than wrestling, taekwondo, MMA, and judo, according to a study published in The Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine.
The fact that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is safe (which is a major plus for many people) isn't the only reason to consider it.
Here are some of the benefits of training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu consistently. You’ll also learn about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu's history and discover some other interesting facts about the sport.
What is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?
A popular form of martial arts is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The name derives from the Japanese words “Jū,” which means “gentle,” and “Jutsu,” which means “art.” Literally, Jiu-Jitsu translates to “gentle art.”
But what does "gentle art" actually entail? Jiu Jitsu in Brazil is primarily a ground-based practice. A non-violent submission is achieved by using principles such as leverage, angles, timing, and pressure, in conjunction with an understanding of the human anatomy.
Because Brazilian Jiu Jitsu places an emphasis on groundwork, it is unique. Striking and kicking are less common in martial arts than in other forms. Close-contact grappling is the focus, along with carefully executed chokes and joint manipulations.
The History of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Whether it's in the U.S. or around the world, how did a Brazilian martial arts form with a Japanese name gain such popularity? This is a brief history of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to introduce you to the sport.
In the early 1900s, Japanese Jiu Jitsu made its way to South America and became Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
There are thousands of years of history (at least 4,000 years) behind this form of Jiu Jitsu. Buddhist monks practiced it in India to protect themselves while traveling without harming their attackers.
As Jiu-Jitsu spread, it became an effective form of hand-to-hand combat in medieval Japan.
In 1915, Mitsuyo Maeda, a famous Japanese judoka, traveled to Brazil to teach Judo and Jiu-Jitsu (at that time, the disciplines weren't considered separate). The Brazilian Jiu Jitsu we know today was invented by three of Maeda's students (the Gracie brothers, Carlos and Helio, and Luiz Françawent).
As a martial art form, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is distinguished from other martial arts primarily based on the work of the Gracies and Françawent. A few decades later, in the early 1970s, it began to grow slowly in the United States, before reaching mainstream prominence in the 1990s.
Carlos Gracie, Jr. founded the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation in 2002. Currently, the federation hosts competitions around the world, many of which take place in the United States.
Top 10 Benefits of Training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has many benefits. Here are 10 things to keep in mind:
1. Learn Basic Self-Defense Skills
In the United States, there are more than 800,000 aggravated assaults every year. When you feel threatened or attacked, do you know how to defend yourself?
In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, you learn how to sharpen your self-defense skills and feel confident in your ability to defend yourself.
One of the most interesting aspects of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is that it does not rely on kicking, punching, or lunging like other martial arts. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, instead of teaching how to strike down an attacker, teaches how to close the distance and control them.
It is so effective that many police officers learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu strategies (through specialized training programs, not everyday gym classes) to defuse tense situations without permanently harming the person they are trying to control.
2. Reduce Stress
You can relieve stress by exercising of any kind. You produce endorphins when you exercise, which are chemicals linked to decreased stress levels, reduced pain, and a positive mood.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is an excellent exercise that helps you fight stress while also getting an incredible workout.
A great deal of mental focus and dedication is required to master Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. In order to become a successful grappler, you must be able to focus on the report you need to write for your boss while grappling with an opponent. Following regular training, people find that they are more present throughout the day because they are in the moment.
As an aggressive sport, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu allows you to let off steam and vent your frustrations in a healthy way. You can release tension and feel more relaxed with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, regardless of whether you are annoyed with your boss or frustrated with traffic.
3. Improve Problem-Solving Skills
As a result of learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, you can also improve your problem-solving skills. There is more to these classes than just training your body. As well as strengthening your body, they also strengthen your mind!
In your first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class, you'll learn that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to training with an opponent. Improve your technique and come up with different strategies to get them to submit.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training can improve a person's critical thinking skills over time. One of their strengths is their ability to approach problems from different angles and find unique solutions.
The ability to think critically can help you in all aspects of your life, whether you watch the news or face a challenging assignment at work.
4. Meet New Friends
You can meet new friends and build your community by taking fitness classes, especially if you haven't been able to network yet because you just moved.
It is particularly good for community-building to practice Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. There is a wide range of people who attend BJJ classes. Whether you're a stay-at-home mom or a senior looking to work out, a BJJ gym or studio is for you.
Getting to know your classmates well will allow you to form close friendships (after all, you'll be rolling around on the floor together).
5. Lose Weight
The practice of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can help you lose weight and shed some excess body fat. In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes, you burn a lot of calories, which speeds up your fitness goals.
As well as being easy to maintain consistency, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is also much easier to learn than many other forms of exercise.
You're more likely to stick with your workouts if you enjoy them. Running on the treadmill or riding a stationary bike to nowhere is not as engaging as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu because it challenges your mind as well as your body.
6. Gain Strength
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu not only helps you lose weight and burn calories, but it can also help you gain muscle and strength.
You use every single muscle in your body when you train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. This is the ultimate full-body workout that ensures no muscle group is overlooked.
The longer you train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, the more likely you are to notice improvements in other forms of exercise as well. If you lift weights, you may find that you can lift more than you could previously because you're doing so much strength training outside of your traditional lifting sessions.
7. Improve Sleep Quality
In the long run, you'll likely find that you don't have any difficulty falling asleep once your head hits the pillow after taking Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes.
Exercisers tend to sleep better (both in terms of quality and quantity) than non-exercisers. Take up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu if you struggle with insomnia or just don't feel well rested in the morning.
Exercising helps you tire out so that you are able to fall asleep at night. Because Brazilian Jiu Jitsu works both your mind and your body, it is particularly beneficial in this area. Stress and anxiety can keep you up at night even when you are physically tired, so this can help you sleep better.
8. Develop Self-Discipline
Those looking to build a stronger sense of self-discipline will benefit greatly from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu due to its strategic nature and mental demands.
Restraint, perseverance, and accountability are the hallmarks of the best Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioners.
In addition to being comfortable with discomfort, they also know that results take time. Dedicated to improving their skills and becoming better at their favorite sport, they work hard day after day and week after week.
Those who need help developing discipline can benefit from attending Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes week after week. You'll eventually become accustomed to going to class and training, even on days when you're not feeling great.
Maintaining momentum and improving your performance will become easier as you become consistent and notice changes both inside and outside of class.
9. Increase Confidence
In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, you'll frequently encounter new obstacles and limitations, and you'll need to learn how to overcome them. In addition to building mental fortitude, doing this repeatedly helps you gain confidence in other aspects of your life as well.
Getting stronger physically and mentally while learning self-defense is a great way to build self-esteem and confidence. You'll be able to solve problems at work and with your family if you can do it on the mat, right?
10. Learn Humility
Being more confident and sure of yourself can be achieved by training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. In most cases, however, these feelings of confidence will not translate into arrogance because BJJ also teaches humility.
No matter how skilled you are, it doesn't matter. Sometimes you will not be able to break free from your opponent.
While there are times when you feel in your zone and are able to submit everyone, there are also times when someone else is taking you down and forcing you to submit.
Despite how good you get at Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, you'll find that there's always room for improvement, no matter how good you get.
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