Are you considering trying Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but wondering what it is?
Based on grappling and ground fighting, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu focuses on controlling your opponent through techniques that require him or her to submit.
This form of martial arts has its origins in Judo and Japanese Jujutsu and is considered a “gentle art” that enables a smaller person to use leverage and other tactics to defend him/herself against someone who is larger.
But the benefits of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu go far beyond just that.
We’ve got at least four great reasons to give it a try:
1. Relieve Stress
Other forms of exercise like running or weight training can help you find stress relief.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu demands so much focus and dedication during training though that there’s simply no space for you to think about your problems.
Because of its aggressive nature, you’ll blow off some serious steam and let out frustrations each time you come to your bjj classes. But you’ll be doing it in a safe and controlled environment with highly-trained instructors.
It’s the perfect form of therapy.
2. Improve Health and Body Awareness
Along with a reduction in stress, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu helps you increase flexibility, strength, and endurance. All of this leads to overall better health.
And as you’re training, you will learn methods to use your body in a functional and efficient manner. This is the best recipe to increase strength and flexibility.
But it also helps you become far more aware of your body as a unit. For instance, you’ll be quick to notice when you slump your shoulders or lean more heavily into one side of your body than the other.
Having this awareness will lessen the likelihood of pain and stress from structural imbalances or poor alignment in your everyday life.
3. Lose Weight
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a complete body workout that challenges every single muscle in your body.
So even though it’s not the focus, one of the first things practitioners notice is weight loss.
Learning and using safe techniques to push through the initial soreness in the first few weeks enables you to keep building your practice while burning calories.
But the practice itself is so inspiring that burning calories is rarely even a consideration. It’s a nice fringe benefit though!
4. Increase Mental Dexterity
It might surprise you to know that learning a new technique and then applying it requires as much mental energy as physical energy.
Because there is so much hidden strategy, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has been compared to chess. Just like chess, it’s important that you stay at least one move ahead of your partner.
Then when you’re finally paired up with opponents, you’ll need to be able to make split-second decisions and adjust your timing, and know exactly when to move.
Putting all of your learned techniques to the test teaches you to focus and problem-solve while building mental dexterity.
The Benefits of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Are Amazing
And if the above-listed benefits of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu aren’t enough to convince you, there are others including self-defense and being part of a supportive community.
Are you ready to see for yourself what it can do for you? We encourage you to go for it!
And for more great health-related articles, keep checking back with our highly informational blog.