BJJ is among the fastest-growing martial arts today and is now more accessible than ever before. Anyone can train in it provided that access to coaches is available. Because of its effectiveness, Jiu-Jitsu has garnered much attention, even from people with no martial arts or athletic backgrounds. Including BJJ in your weekly routine is one of the best things you can do. Its benefits outweigh the risk of injuries when done correctly and safely with the guidance of a legitimate coach.
If you are a beginner, starting BJJ will help you become better physically, mentally, and socially. According to Jocko Willink, a former Navy SEAL, BJJ personality, and black belt, Jiu-Jitsu is the best activity you can recommend to someone to improve their lives overall. Today we’ll talk about 9 reasons BJJ can give you a good workout.
1) BJJ Gets Your Whole Body Moving
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an activity that uses the whole body. It works everything from your neck down to your toes. While practically ignored in other sports, body parts like the neck and head play a big role in grappling. You can use your head as an additional limb to post and push your opponents away.
Pulling the head down is also common when clinching in the standup as you need to break down the opponent’s posture. If you are a beginner, expect that you might experience some neck soreness in your first week of training.
As you escape bad positions and apply submissions, your arms, core, and hips are used extensively to create space and angles. Training with the gi strengthens your forearm and back muscles as there will be a lot of pushing and pulling to get to better positions. While it is not a requirement, having a decent strength routine helps your grappling in a major way. Every muscle in your body will be worked eventually, and it’s up to you to set the intensity.
2) Works Out The Mind
Jiu-Jitsu develops your critical thinking ability and problem-solving skills. It is referred to as “human chess” because you have to set up your attacks in a manner that is both tactical and strategic at the same time.
The greatest gift an individual will get from training in BJJ is the ability to solve problems under stress. According to John Danaher, problems in BJJ are dynamic. As you try to solve the issue at hand, the opponent is already switching to another problem for you to solve. This is why it can also be practiced mentally by watching grappling matches and predicting the counters and recounters that the athletes pull off.
For most grapplers, the mat is a safe haven. It may be the only time of the day when they can enter the zone, clear their mind, and shift their focus away from life’s difficulties. We live in a stressful world where things are stacked against us. As mentioned above, BJJ gives the ability to solve problems under stress. The ability to remain composed when facing complex problems with potentially damaging consequences is a valuable skill to have.
4) You’ll Meet New Friends
Aside from the physical benefits, BJJ also allows you to work on your social skills. As a beginner, it is important that you communicate with your coach or other higher belts because you need their guidance as you work on your technique.
To train in BJJ means to join a community. As Danaher said, joining a community and living for something bigger than yourself adds meaning to our lives. Being on the mats allows you to interact with people from different walks of life. Some of who you can get advice from and relate to, with the same situation or problems they are facing.
5) It’s A Mix Of Aerobic And Anaerobic Exercise
BJJ is a mix of aerobic (cardio exercise) and anaerobic (quick bursts of energy at maximum effort) exercise. It uses a lot of anaerobic energy in the standup or when going for takedowns. As you get the fight to the ground, you use more aerobic energy to stabilize the positions or play the guard. It is a mix of both, and the energy usage will depend on your skill level, your partner, and the intensity of the roll.
6) It Regulates Your Ego
BJJ favors the use of technique rather than brute force. To some extent, it is a martial art where the smaller and more skilled grappler can beat a bigger, stronger, but less skilled grappler. Strength is always an advantage in any type of grappling martial art. It can be used effectively when applied with proper technique. Remember that no matter how big or strong you are, always be respectful on the mats when rolling with smaller or less skilled partners.
7) Enhances Body Coordination And Flexibility
In BJJ, your body performs what your mind dictates. It trains the whole body to move and work together as a unit to do the techniques and movements from all angles. Flexibility is crucial as it prevents injuries, reduces muscular pain, and improves physical performance. It is the ability that allows the muscle or joint to achieve its full range of motion. The more flexible you are, the more awesome techniques and movements you can do, like inverting, rubber guard, de la Riva guard, gogoplata, and the buggy choke.
8) It Improves Your Situational Awareness
Jiu-Jitsu is known for its effectiveness in close-combat and self-defense situations against a single attacker. Learning BJJ broadens your situational awareness. It gives you the ability to recognize danger and potential threats. This awareness allows you to decide on the best approach to situations.
Given the ability to perform under stress, BJJ gives leverage to its practitioners when defending themselves against an attacker, regardless of size. It gives them an effective way to isolate limbs and pin the aggressor in an uncomfortable position.
9) BJJ Is Addictive!
BJJ is one of those rare sports that makes you excited to go back to the gym. It is mainly because BJJ is hard mentally and physically. The challenge pushes its practitioners toward bettering themselves and not settling until they improve. Learning combinations in BJJ can be as addictive as executing your favorite combination in a popular fighting game. People generally crave a repeatable challenge that will help them improve and become better.
Give BJJ A Try!
“You can’t cheat the grind in Jiu-Jitsu; it knows how much you’ve invested. It won’t give you nothing you haven’t worked for.” BJJ is one of the best activities you can spend your time on. Adopt the Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle, and you’re up for a path to self-discovery, transformation, and continuous improvement.
If you have been thinking of giving BJJ a try, we encourage you to check out our nearest gym in your area. Seize the day and reap the many benefits of the gentle art!
Book your complimentary trial class with our World Champions below!
If you have any other questions regarding Evolve MMA and the programs we offer, you can get in touch with our membership executives at the following locations:
Evolve MMA (Far East Square)
26 China Street
Far East Square #01-01
Singapore 049568
Phone: (65) 6536 4525
Evolve MMA (Orchard Central)
181 Orchard Road
#06-01 Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Phone: (65) 6536 4556
Evolve MMA (KINEX)
11 Tanjong Katong Road
#02-52 KINEX
Singapore 437157
Phone: (65) 6288 2293
Evolve MMA (Clarke Quay Central)
6 Eu Tong Sen Street
#04-18 Clarke Quay Central
Singapore 059817
Phone: (65) 6226 2150
Evolve MMA (Star Vista)
1 Vista Exchange Green
#02-26A The Star Vista
Singapore 138617
Phone: (65) 6539 9590
