Jiu Jitsu has grown to become one of the most widely trained martial arts across the world. From nurses training Jiu Jitsu in Boise to MMA fighters preparing for UFC world titles, there is no denying that Jiu Jitsu appeals greatly to a wide range of people who want to learn to fight and defend themselves effectively. Further, BJJ is arguably the best martial art for individuals of all ages, genders, and lifestyles. Here are the five top reasons why everyone should train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu:
1. Jiu Jitsu is Proven Effective for Real World Self Defense
The core of any martial art — even those used in sport — are techniques and methods of effectively defending yourself. There are situations where jiu jitsu techniques can be applied to defend yourself. A quick google search will reveal countless examples of people using BJJ to protect themselves. From school bullies to robbers, BJJ offers a number of tools to control, escape from, and incapacitate an attacker.
Mastering BJJ usually takes years, if not decades. However, even a few months of training can give you a significant advantage over a typical untrained attacker. This is because techniques and positions in BJJ are drilled rigorously, often against fully resisting opponents, with the goal of committing them to muscle memory. BJJ ingrains defensive reactions, positions of control, and methodical forms of attack into its practitioners until they are instinctual. We might have heard the old adage that 90% of fights end up on the ground. Having jiu jitsu training (6 months or more) can make a huge difference if you’re attacker is not trained in jiu jitsu.
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2. BJJ is Low-Impact, Safe, and Suitable for Every Body Type
Next to its efficacy as a form of self-defense, the most attractive reason to train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is that it can be effectively practiced by anyone regardless of age, gender, or body type. The training, while still a formidable workout, is quite low-impact — unlike a striking sport (boxing or Muay Thai), you won’t be taking any hard shots to the head or body, and most of the energy you expend will come from less kinetic actions such as pushing, pulling, and locking down positions.
MULTIPLE-TIME BJJ WORLD CHAMPION MACKENZIE DERN
Further, BJJ comes equipped with a built-in safety mechanism: the tap. While tapping officially signals surrender to an opponent, BJJ practitioners are encouraged to tap early and tap often while training. Even if you are not in the throws of a submission, BJJ empowers you to simply tap if you ever feel uncomfortable and prefer not to continue. While every martial artist should know what it’s like to hit and be hit, BJJ allows you to train with the intensity needed to be as prepared as you can for a real fight without enduring the damage required to be good at striking. Hitting pads and bags is great exercise, however, if you aren’t going live in actual scenarios, you won’t be able to reliably use the techniques against real opponents and resist attackers. BJJ allows average people to train and compete at a realistic intensity without head trauma and brain damage.
Finally, everybody type is well suited to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Children and older martial artists can train BJJ effectively with little fear of injury, thanks to the ability to tap. Techniques in BJJ are designed to allow smaller, weaker persons to overcome larger opponents using leverage and positioning, while the bigger and stronger among us will learn to effectively use these advantages to control and dominate opponents. No matter your level of fitness, Taking BJJ classes will instill in you the importance of staying calm and effectively managing your energy during stressful situations.
3. TAKING BJJ CLASSES IS INTENSE EXERCISE AND PROMOTES A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
While some of us may worry about being beaten up, robbed, or murdered in a violent encounter, in a relatively safe city such as Boise you are far more likely to die of heart disease, diabetes, or any of the plethora of illnesses associated with the current first-world obesity crisis.
Vigorous exercise and eating a balanced and healthy diet are the best ways to protect yourself from these diseases. Anyone attending their first BJJ class can speak to the intensity of BJJ training in terms of cardio, strength, and anaerobic demand. In fact, a 30-minute BJJ rolling session is almost guaranteed to be a better workout than a typical jog or set of interval sprints. Additionally, a healthier diet makes a tremendous impact on how you feel and perform when training BJJ. For many people, feeling good during training is often a much more powerful motivator to eat a healthy diet than being on the receiving end of a lecture from a doctor!
Defending yourself from obesity, heart disease, and diabetes is really a higher priority than being able to fight off a mugger, especially if you train BJJ in Boise or other first-world cities. The BJJ lifestyle checks off all of these boxes.
4. A SENSE OF COMMUNITY
While self-defense and exercise are all well and good, the undeniable sense of belonging, camaraderie, therapy, and friendship you will find in a quality BJJ gym is what will keep you coming back. BJJ brings together people from all walks of life, income levels, age groups, and nationalities.
This sense of community is what we believe makes Egley Train Boise Boise’s best gym, as well as the best place to train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Boise. Our staff and instructors come to us from traveling all over the world, and they are committed to ensuring that the atmosphere is one of acceptance and positivity. Due to the welcoming vibe, our BJJ classes are a wonderfully diverse mix of people of different genders, ages, backgrounds, and skill levels — all brought together by a love for the art of grappling.
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Even if we all started BJJ for self-defense or exercise, those of us who stick with it for the long haul keep coming back because of the friendships we forge on the mats.
5. BJJ TRAINING BUILDS SELF-CONFIDENCE
Last but not least on our list of why everyone should train BJJ is the way it builds self-confidence. For all the reasons mentioned above — developing fighting skills, improving health, and building quality relationships — BJJ tends to simultaneously build confidence, helping people live happier, more fulfilling lives outside the gym.
Training martial arts leads children to have greater belief in their abilities
If your coworker is harassing you at work, your non-BJJ friends are giving you flak for eating clean, or the bully at school is calling you names, training BJJ will help you stand up for yourself, brush this type of nonsense off, and move forward. Whether you are making tough business decisions, dealing with unruly customers, or being harassed on the street the stability, clarity of mind and confidence will help you effectively navigate these challenges.
Overall, BJJ is an accessible martial art for people from all walks of life. Each person’s motivation to take their first step on the mats will be different, but at the end of the day, the massive number of benefits received through training are why everyone should train BJJ.