8 Reasons Why You Should Train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
1. It’s a fantastic physical workout
There are many different types of workouts that you can do. There’s the typical gym workout where you do exercises with free weights or machines. There are also various sports like basketball, running or swimming. Then there’s Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes – these provide an all-around body workout like you have never experienced! Warmups usually begin with a tough set of body movements that rival anything you might do as a separate exercise class! After the warm up, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes at Perth’s Premier Martial Arts and Fitness Academy usually move onto technical drills. The whole time you are drilling you are moving around both your own and your partner’s body weights. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes usually finish with free sparring, where after a couple of rounds with a resisting opponent you’re so tired that you can’t move your limbs!
2. It’s a martial art
There are lots of martial arts, but Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes are unique in that they you offer a chance to test your skills against a resisting opponent in a controlled environment. This is because BJJ is not only a physical activity, but it’s a non-impact martial art. Unlike kickboxing, there are no punches or kicks in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes; you aim to use locks and chokes to subdue your opponent. This makes it very sneaky and lethal, but also makes it safer because you’re not risking being knocked out on every training. Grappling another opponent who is also trying to make you submit gives BJJ students a great mental and physical boost. Grappling against much bigger and stronger opponents provides a real test of your skills!
3. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu provides effective self-defence
Everyone should learn to be capable of defending themselves and their loved ones. All fights start standing up and at a distance but many end up in wrestling or grappling on the ground. Through their training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes, BJJ students will be confident that once they get their hands on an attacker then the fight will be over quickly and safely. Being able to defend yourself relies heavily on being confident in your training – BJJ students have tested their skills against resisting opponents every lesson so they are more likely cool under the pressure of a self-defence situation.
4. It stimulates your brain as much as your muscles
BJJ has been is often referred to as a physical chess match. Every move has a counter move. Every counter move has a counter-counter move. In the beginning you simply learning to correctly execute each move, but as you advance into higher levels, you’re not only executing the current move but you already planning two or even three moves ahead. So, if your opponent makes a move, you already have a counter move that you can trap the opponent. The mental stimulation often becomes one of student’s favourite aspects of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes. Is this aspect that often keeps students coming back to the training matt as just when you think you know all the variations of a specific move, you learn something new to improve your BJJ game. This makes the potential for growth limitless!
5. Being One With The Community Through Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
BJJ schools are close-knit communities that transcend nationalities, races and ethnic groups. Training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes not only connects you with people in your local community but gives you links to fellow BJJ practitioners throughout the world. Once you have been training for a little while you will be able to walk into any BJJ school in the world and have an instant connection. Just like at home, training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes overseas will generate strong friendships that will last a lifetime.
6. How Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Builds Confidence
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes will allow you to constantly test yourself against opponents of all ages, sizes and skill levels. The more experienced you become, the more you might expect to dominate someone who just started recently. Then there’s size; if you’re a bigger person, you would never accept being utterly demolished by a smaller opponent. But what you think will happen usually bears little resemblance to what’s really going to happen. It is great to win but BJJ also teaches you that sometimes you have to lose to improve. If you are not getting challenged then you are not really pushing yourself. Facing up to the challenges in every Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class builds the type of real confidence that will translate into all aspects of your life. As they say in BJJ, leave your ego at the door and you’ll be fine.
7. It compliments other martial arts training
If you are currently training in other martial arts, such as the Freestyle martial arts at Perth’s Premier Academy, then Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes are the perfect addition to your martial arts arsenal. Premier Martial Arts and Fitness Academy’s Freestyle martial arts are a blend of kickboxing, grappling and BJJ, and training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes as well gives to added edge when things go to the ground. Blending BJJ with your training in Freestyle martial arts also gives a more practical, self-defence orientated view of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu that will enable you to use your skills safely on the streets.
8. You can practice BJJ for the rest of your life
One of the founding fathers of the art – Helio Gracie – trained in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes until he died at age of 95. While training BJJ you can chose your training partners, you can set your own pace, you can chose techniques you want and you can enjoy it no matter what age you are. Training in BJJ will keep your body fluid and supple for life. There’s a great saying about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and your training style – “Train BJJ like an old man, so that you can train BJJ as an old man”.