5 Benefits of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

You may have heard of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but you may not know what makes it different from other martial arts fighting techniques. Interestingly, Jujutsu originated in Japan and then migrated to South America via a Japanese diplomat, Mitsuyo Maeda. Maeda taught Jujutsu to Carlos Gracie, who shared his knowledge with his brother Helio Gracie. With the influences of the Gracie family in South America, the sport sprang into what we now know as modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu focuses on the concept of a smaller, weaker person being able to successfully defend themselves against a larger, stronger opponent. It enables the smaller person to leverage the weight and strength of the larger person and then taking the fight to the ground. With a flexible fighting strategy, there are a number of holds and submissions that can be used to win a fight.

Let’s talk about more of the real benefits of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Self-Defense

The primary benefit of martial arts is defending yourself against harm. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is ideal for defense because of its focus on defending oneself against larger opponents. You don’t have to rely on your strength or speed to turn the tables against your opponent when you have proper training and techniques.

Many people think of striking when they hear “fighting skills”. However, that’s not the case in normal life seeing as most fights end up on the ground. Brazilian Jiu jitsu is known as the “gentle art”, it enables practitioners to be comfortable with altercations on the ground. Having defensive skills like grappling will put you at an advantage against most opponents since there are more forms of leverage and control in this position.

Full-Body Fitness

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a full-body workout and it will your fitness level a tremendous amount. Both upper body, lower body, and core strength movements are used in jiu-jitsu. BJJ will work your triceps, biceps, chest, lats, all three ab groups, lower back, glutes, hamstrings, quads, the list goes on but you can imagine it’s amazing for all round fitness. If you have ever tried grappling, it is an excellent cardio workout. With consistent jiu-jitsu practice, there will be no more struggling to run up the stairs or walk the dog up a steep hill in the neighborhood. 

Boosted Energy

Working out can give you more energy throughout the day, as long as you let your body recover from your workouts and get the right amount of sleep. Working out encourages the development of mitochondria. Mitochondria are membrane-bound cell organelles that generate most of the chemical energy needed to power the cell's biochemical reactions. They create fuel out of glucose from the food you eat and the oxygen you breathe. So, having more of them will drastically increase your energy levels. Exercise also boosts oxygen circulation inside your body, which allows your body function better and more efficiently. Your body will be able to power through the midday stall that we all feel when it’s constantly storing the energy from a workout. 

Stress Relief

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an intense workout and huge stress reliever. Working out pumps up endorphins, these are your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters. Endorphins have many benefits on the body, including improving one’s mood and self-esteem, increased pleasure, better sleep, and supporting a healthy immune system. Any form of exercise can boost your endorphins if you’re working hard enough.

Exercise also activates your “fight or flight” response. Through consistent practice, your body can develop an automatic trained response to moments of intense stress. This will help you react in a more calm and strategic way when your body is stressed.

A Supportive Community

Lastly, a great advantage of participating in such a great martial art is the community that you’ll have supporting you along the way. You won’t just have workout / sparring buddies. You’ll make great new friends and become part of our jiu-jitsu family.

Don’t miss out

There are many more benefits that you’re missing out on, so why not join our community and learn skills that you can be proud of. Come out and try one of the classes that are available here at Ground Control Owings Mills!