If you’re a busy person with a hectic schedule, you know how hard it can be to find time to work out and do the things that actually matter. So much of your life is filled with busy work and self-imposed stress. Jiu-Jitsu helps you relieve all that stress, while improving your focus, happiness and overall well-being.

It teaches you you’re not alone

Jiu Jitsu teaches you that you’re not alone in your struggles. It is a sport in which two people compete against each other, but it can be very difficult to win without help from your opponent.

You will learn how to use leverage, balance and torque for greater control over your opponent. This allows you to use less strength while still achieving the same outcome as if you were using more strength than necessary.

Jiu Jitsu improves flexibility as well as strength and endurance levels. You will learn how to stretch properly so you don’t hurt yourself or others while practicing or competing in this sport.

It teaches you to be present

Jiu jitsu is a martial art that teaches you to be present. It teaches you to look at the world through a different lens and it teaches you to let go of your fears. It teaches you to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations and to be able to make decisions on the fly.

It teaches you to respect the process

In most martial arts, you’re taught moves that look great but don’t work against an experienced opponent who knows how to counter them. With jiu jitsu, on the other hand, you learn techniques that work against every conceivable attack an opponent can throw at you — as long as you practice them enough times until they’re second nature.”

It teaches you that life isn’t fair

Jiu-Jitsu is the study of leverage and control. It teaches you that life isn’t fair, that sometimes you will get thrown to the ground and have to fight from there. It teaches you that you can be in a bad situation but that if you work hard enough, and learn from all your mistakes, then next time it won’t be so bad.

It teaches you to never give up no matter what happens. Whether you are getting beat up or just having a bad day, just keep going until the end. Jiu-Jitsu is a philosophy as well as an art, it takes patience and determination to do well in this sport.

It teaches you that higher belt does not always equal better

Jiu Jitsu teaches you that higher belt does not always equal better. This is something I’ve learned from my own experience as well as watching other people train. When you start training in some styles of martial arts (especially those with belts), it’s easy to get caught up in the idea that only certain people have a certain color belt or rank because they were born into the right family or trained longer than you did or something like that. Instead of trying to prove how good you are by being better than everyone else, try focusing on being better yourself instead!

It teaches you how to learn from failure and disappointment

f someone gets the better of you during practice, you can’t just give up and walk away; instead, you must analyze what happened so that next time around when someone tries that same move on you again, it won’t work anymore because now you know how to counter it!

It teaches you to go for the long game

There’s no point in trying to use brute force against someone who has been training for years longer than you have. Instead, it’s about using your opponent’s energy against him or her to get out of a bad situation.

I hope it’s clear by now that I think the martial arts are a great way to live a focused, happy, and successful life. I believe that if you have been questioning whether or not to take up jiu-jitsu, take the time to consider all of your options and my thoughts above on why jiu-jitsu is so beneficial. Why do you train? What goals do you have? How can jiu-jitsu help you achieve them?

One of the greatest challenges I have had in my life has been quieting my mind. I wouldn’t say that I am a naturally anxious person, but it’s difficult to stay focused on one task at a time. Jiu-Jitsu has been one tool that I have used along with others to help quiet the mind. In fact, it is still one of the best ways to quiet the mind that I have found so far.

Jiu-Jitsu forces you to live in the present

When you’re on the mat, there are no distractions and nothing else matters except what’s happening right now. All other thoughts disappear and all that’s left is the fight. There’s no time for worrying about tomorrow or what happened yesterday. All that exists is now, and you have to deal with it.

Your mind is constantly occupied, but not overwhelmed

Your mind is constantly occupied, but not overwhelmed. You are thinking about what you need to do next, how you will execute this technique, how you can get out of this position and so on. Your mind is active but not distracted.

This is what makes jiu-jitsu so relaxing and meditative: the fact that you are focusing on something specific and concrete means that your thoughts are not wandering all over the place. You don’t have time for that when you’re sparring or drilling techniques. You must be present in these moments because it’s only in these moments that you truly learn anything worthwhile in jiu-jitsu.

Jiu jitsu can also give you perspective on problems you might be having in your daily life

It’s hard to have the same perspective when you are dealing with something that is happening right now. When you are dealing with a problem, it feels very real, and it seems like the only thing that matters. But when you step away from it and try to look at it from another angle, it can help you see where you could improve your situation.

When I was in college, I had a really hard time making friends or even talking to people. This was especially difficult because I lived in a dorm where everyone lived on their own floor and didn’t interact much outside of class time. So I decided to start going to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes at night after my last class ended at 9pm (the school didn’t offer any other activities).

I ended up making friends with some of the guys who were training there and we would go out together afterwards for food or drinks. They were all great guys and helped me become more comfortable socializing with other people.

Practicing patience

The biggest thing I’ve learned is that patience is key. Jiu-Jitsu is an art and a science, and it takes time to learn. No matter how hard you work at it, there are always going to be areas where you’re weaker than others and need to focus more time on improving them.

The more time you spend training, the better you’ll become. But even then, there will always be things that you need to work on improving. So don’t get discouraged if you find yourself getting beat up by someone who has been training for less time than you have!

The Importance of Breathing

Breath is the most important part of Jiu Jitsu. It is the key to survival and the key to success. In Jiu Jitsu, you are constantly put in situations that can kill you if you don’t breathe correctly.

Breathing is something we do without thinking about it. However, there are many times when we hold our breath or take shallow breaths without even realizing it! This is especially true during stressful situations where your body is trying to conserve oxygen for other purposes such as running away from a predator or fighting for your life because you’ve been attacked by someone bigger than you.

Breath training is one of the most important things that you can do in Jiu Jitsu. Not only does it help keep your body calm and relaxed but it also helps improve your performance by increasing blood flow to the muscles that need it most and eliminating waste products that build up when we hold our breath too long or take shallow breaths during exercise.

Jiu-Jitsu is truly a great way to quiet the mind. When you are grappling with someone, or being thrown to the floor with no control, you can’t keep up with all the thoughts running through your head. It’s impossible. The focus required to ‘work’ in BJJ takes over, and in my experience, can be much deeper than just the physical exertion. You may occasionally experience adrenaline rushes and get that endorphin high, but those moments when you make a breakthrough on the mat will leave you with a sense of peace unlike anything else.

When you walk into a new BJJ gym for the first time, it can be an intimidating experience. You have no idea what to expect. You will see people doing moves you’ve never even heard of before…and on top of that, you’ll probably feel a bit self-conscious about how new you are. The thing is, it’s ok! This article will give you some helpful hints to help you make your first trip to a BJJ gym smooth and productive.

It won’t be as scary as you think

The best advice I can give to anyone starting their jiu-jitsu journey is, just come in. Just walk through the door. I know it can be daunting, you might not know what to expect, and you might be scared, but trust me, it won’t be as scary as you think.

A lot of people have told me they have been thinking about trying BJJ for a while but they are too nervous or they don’t know what to expect or they are scared they will look like an idiot. So here is what you should expect:

First of all, everyone has that same fear when they start out. Everyone feels like a complete beginner at first and everyone makes mistakes. Even if your teammates have been training together for a long time and seem so close, you will soon become part of that family as well. And even if you are an absolute beginner who doesn’t know anything yet, your teammates will respect you for stepping foot on the mats and trying something new even though it’s intimidating.

You will notice that most gyms start off with a warmup and some drills before sparring starts which is great because this gives you the chance to get used to being on the mats and moving around without the pressure of sparring with someone yet.

You’ll have fun

The most important thing is to have fun. I know this seems corny, but it’s true. You’re about to be exposed to something new, different and exciting; take advantage of it. Try not to compare yourself to other people who may seem better than you, just focus on learning. It doesn’t matter if you never become an expert at jiu-jitsu, it only matters that you enjoy the experience of learning it.

You’ll learn something, even if it’s not about jiu jitsu

You’ll learn that there are people who want to help you.

You’ll learn to ask questions.

You’ll learn to fall.

You’ll learn that you’re stronger than you think you are.

You’ll learn that it’s ok to be nervous about talking to people.

You’ll learn that it’s ok to be uncomfortable when you have to wear a gi for the first time and feel like a muppet in sweatpants.

You’ll learn that it’s ok if you’re not flexible, or fast, or strong yet. You can get better.

You’ll learn the difference between feeling awkward and being awkward (you’re only awkward when you feel awkward).

You’ll learn how to deal with frustration, because jiu jitsu is hard and it won’t always work out for you at first.

Don’t worry about tapping out–it’s expected that you’ll tap out!

You’re not expected to be good when you start. You’re really going to get tapped out a lot.

One of the first things they’ll teach you is how to tap out – because it’s important to know when to submit, and when not to. People are going to be trying to make you tap out all the time, and it’s not necessarily because they’re being mean, or trying to hurt you. They’re just learning too, and you’re both practicing on each other. And sometimes people will do things that are dangerous without knowing it; if they don’t know how hard they can pull on your arm without hurting it, for example, you need to be able to tell them that they should ease off a bit.

Just try your best not to let the tapping out get you down. It’s a humbling experience, but it’ll make you better in the long run!

Your first class can be intimidating, but chances are you’re going to have a good time

The key takeaway from this could be that if you’re going to try BJJ, go with an open mind. The people at a typical BJJ gym vary in age, size, and physical ability. If you’re nervous because you aren’t sure whether or not you’ll be good at it, just don’t worry about it—no one expects you to be a black belt right away. As long as you go in with an open mind, I guarantee that you’re going to have a great time and make friends who will support you along the way. And I can almost guarantee that after attending one class, you’ll feel a new kind of freedom—the freedom that comes from having mastered your own body and the confidence to throw it around against others.

If you’re a fan of learning new, practical skills, consider adding jiu-jitsu to your workout routine. It can be just as fun as it is challenging. Jiu-jitsu training is a great method of self-defense, but it also helps you retain balance and develop agility. 

Also, training in jiu-jitsu is a great way to learn more about yourself. By training with other people and pairing off against them, you can interact with other people and embrace the positives that they offer while working on the negative traits in yourself. 

You’ll also find yourself being able to work together with others toward a common goal; this will help you build positive relationships with others.

Jiu jitsu is a great way to stay in shape because it combines cardio and strength training

You might think that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu only involves fighting, but it’s actually a great way to stay in shape. By combining cardio and strength training, this martial art gets your heart rate up while toning your muscles.

This intense workout is also the best self-defense system you can find. In a dangerous situation, you can use the momentum of an attacker against them — no matter how big — and defend yourself. And because BJJ focuses on getting out of holds and chokes instead of landing punches, there’s less risk of serious injury to either person involved.

This workout is a great way to relieve stress and improve your mental health as well as your physical state. Jiu-jitsu encourages patience, compassion and discipline both on the mat and off. You’ll learn better focus, balance and control over your mind and body.

Jiu jitsu is appropriate for all ages, genders, sizes and fitness levels

Jiu jitsu has nothing to do with how strong you are, or how fast you are, it’s all about leverage. People of all ages can benefit from jiu jitsu, because it’s not about strength, it’s about technique.

In fact, many young people are actually at a disadvantage in jiu jitsu because they don’t have the leverage that an older person will have when applying certain moves.

Jiu Jitsu is appropriate for all ages, genders, sizes and fitness levels.

When it comes to fitness, jiu jitsu teaches you how to approach your workout and how to achieve your goals

When it comes to fitness, jiu jitsu teaches you how to approach your workout and how to achieve your goals. Here are the lessons I learned from jiu jitsu that will help you in any fitness journey:

1. Be consistent

No matter what school of jiu-jitsu you’re in, consistency is key. The only way to become a black belt is to keep going, no matter how much you win or lose. In order to get better at something, you have to get up every day and practice.

2. Failure is OK

It’s hard not to take failure personally, especially when it’s recorded for the world to see on social media. But failure is actually a valuable learning experience. If you’ve never failed at something before, that means you haven’t been trying hard enough! Every time I lose at BJJ (which happens a lot), I practice harder so that I can do better next time.

3. Surround yourself with like-minded people

If you hang around people who are lazy or make excuses for their lack of exercise, it’s likely that you’ll start acting like them. When everyone around you is dedicated and motivated about working out, it makes staying committed much easier!

You can take your training as far as you want

We’ve all had those days when we just don’t feel like going to the gym.

But on the days that you do make it there, you can go as far as your fitness level allows. You can choose to run a little farther or lift a little more — or you can slow down and take it easy.

The same is true in jiu-jitsu, but the limiting factors are different. You are only limited by your body’s ability to move itself and others, so if you want to work on self-defense techniques, you can choose to train very hard against an opponent who is trying to throw strikes at you. You might even get hit every once in a while — but it’s worth it because it allows you to train in context and develop skills that will keep you safer outside of the gym.

Conversely, if you want to focus on developing your grappling technique, then you may want to train with someone who is less aggressive and more focused on technique. This type of training is much slower and more subtle, but if that’s what you want, then this is how you should roll.

Jiu jitsu is a great addition to your workout routine

Over the past few years, jiu jitsu has quickly become one of the most popular martial arts. It’s an excellent workout and a fun way to get some exercise.

“Jiu jitsu is a great addition to your workout routine,” says Saulo Ribiero, a Brazilian jiu jitsu practitioner who has won several world championships. “It’s a great way to stay in shape, and it’s also good for weight loss.”

Jiu Jitsu offers many health benefits. It builds muscle, burns fat and tones your body.

According to Ribiero, the best thing about practicing Jiu Jitsu is that you can do it at any age. “You don’t have to be young or healthy,” he says. “You just need to start.”

It’s funny how we often forget the lessons we are taught in the jiu jitsu school. There is a saying in BJJ which goes along the lines that “sweat on a gi is easy to wash off, sweat on a black belt is not”. This would suggest that what is learned in training needs to be applied outside of training. In this article, I’m going to explore how some examples from Jiu Jitsu can also apply to our daily lives.

Getting Used To Frustration

When a man is able to handle his frustration, on and off the mat, he becomes a much more powerful force.

I have been training BJJ since my late 20s. I am now 46. When I started, I was a bit overweight and out of shape, but I was confident that my natural athleticism would carry me through. And it did — for the most part.

I had good days where everything worked and bad days where nothing did. Even though I trained consistently and learned something new every day, progress was slow. It took me two years to get my blue belt and another three to get my purple belt. After that, it took another two years to get my brown belt and an additional five for my black belt. It was only after about 12 years of training that I felt like I had achieved a level of proficiency in jiu-jitsu that made me feel like my time invested had been worth it. And I still feel like there’s so much more to learn!

Working Through Fear

There are different types of fear. One type is the fear that requires immediate action, like stepping on the brake pedal when a car cuts you off. The other type is the fear that holds you back from doing what you need to do. This is where you have to step up and overcome it as quickly as possible, because it will paralyze you.

Let’s say a white belt goes out to compete in a local jiu-jitsu tournament, and he loses his first match by getting submitted with an armbar. That’s going to hurt him emotionally. He knows he doesn’t want to feel that way again, and he won’t want to expose himself to any situation where he feels like he might get embarrassed in front of other people.

But there’s also something positive about that negative experience — because now he knows what he doesn’t want. You can use this fear as motivation for progress. Ask yourself, “How do I not feel this way again?” And then figure out what you have to do in order to reach your goals.

Finding Persistence

Persistence is a crucial part of Jiu-Jitsu. Just about every technique has a counter and it’s not uncommon for you to spend months, even years trying to perfect one submission. Months ago I learned the Kimura and have been trying to use it in live rolls ever since. My first couple attempts were met with failure, but that didn’t deter me from continuing to try it. That’s persistence: continuing to attempt something despite previous failures. 

Another example of persistence is when I worked on the omoplata submission. For weeks I would go over the details in my head, so much so that I was beginning to see it as an easy submission. However, when I got on the mat I could never get it right. The omoplata is a very complicated submission, so you can only get it by practicing it a lot and even then there are still opportunities to mess up.

I eventually did get both submissions down and now they’re an integral part of my game. However, if I had given up after my first few tries I’d still be struggling with both submissions today. Persistence isn’t just about working on something until you succeed, it’s about being able to fail without getting discouraged by those failures.

Killing Ego And Pride

The first thing that you learn when you start training in Jiu-Jitsu is that your ego will be challenged on a daily basis.

You’ll find yourself being submitted by people, both men and women, of all different sizes, shapes and ages. You may even be submitted by a child or teenager. It’s an experience that puts you in touch with your humility.

This is not something most people are used to – especially if you come from a background in sports like football or wrestling, where the entire point of the game is to beat your opponent into submission.

Kill your ego. Kill your pride.

Pride and ego blind us to our mistakes and faults. They also block our ability to accept help and guidance from others.

Pride and ego can also cause us to act recklessly and stay in situations we should leave because we get “sucked in” by our pride or ego.

So kill your pride, kill your ego, acknowledge your limits and weaknesses, accept help when it’s offered and be humble enough to ask for it when needed.

Jiu Jitsu can change your life. Get in the best shape of your life and have the confidence to take on whatever the world throws at you. Jiu Jitsu is an art that will keep giving back no matter what happens in our day to day lives. Jiu Jitsu has given me confidence, improved my health and made me a better person. I hope it can do it for you as well.

Jiu Jitsu Will Help You Get In Shape, Look In Shape and Feel In Shape

To get in shape is a goal that everyone has on some level. Some people just want to drop 5 pounds off the scale while others want to get “ripped”. Either way, you are looking to improve your overall physical fitness.

It is no secret that Jiu Jitsu will help you get in shape and a lot of people take up the martial art just for this reason. They see it as a hobby that will allow them to get in great shape and lose weight, but soon realize that there is more to the practice than just getting in shape. It becomes a lifestyle that enhances all other areas of life.

Many people who practice BJJ find themselves wanting to go further than just getting in shape, they want to look like they are in shape and feel like they are in shape too. They want the full package and BJJ can give it to them!

There are several reasons why BJJ is great for you physically, mentally and emotionally!

Makes You Socialize More

It’s great for your health, and you get to hang out with a bunch of cool people. Jiu Jitsu means “gentle art,” after all. You might be surprised at how many people are into it these days.

So when you sign up for a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class at a local gym or dojo, you’re signing yourself up for a social life. It’s easy to make friends in BJJ because the training partners are always changing and there is plenty of time to speak with each other between classes and during open mat times. There are lots of ways to make friends through BJJ in particular because there are tons of competitions that you can attend with teammates and friends who train at other locations.

BJJ is also a fun activity that you can do with your family members or significant other without having to leave the house!

Better Concentration and Memory

One of the most important benefits of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is its ability to improve your concentration and memory.

BJJ promotes this by offering a tremendous amount of stimuli for your brain to handle.

It’s not just about learning new moves and techniques, but also about doing them in a dynamic environment, where you have to think about your own actions as well as those of your opponent at the same time.

What’s more, BJJ can help improve your memory both in the short term and long term.

In the short term, it helps you remember the moves you’ve just learned or practiced in class or during rolling.

But it also improves long-term memory by increasing neuroplasticity in areas of the brain that are responsible for long-term spatial memory.

Stress Relief and Relaxation

One of the best ways to relieve stress is through exercise, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu is just that. When you exercise your body releases endorphins into your brain; these are hormones secreted by the pituitary gland as they travel through the bloodstream, which then bind to opiate receptors in the brain. Once they have attached themselves here they create a feeling of euphoria which can last long after your workout has finished! Not only do these chemicals help with stress relief, but they can also help with depression, sleep disorders and even addiction.

Not only does BJJ relieve stress, but it also relaxes your mind and body. Many people use jiu-jitsu as a form of meditation because it allows them to focus on something else when life becomes too stressful.

I’ve been in your shoes. I know how hard it is to go from where you are (probably sitting in front of a computer or maybe a TV) to getting up and doing the work that’s actually going to change your life. Jiu Jitsu is one of the hardest things I’ve ever willingly put in front of myself, but it’s also one of the most rewarding. It will challenge everything you know about yourself and force you to dig deeper than you could have imagined possible. It may be hard, but in the end, it will change your life. What are you waiting for? Sign up for a free trial – CLICK HERE!