Cameron Allen
Should you do jiu-jitsu?
Picture this: You, decked out in a fancy bathrobe, pondering the age-old question as you sip on your morning coffee.
But instead of a fancy bathrobe, it’s a Gi and instead of you pondering it you choking out an innocent bystander. Morning coffee doesn’t really exist, just probably drool from the person you just choked out.
Here Are Some Reasons You Should Do Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the fastest-growing martial art in the world due to the rise of the UFC. I cannot tell you how cool it is to go and watch the fights when i am out with my buddies and know what exactly each of these athletes are doing. It makes me grow a greater appreciation to the craft in all honesty. Not only do i get to be the cool guy telling everyone all the moves they are doing at the highest level I am in the best shape of my life, mentally calm, and way more secure in my surroundings because I train Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Playing sports for the majority of my life has played a huge impact on why I love Brazilian jiu-jitsu so much. But one thing that really made me fall in love with it more is the friends I made along the way. It reminds me a lot of high school sports.
When I was young and all my friends and had a tough workout we went through it was like a bonding moment, you get that almost everytime with your training partners inside of a BJJ gym. You will find yourself pushing your own limits and realizing that you are capable of so much more. Do not get me wrong, most the time in the moment it sucks being that exhausted but after you look back it, you are just in a room grinding it out with people you grow to trust and become a better version of yourself.
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If we had to sum up the reasons why you should do Brazilian jiu-jitsu here is what we would say:
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You get into great physical shape, lose weight, and lose fat
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Get more toned and muscular
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Gain a skill that is applicable to many areas in life
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Learn a lot about yourself
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Make friends
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Push your limits
It’s easy to make friends while training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
One thing that BJJ has done a great job at is cultivating a good culture within gyms. Typically, bad apples are weeded out. Everyone is there for the same reasons, we all love training and want to get better at what it is we like doing. It is very simple.
When everyone is on the same page in that regard a sense of camaraderie and community is born that is not like any other physical activity I have done.
Training BJJ promotes a sense of camaraderie
The definition of camaraderie is as follows:
A mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together.
If you plan on staying in the game of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and want to start climbing up the ranks, you will be spending a ton of time at the gym trying to master the craft. Your training partners become people you trust because, at the end of the day, you have to know the person across from you is not going to go out of their way to hurt you.
As trust develops, so does friendship. People will remember your name, ask you how you are doing, and help you work through things because you have developed a real relationship with them. In a world where we are more isolated than ever, I believe that BJJ offers an amazing solution to those that are longing for friendships and finding common ground with others.
Reach Fitness Goals
If you want to lose weight, BJJ will get you there. The sheer amount of calories you can burn while train jiu-jitsu is insane. We have seen people lose 50+ lbs from training BJJ and from my own personal experience I lost more than 20lbs.
I am in the best shape of my life. My cardio is unreal and I am stronger than ever. Now, its fair to say I am a 26-year-old male who has always splayed sports so I have a more athletic build but what if you are not someone who has that? Can regular people just join and reach their goals?
The answer is YES! But you have to just trust the process and stick with it for some time before you start seeing results.
We live in a culture that needs everything immediately. I was once stuck in this state of mind and find myself there from time to time pretty often but training BJJ can humble you back to reality in a number of ways.
With Brazilian jiu-jitsu you will reach your fitness goals, you just have to put in the time and work.
Self-Defense Training
This is an uncomfortable truth that we have to live with, the world is growing increasingly more dangerous.
Everyone has a weapon and it seems like more and more threats are popping up daily.
We cannot tell you how much my mental has changed since we started training BJJ. We feel so much more comfortable in my surroundings knowing that I can at least grapple my way out of a situation. Now, in all cases we won’t be able to protect ourselves (especially if a weapon is involved) but if you are in safe areas, is that really something to be super stressed about?
We personally believe that women as a whole could greatly benefit from training sessions especially because they hyper aware of their surroundings. It can be intimidating to join a male-dominated space like a BJJ gym but they are welcoming and always are there to help.
Build Discipline in Your Life & Master a Skill
As a whole, having a discipline like BJJ be the main driver for our fitness has been net positive in all ways. Brazilian jiu-jitsu really focuses on getting students to mastery. You cannot fake you way to getting a black belt in this sport. Lots of hard work goes into attaining that and everyone who trains understands that.
Nothing worthwhile in life comes without sacrifice and hard work. Getting good at Brazilian jiu-jitsu is no different.
So, Should I Do Jiu-Jitsu?
So, after making it all the way down here you still don’t know if you should train? Well, then it’s probably something that is for you. I get fired up thinking about the growth of the martial arts I love because it just means I can make more friends, have more impact, and be surrounded by people who love to grind and get better. If you hate having fun, hanging out with cool people, and getting a little rough, maybe BJJ isn’t for you.
We are here to say that is okay. It is not something that is made for everyone just us crazy folk!
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Frequently Asked Questions From Beginners
Is it worth it to learn BJJ?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is worth it to learn. If you plan on being an MMA athlete, BJJ is essential. If you want to just take your fitness to the next level, BJJ can help. If you want to meet high-performing people that care about getting better each day, BJJ is worth it.
Will BJJ change your life?
Yes, in many ways BJJ can help change your life but you have to want to change first. Without the desire to do what is necessary, nothing in your life will change.
Can Jiu-Jitsu help you in a real fight?
The majority of fights end up on the ground. If you go to the ground in a real fight against someone who has no idea what they are doing, you will absolutely destroy them. Even a white belt with about 6 months of training would whoop someone who has zero training if the fight went to the ground. We will stand behind this 1,000%.
What Do I Wear to My First Class?
So, in BJJ here is the attire that you will need:
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Rash Guard (compression shirt)
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Athletic Shorts (without zippers, pockets, velcro)
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(For women) Yoga pants
Depending on if you are going to a nogi class or a gi class the attire will be a little different. Most of the time if it is your first time gyms will have a gi that you can borrow and have a free trial period.
What Should I Expect in my First Class?
Your first class will be very uncomfortable, at the end of the day you decided to step into something completely brand new and put yourself outside of your comfort zone. First off, that is amazing and you should be proud, most people never even get there. Make sure to come in with a student mentality, ask questions, and talk to people!!! let people know it is your first class and that you are excited to learn, most people are happy to lend a hand.
I'm nervous about going to the BJJ gym, what do I do?
Good, go anyways.
When we first started we experienced this. It is hard to do new things and get out of your comfort zone but the more you do it the more comfortable you will get. Keep going until that feeling is gone and the habit is created.
