Do you know what purpose, a journey of self-mastery, and mental clarity all have in common? Having each one of these things in your life allows you to truly find happiness in your everyday life. No matter how much money you have to your name, if you lack one of these things, how can you truly be a happy individual who does not get attacked by your thoughts? Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is a grappling-based martial art that introduces all three of these core principles into your everyday training. In this article, we discuss the mental health benefits of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and why so many people around the country are falling in love with training in the sport.
Mental Health Benefits of Brazilain Jiu-Jitsu
Mental health is a growing topic of discussion around the world at this time. In order to live happy lives we firmly believe that mentally we have to be clear and weary of becoming our own worst enemy. Many times we have fallen victim to this type of thinking but something that truly helped us get over this hurdle was Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Anxiety and overthinking are the culprits of robbing people of happiness. Because the community of jiu-jitsu practitioners is dominated by men we will focus on how BJJ can have a positive impact on people’s mental health from a male’s perspective.
We are not the only person who will scream from the mountain tops about how impactful Brazilian Jiu-jitsu can be to those that need it most. BJJ is a transformative, grappling-based martial art that instills a core set of principles into those that truly embrace what this sport has to offer.
When people sign up for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, they do not really do so because of the mental health benefits, they are more than likely interested in the physical benefits or heard from a friend, maybe an influencer, about how fun the sport can be. The reason people stick around is a mix of reasons.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is not only a fun and dynamic way to get into the best shape of your life but it is also an art form that truly will mold you into a new person and force you to dig deep to find new layers of yourself that you never knew existed. Jiu-Jitsu will expose you to certain aspects of your mindset that you may have been aware or unaware of, it is your job to identify those lessons at the moment and either learn from them or ignore them.
Pushing through hard times, getting back up after getting beat up, learning a new skill of how to defend yourself, problem-solving on the fly, and how to stay consistent with something that is challenging are all lessons that BJJ will ingrain into those who practice the sport, male or female.
Mental Clarity
Something that many people do not talk about when it comes to the benefits of training Brazilian jiu-jitsu is the mental clarity you get after training sessions. BJJ requires you to stay present at the moment and think a lot. It is just as much a mental workout as it is a physical one.
When you are forced to stay present in the moment during your sparring sessions you find that in a way you are almost meditating through violence. You are playing chess with another human that is actively trying to get to an advantageous position so they can win that match, stopping to think and not allowing yourself to give into someone’s will force you to dig deep.
In those moments, nothing else matters. The outside world is invisible. Sometimes, we just need an escape. Reality can be a tough place to be in and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu allows you to escape to a place that many do not get the opportunity to do very often.
Stress Relief
Due to the nature of the sparring sessions that take place on the mats, people find that Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a great way to relieve stress that may have been weighing them down from their everyday lives. Most people that train BJJ have day jobs that they go to and many people with those day jobs incur a lot of stress along the way. BJJ has been and will continue to be an excellent outlet for people to get their minds off things that may be bogging them down in their everyday lives.
Thinking Through Problems – Problem-Solving Skills
Brazilian Jiu-jitsu has been known to be referred to as a game of human chess. When you are sparring with a partner you are actively trying to solve puzzles that the person in front of you is presenting to you. In real-time you have to make decisions that either benefit or hinder your ability to get to a good position.
This is the number one reason why we have become addicted to the sport and why many other people continue to show up every day. Folks like Joe Rogan and Lex Fridman are both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts and have gone on to spread this same message to their massive audiences. If you are looking for a sport that will not only push you physically but also stimulate you mentally, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu may be the sport you need to pick up today!
We are a huge advocate for men’s mental health. We firmly beleieve that making men strong and capable again can be accomplished by getting more people on the mats at a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu gym. Humans are at their best when they have a purpose ahead of them and are on a journey of self-mastery. Brazilian jiu-jitsu has given millions just this and will continue to be a catalyst for people for the years to come!
BJJ is the only thing that clears my mind, and that’s coming from someone who does a lot of anaerobic work. I love how I can drive home in total silence and feel so centred. I’ve never gotten that from any other form of exercise. Anyway, keep the good posts going!
Thank you Stuart1 I can totally relate to this comment as well… just the other day was driving home in complete silence and was as happy as could be!