Table of Contents
Many athletes around the world are very aware of the benefits of adding yoga to their routines. As jiu-jitsu becomes more and more popular, athletes are going to look for ways to tinker with their bodies to get them at their peak for competition season (outside of doping). We firmly believe that yoga will be a great add-on for anyone that has the desire to train BJJ at a high level. Now that could mean as a competitor or as a hobbyist who just loves training multiple times a day. In this post, we will look at the natural synergy that is in place with yoga and jiu-jitsu.
How Yoga Can Help with BJJ
Being more mobile and flexible is a huge bonus when training a martial art like Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Simply adding yoga to your routine makes physical activities like BJJ more fun. You will greatly improve the possibilities of guards you can play (ex. rubber guard) and the movements you are able to pull off.
Have you ever rolled with someone that is extremely bendy and flexible? They are impossible to beat. Increasing mobility seriously benefits BJJ athletes and gives the practitioner one leg above the competition.
Even if you do not take jiu-jitsu as seriously as competitors and would consider it more of a hobby for yourself, adding yoga to your routine will help with everyday life. Most of us who train BJJ are also working full-time jobs that may require us to sit at desks all day. Sitting at a desk can lead to poor posture and tight hip flexors, making it much harder for us to move around the mats.
Just gently stretching for 10 minutes a day can alleviate that issue.
What Are The Benefits Of Yoga?
Yoga will help athletes improve their overall performance by increasing flexibility, balance, strength, and body control. This should be looked as a supplemental training form to what you are already doing. Adding a little yoga to your BJJ routine will make you exponentially more athletic and capable on the mats.
Improved Flexibility and Body Control
Flexibility is an essential part of any fitness routine. But it can be hard to know what exercises to do or how to make sure you’re doing them correctly. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu yoga is a unique combination of martial arts and yoga that can help you become more flexible and stronger overall. Read on to find out more about this powerful practice and why it should be part of your fitness routine!
A normal yoga class just isn't welcoming to sports/athletes/fit people, because they're not sedentary and weak, but often extra stiff, stronger than average, and have a different mindset and other needs than average Joe-Jane. Get 200 hours of training for free!
Mixed martial arts (MMA) and grapplers around the world love doing yoga because it is a way to improve everything listed here and a great way to slow yourself down. Slowing down is something that is not something accustomed to those that compete in combat sports so finding a way to actively practice this skill is very helpful.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a unique form of martial arts that combines elements from Judo, Wrestling, and Boxing. It focuses on close-range combat and controlling an opponent by taking them down or immobilizing them with joint locks or chokeholds. As a result, it is an excellent way to develop strength and agility while improving your balance and coordination.
Awareness and Breath Control
It can also help improve mental focus and reduce stress levels. Most Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners work day jobs or may even run some type of business. We already know that doing BJJ helps you be a more focused individual who is good on your toes but adding Yoga to your routine may give you that little edge both in your real life and on the mats.
Holding yoga poses and actively practicing yoga have helped us in many ways. From teaching us simple (yet effective) breathing techniques to having high levels of body awareness the benefits of consistent practice are showing.
Yoga will help athletes learn to relax while they are in motion, allowing them to move more efficiently and accurately with greater control. Additionally, it helps prevent injuries by increasing the body’s range of motion and reducing muscle imbalances that could lead to injury.
In a lot of ways, BJJ and yoga are both spiritual disciplines that bring us back to having high levels of body awareness. There are many synergies that you will experience when you simply decide to take yoga classes.
How Often Should You Do Yoga?
Those of us who practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu know that the combination of strength and flexibility is essential for top performance. So how often should we be practicing yoga to keep our bodies healthy and ready for the mat?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an intense martial art that requires strength, flexibility, and endurance. To ensure that your body remains in peak condition for sparring and competitions, it is important to incorporate yoga into your routine.
Yoga can help you to increase your flexibility and balance, which are essential for BJJ. It also helps to improve your posture, build strength in your core muscles like your upper back, and reduce stress levels. Furthermore, yoga for BJJ has been found to increase the range of motion in the joints, which can help prevent injury.
The frequency with which you should practice yoga for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu will depend on your current level of physical fitness, how often you train BJJ, and what type of yoga class you are doing.
Generally speaking, it is recommended that practitioners do yoga at least twice a week ideally at a yoga studio– once before training and once after training. However, if you are a beginner or more advanced practitioner it may be beneficial to practice more often as this will help to ensure your body remains healthy and ready for the mat.
Additionally, if you are doing specific types of yoga such as Ashtanga or Vinyasa Flow it would be best to practice three to four times per week in order to get the full benefit from each session. Yoga classes such as Hot Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Power Yoga or Bikram Yoga are also great forms of yoga to practice on a regular basis in addition to BJJ Yoga. You can also add in a regular meditation class to help you with your breathing exercises.
Where Do I Start?
If you are new to the martial art of BJJ Yoga (aka Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Yoga), starting with a basic foundation course for your BJJ training is best. This will help you learn the fundamentals of this unique discipline, learn breathing exercises and practice BJJ yoga on a regular basis through a yoga studio or yoga class with a yoga instructor.
You should also look for certified instructors who specialize in BJJ Yoga, incorporating the martial arts of Jiu Jitsu Training through a yoga practice. A good instructor can help guide you through the different poses and breathing techniques involved in this practice.
Finally, make sure to practice regularly in order to see improvements in your technique and overall flexibility. BJJ Yoga is one of the best yoga practices to try. As well as the benefits of physical strength, it also improves your mental strength through the various yoga poses called asanas. The spiritual disciplines of BJJ Yoga will help you stay balanced in mind, body, and spirit and teach you how to maintain a consistent practice.
A normal yoga class just isn't welcoming to sports/athletes/fit people, because they're not sedentary and weak, but often extra stiff, stronger than average, and have a different mindset and other needs than average Joe-Jane. Get 200 hours of training for free!
5 Easy Poses to do At Home Everyday
-
Child’s Pose – Child’s Pose is a yoga pose that can be used to relax and stretch the body while calming the mind. It is a seated posture in which the knees are bent and the upper body rests on the thighs with arms extended forward or overhead. It can also be used to relieve stress, anxiety, and insomnia.
-
Downward Facing Dog Pose – Downward Facing Dog Pose is an inverted V-shaped yoga pose that strengthens and stretches your whole body at once. You start this pose by coming onto hands and knees and then pressing up into an upside-down V shape, with your hands firmly rooted into the ground, feet shoulder-width apart, and your hips pressed up in the air.
-
Warrior II Pose – Warrior II Pose is a standing yoga pose that involves stretching the torso and legs while strengthening them at the same time. It requires bending one knee to 90 degrees while keeping the other leg straight. The arms are extended parallel to the floor, palms facing down. Warrior II strengthens and tones the legs, arms, abs, and back muscles while increasing flexibility in the hips.
-
Cobra Pose – Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana) is a back-bending yoga pose that stretches the front of the body, including the chest, shoulders, and abdomen. It also strengthens the muscles of the back and arms. The pose resembles a cobra with its hood raised, hence its name.
-
Plough Pose – Plough Pose, or Halasana, is a yoga pose that resembles the shape of an agricultural plow. It stretches and strengthens the spine, neck, shoulders, and hamstrings. It also helps to improve digestion and increase circulation in the abdominal organs.
YOGA FOR BJJ Practitioners
The instructional videos found in YogaForBJJ are crafted specifically for people who train BJJ and want to level up their jiu-jitsu ability.
Yoga for BJJ has two options the courses and programs they offer. If you are looking to learn Yoga and plan to become an instructor they offer three courses for the hours needed to meet the requirements! The Level 2 course is completely FREE!
Practice yoga is you are a BJJ practitioner. We have extremely tight hips because of often we are sitting at our desks (buy a standing desk). We have a work-from-home day job and obviously write on the internet so finding ways to loosen up is a must for us.
If you are looking for something great to add to your routine and want to have the flexibility of practicing this from home click the button below for their latest pricing for all their at-home yoga classes and training!
A normal yoga class just isn't welcoming to sports/athletes/fit people, because they're not sedentary and weak, but often extra stiff, stronger than average, and have a different mindset and other needs than average Joe-Jane. Get 200 hours of training for free!
