If you were looking for a sign to come try jiu-jitsu, here it is! Check out some of the reasons why you won’t regret starting your BJJ journey.
I know you’ve been googling the benefits of jiu-jitsu, seeing YouTube videos, and wondering if jiu-jitsu as woman is for you. There’s a lot to think about in deciding.
I have a friend who just watched the Physical 100 on Netflix and she has been thinking about trying some kind of grappling sport. Of course, I had to pipe up and tell her to do jiu-jitsu and I’m here to tell you the same.
If you were looking for a sign to come try jiu-jitsu, here it is! To accompany this sign, check out some of the reasons why you won’t regret joining your local gym and getting started on your BJJ journey.
Reason 1: Self-Defense
Being able to protect yourself is one of the most important pieces of knowledge everyone should know. But, I think this is especially true for women and children. People tend to prey on the people who look most vulnerable. So, if you know how to protect yourself, then you become less of a target. Although striking sports like Muay Thai and boxing are great ways to learn self-defense, I believe that being able to grapple, break someone’s limbs or put them to sleep is integral in women’s self-defense. In any situation where you’re in danger, you should obviously get as far away as possible and divert the danger away from you. But in that chance, God forbid, someone grabs or attacks you, their intention is most likely to grab and control you. Being able to move, make space, and escape is important in these situations.
Reason 2: Build Strength
In overall health, it is important to incorporate strength training into your workouts. Although lifting weights, doing exercise machines, or bodyweight exercise are all excellent ways to gain strength, sometimes these types of exercises aren’t functional (SOME of the exercises not all. Please don’t come for me). When training Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, because of the way your body moves and because there are most likely bigger people in your gym, you’ll start to build the functional strength needed to do BJJ. Also, for beginners, you do tend to use more strength than technique when you first start out. As you grow in the sport, you’ll learn how and when to use strength.
Reason 3: Build Flexibility
Flexibility is also so valuable in your overall health and jiu-jitsu can help you incorporate flexibility whether you like it or not (BJJ is often referred to as folding clothes with people in them). A great BJJ gym will incorporate some techniques for stretching and flexibility in their warm-ups and cool downs and of course there are stretches that are great for BJJ that you can do to supplement all you’re already doing. In addition, being flexible helps you be comfortable in certain positions, and helps you reduce injury.
Reason 4: Build Mental Focus
Anyone who trains jiu-jitsu and has been doing it for a long time can tell you that you will learn so much, and it will be hard to retain stuff. But the great thing is that there are fundamental moves that will reoccur in your training that you’ll be able to recognize. Once you get the overarching idea of certain techniques and positions, you’ll start to see and remember the little details to help you perform even better. You’ll also focus better as you spar (roll) because you’ll think about what position you’re in, how your training partners are trying to submit you and how to better your position, all at once.
Reason 5: Build a Community of Friends
I know every community will say that their community is the best, but there is nothing like the BJJ community. Not only do you have a group of friends that are aggressively trying to strangle you, but these people push you to be your best, encourage you to train even when you don’t want to, and make you feel at home. BJJ women are also some of the best people I know. You’ll have a team of bad asses in your corner who you’ll cry and laugh with. I’ve met girls from all over the world on the mat and to this day they are some of the best people I know.
These are some of the biggest reasons to try jiu-jitsu for yourself as a woman. There may be other reasons why you’ll want to do jiu-jitsu, but I promise you that it will be a decision you won’t regret.
For all my BJJ ladies out there, what are some reasons why women should do BJJ in your opinion. Let’s talk about it on my Instagram @blackgirlwhitegi_bjj
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