If you're thinking your body isn't right for jiu-jitsu, this article is for you. Jiu-jitsu is for everybody and EVERY BODY!
When starting a new sport, many people think that you have to be or look a certain way in order to not be judged as you do the sport. To some this might be a silly thought but to others it is a reality that keeps them from stepping into a gym, doing pole dance, or even deciding to get into swimming. Jiu-jitsu is no different. With jiu-jitsu becoming more popular and people showing up to try the sport, there might be some people who might have reservations. Some people might be thinking “I’m too small to do this”, “Boy, I’ll kill someone if I have to be on top of them”, or “There’s no way I’ll be able to move someone with my spaghetti arms”. I’m here to tell you that none of that stuff matters. A lot of stereotypes come with being able to be good at jiu-jitsu, but one thing is for certain: jiu-jitsu is for everybody AND every body. This article will debunk any myths you might have about being the size you are and doing jiu-jitsu.
The Purpose of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
I won’t go into the whole history of jiu-jitsu because I’m sure I will miss some parts and get it wrong, but Helio Gracie created Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The story is that he developed Brazilian jiu-jitsu to be useful for everyone, no matter their stature. There is a lot of emphasis on leverage and technique over strength. I’m not saying that if you’re bigger or stronger you won’t have an advantage because there are obvious advantages of size and strength, but you can be successful even if you’re small, not athletic, or overweight.
Common Myths of Body Types and Training Jiu-Jitsu for Every Body Type
People often have misconceptions about certain statures and strengths when it comes to jiu-jitsu. Here are some common myths about body types and training in jiu-jitsu and the truths about these myths.
Myth #1: Only the strong and muscular can succeed in jiu-jitsu
It is common to assume that a guy with muscles all over his body will be the best at jiu-jitsu. We always associate muscles and being thin with being more fit than other people.
Truth: All body types can succeed at jiu-jitsu
The best thing about jiu-jitsu is that you can find a game that fits your athleticism and stature. If you’re more athletic and agile, a more explosive and dynamic game might work best for you, especially if you plan to compete. If you’re smaller, learning to work around and under a bigger opponent might work best for you. If you’re larger, then adding pressure while being on top might be the best way to do jiu-jitsu for you. You just have to find out what works for you.
Myth #2: Small people can’t win in jiu-jitsu
People think that if you’re smaller than most of the people you train with, you won’t be able to get anywhere and you will constantly be beaten.
Truth: Small people have their advantages in jiu-jitsu
Some of the best practitioners have smaller statures and use them to their advantage. In my opinion, because some smaller practitioners can’t depend on strength, they focus more on being technically proficient so they can work with anything you throw at them.
Myth #3: Only bigger people have an advantage
Biologically, most of us think that if we see someone larger than us, they can pick us up and throw us. How many times have you seen that meme of a larger person that says “This person slaps your partner’s ass. What is your first reaction?” Most people would be scared to confront that person. Jiu-jitsu feels like it can be the same when you see larger people.
Truth: Being bigger isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be
When I see that meme of the larger person, my answer is always to call them out because I don’t fear someone larger because of my jiu-jitsu training. Also, as someone who has always been larger than many of the women in my gym, I do have advantages, but I also have depended on my size and strength against weaker and smaller opponents, which has been to my detriment. Because of that dependency, I lack some technical soundness in my game and must go back and fine-tune many of my techniques.
Myth #4: If you’re obese, you can’t do jiu-jitsu
There are so many videos of people making fun of overweight and obese people who decide to change their lives by moving and doing more. I’ve heard friends of mine who I encourage to come to the gym with me say that they are too fat, and they don’t want to hurt or crush someone with their weight.
When I say jiu-jitsu is for everyone, it is for everyone. If you feel that your stature is too much, you can always talk to a jiu-jitsu coach and ask them to work with you until you feel more comfortable. Plus, if weight loss is your goal, jiu-jitsu will make that happen. If you need to, make sure you’re medically cleared to do jiu-jitsu by a doctor or healthcare professional.
Myth #5: You need to take steroids to be a great jiu-jitsu competitor
Many competitors in the jiu-jitsu world take steroids and might not be so forthcoming about it (you can always tell though). If there are a lot of steroid users in the competitive world, it might make you think that you have to join the juicing ranks to be a viable opponent.
Truth: You can be natural and still be great at jiu-jitsu
Although many people do take steroids many natural jiu-jitsu competitors kick ass in the competitive world. I’m not sure if all competitions have testing for performance-enhancing drugs, but depending on if you decide to compete, you can always check what that competition’s rules are for enhancements and decide if you want to compete or not.
Benefits of Jiu-Jitsu for All Body Types
No matter what you look like there are many benefits to doing jiu-jitsu:
1. Physical benefits of jiu-jitsu
Jiu-jitsu is a physical activity so no matter if your goal is to lose weight, gain weight or maintain your weight, jiu-jitsu can support your goals. Depending on how many times you train during the week, your outside conditioning and your nutrition, jiu-jitsu can help with these health and fitness goals.
2. Mental benefits of jiu-jitsu
If you were looking for some benefits to your mental health, jiu-jitsu has quite a few of these benefits. Some of the benefits include stress reduction, learning how to stay calm under pressure, and working on your problem-solving skills both on and off the mats.
3. Community benefits of jiu-jitsu
In a world where most of us feel lonely, jiu-jitsu can help solve that loneliness. Most of the communities of jiu-jitsu gyms are very welcoming to newcomers and you will make friends fast. These will be people you will be excited to train with every week or excited to do things outside of the gym over the weekends. It’s nice being around like-minded people who want you to succeed.
Jiu-Jitsu Aims to be a Sport for Every Body
I know it can be a lot when you feel that because of how you are and the way your body is shaped you won’t be able to do certain sports or people will make fun of you for even trying. The one thing I love about jiu-jitsu is that most gyms will welcome you with open arms and want to see you do your best no matter what your body looks like. Once you get into jiu-jitsu, you can see how much power your body has and what it can do at any state.
Question: What are some myths you’ve believed or heard about body types in jiu-jitsu? Tell me in the comments or of course on my Instagram @blackgirlwhitegi_ bjj
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