What is Jiu-jitsu and why is everyone talking about it?

You’ve probably heard someone say jiu-jitsu is the best martial art and wondered why this is the case. Although Brazilian jiu-jitsu has been around since the 1920s, this martial art rose to prominence in the late 90s when the Gracie family created the UFC competition to prove that jiu-jitsu could defeat any other form of martial art – and they did! Since then, jiu-jitsu has experienced rapid growth around the world, and with the help of the UFC, the sport has catapulted itself onto the global stage, presenting itself as one of, if not the most effective form of self-defence.

Here are 6 reasons why jiu-jitsu is the best martial art:

1: It’s the most effective martial art

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a non-striking form of martial art that uses levers, torsions and pressure to take your opponent to the ground, control them when on the ground, and ultimately defeat them. Most street fights take place on the ground, which is why Brazilian jiu-jitsu is so effective: It provides the best possible simulation for a real-life self-defence situation.  Brazilian jiu-jitsu will teach you how to complete takedowns and how to keep your opponent on the ground. From there, you will learn how to get into a more dominant position to either escape or attack – without having to throw a single punch or kick!

2: Jiu-jitsu is for everyone

Everyone should know how to defend themselves. Luckily, jiu-jitsu makes it possible for everyone to learn a form of self-defence, and one that actually works! The concept of jiu-jitsu is the ability to overcome any challenger (regardless of their size) by using proper technique to leverage your own strength.  So whether you are a woman, man or even a child as young as 3 years old, you can learn how to defeat someone who is double your size!

3: It’s a great workout

Jiu-jitsu is a full-body workout, and you will feel yourself using muscles you’ve never used before! Not only will jiu-jitsu increase your fitness, but you will feel yourself become much stronger.  After just one session of training, you will burn around 700 Kcal, and the best thing about it is that you don’t even think about it! Constantly rolling and sparring has such a fantastic effect on your body.

4: It’s a fantastic stress reliever

Everyone knows that exercise gives you endorphins, and endorphins make you happy! When you spar in jiu-jitsu, you are going at 100% as though you are in a real fight. This extreme physical exertion and complete mental focus on the battle puts you in a flow state, and is a fantastic mechanism for reducing anxiety, clearing your head, and forgetting any stresses you may have going on at work or in life.

5: It builds confidence, resilience and mental strength

In jiu-jitsu you are constantly being put under pressure, which means over time, you learn how to remain completely calm in an uncomfortable situation. When someone has you in a dominant position, instead of panicking, you learn how to relax, breathe and strategise your escape. Some techniques may not work straight away, but that’s ok because every time you fail, you learn how to improve for next time. More importantly, you will find that what people learn on the mats, they tend to apply in everyday life. After just a few months of jiu-jitsu, you will undoubtedly find yourself feeling way more relaxed in situations that previously may have stressed you out. Your confidence will grow, your mind will strengthen, and you will be ready to face any conflict that may come your way. A confident adult will always stand up for themselves. A confident child is less likely to get bullied when they stand up for themselves and confront anyone who tries to put them down.

6: It is so much fun

There is nothing more satisfying than succeeding after repeated failures. In jiu-jitsu, you are constantly pulling yourself out of a difficult situation to come out on top, for example, if someone is trying to choke you and you manage to escape. This feeling becomes addictive, and the more skills and experience you have the more fun you will have, as you will be able to experiment with different techniques on all different body types. More importantly, when you start training jiu-jitsu, you become part of a family. If you ask anyone who trains, they will tell you the jiu-jitsu community is truly a family of brothers and sisters, all training for the same reason: to become better versions of themselves. Together as a team you are learning self-defence, getting a great workout, improving your mindset, having fun, and making friends along the way – what could be better than that?

Why not give it a try? Click here to find the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu gyms in Sydney