5 Ways Jiu Jitsu Will Improve Your Life

It’s easy to get by just going through the motions – repeating the same activities daily, not taking much initiative to improve your life. It’s difficult to make the decision to invest yourself in something that, although may seem intimidating, is truly rewarding. Here’s 5 ways Jiu Jitsu will not only provide that feeling of reward but will actually improve your life.

Quality Relationships

I get it, taking your first Jiu Jitsu class can be intimidating. You walk in and it looks as if everyone is rolling around with each other trying to choke each other out. Yes, Jiu Jitsu is a martial art and a highly effective form of self-defense, but it’s so much more than that. Jiu Jitsu cultivates a community – one that is comprised of quality and lasting relationships. Friendships are born, memories are made, and experiences are had that will not be easily forgotten.

Relief of Stress

The daily grind is rough. It’s difficult to manage family life, work, bills, and all of the other unexpected curve balls that life throws at us. The last thing you need after giving all of your valued time and energy to these things is to go home and sit down in front of a TV. Can you say BOOORRRINNGGG. Jiu Jitsu is physical, but it’s also mentally satisfying. It’s an escape from the repeated stress that we experience daily. It allows everyday people to join each other in learning an invaluable skill. And once you get used to it, it’s extremely fun. Just like anything that’s worth an investment, it’s challenging at first, but the skills and enjoyment gained from the experience is truly worth it.

Enjoyable Exercise

Don’t get me wrong, training Jiu Jitsu can be physically challenging, but that’s a good thing! Ultimately, it’s what you make of it. When you walk into the gym in your first day, nothing is expected of you but to listen and learn. The physical aspect comes into play when you’re trained well enough to spar with other training partners. But training hard is fun when it involves an enjoyable activity; one that often provides a strong sense of accomplishment.

Legitimate self defense

Nothing frustrates me more than watching countless videos posted on social media showing different “self-defense experts” teach students how to find their “inner chi.” For lack of a more offensive term, most of it is simply unrealistic. The potential danger that we face in our day to day lives requires a realistic approach – one that recognizes the risks that exist in actual physical confrontation. The beauty of Jiu Jitsu is that it works. Period. Regardless of gender, size, level of strength etc. When Jiu Jitsu technique is performed properly, there isn’t much (barring actual weapons) that can oppose it.

Character Development

Jiu Jitsu is fun, stress relieving, and realistic. Yet, nothing truly rewarding is easy to come by. It takes hard work and dedication. Bettering yourself in the art of Jiu Jitsu will produce patience and work ethic. Some days, you walk out of the gym feeling like you’re no better than when you first started. Other days, you feel like you’re on top of the world. But what you’ll learn is that it’s all about the journey, and the lessons learned in the process.