Ever wondered what it would be like to heroically escape an attack? ‘Cause we have just the thing for you!
And that thing is – Brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ).
BJJ is a martial art that emphasizes mental ability, quick thinking, and technique. The purpose behind it is to empower the weak against stronger opponents by developing the mind as much as the body.
Now, exercising proper self-defense against an assailant is an important tool to have in your arsenal. You never know when you might need it, and danger bears no warning signs.
Unfortunately, most fighting techniques are complicated, tedious and hard to master, unless you fit a particular physique or meet a certain fitness level. That’s why BJJ might just be the ultimate solution. It’s an art form that welcomes everyone, at every skill level with open arms, while offering amazing health benefits all at once!
So, why does it work so well as a tool for self-defense? Let’s have a look.
1. You Are Always in Control
Practicing Jiu-Jitsu involves exercising great control over a situation and yourself, particularly during stressful situations. When you are attacked, you are thrown off guard. But with jiu-jitsu, you learn to take control of the situation and jump back quickly after your initial surprise.
The idea is to learn to control an aggressive opponent while forcing them into submission. You want your assailant to stop hurting you, but you do not want to hurt them back.
Self-control and patience are highly emphasized and are practiced physically as well as intellectually. If you ever want to master the art of control, jiu-jitsu is the way to go.
2. The Art of Execution
Execution is always about spontaneity and presence of mind.
Jiu-Jitsu is easy to implement because its focus lies on de escalating a situation, rather than exacerbating it. It is incredibly practical and focuses on realistic situations, rather than mindless attacks.
Think about it. If someone did come out of the blue to attack you, your body would instinctively go into fight or flight mode. BJJ helps you develop a sense of control so that when you’re confronted with a dangerous situation, you are able to take the simplest way out.
Fighting back isn’t always the smartest move, and more often than not, you have more than one option. As a form of authentic street fighting, it enables you to take spontaneous action and make quick decisions.
Sometimes you might be compelled to strike back, but there are times and situations where it’s impossible. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is about finding a way out of those situations.
3. Size and Power Are Secondary
Most fighting techniques favor elements like power and strength. While these are characteristics we can always improve on, sometimes your opponent is just predisposed to win. Genetics, injuries, age, and illnesses are things we have no control over that can be disadvantageous in a fight. BJJ evens out the playing field.
A lot of times people with smaller frames tend to get intimidated by the sheer size of an opponent. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the perfect way to empower yourself with the mental and technical tools to work your way out of almost any dangerous situation.
Abilities like power, force, strength, while important are not as important as technique, strategy, and control. It’s a great way to protect yourself from seemingly intimidating opponents because execution and technique play a bigger role than brute force.
4. Your Technique Is Yours Alone
Sometimes complex, formulaic techniques can be incredibly overwhelming to learn. These techniques also do not help you in situations where you need to act quickly. And here’s where BJJ offers a great advantage over other styles of self-defense.
The techniques you learn will be tailored to you and your style. As mentioned above, it’s not only about your physique. This is because you’re training to use your weaknesses to your advantage. You’re learning elements like leverage and positioning to help you maneuver your way out of grips, holds and other offensive moves.
Techniques are not thought of as routines to be practiced at length. They are learned and executed in bits and pieces so that you can combine them in the most effective ways. You have the freedom to tailor-make your own techniques in line with what you consider a good strategy.
Learning how to evaluate a situation is important to be able to apply your moves in the most efficient combinations possible. In fact, there are so many techniques and counter-moves that some people actually call it “human chess”.
And this leads us to our next point.
5. Where Body and Mind Come Together
There is always an equal emphasis on mental as well as technical ability. It’s true that leverage, tactful positioning, grips, and pressure all play a huge role in this street-styled martial art, but so does the brain. Analytical ability, evaluation, presence of mind, problem-solving and decision-making are equally important.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu vs Other Martial Arts
Where other martial arts focus on striking back at the opponent, Brazilian jiu-jitsu prioritises disarming them. Your goal is to get them to submit, not to hurt them.
Its problem-solving approach, allows it to teach technique in pieces, rather than through a set formula. It differs in its application (which is more spontaneous) and the style of training is also very different from traditional martial arts.
Inspired to give it a shot? Sign up now for a FREE 30-minute session! We welcome all ages, skill levels and genders.
