How to Know if Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the Right Sport for You?

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a unique combat sport that does not involve hitting. Instead, BJJ teaches students to defend themselves through grappling techniques. In BJJ, grappling means to take your opponent to the ground, hold them in place, and fight. The concept of grappling in BJJ is the same as wrestling. The main difference is the techniques called ‘submissions’ and ‘positions.’

Since BJJ is so different from other sports, more people are interested in it. BJJ also offers many health and career benefits to students. People can improve their mental and physical health. They can also take part in competitions to gain fame. Also, BJJ experts can become coaches and start their own schools.

The self-defense skills taught in BJJ are helpful in real-life situations. In addition, BJJ students can train this martial art all their life. There is no limitation of age, gender, or fitness levels. BJJ also teaches students how to face difficulties in life.

The advantages of learning BJJ are endless. They will also excite you to take BJJ classes. But is it the right sport for you? Whether to learn BJJ is a tough decision because you need to think about your responsibilities, interests, and goals. Before starting BJJ training, you need to ask yourself several questions such as:

• Are you interested in martial arts?
• Will you enjoy ground-based fighting?
• Do you enjoy striking and punching?
• Can you train BJJ for several years?
• How will you pay for your BJJ classes?
• What are your goals?
• Do you want fitness or a higher belt rank in BJJ?
• Do you want to make BJJ a career?
• Do you have the time to learn BJJ every day?
• Are you comfortable with close contact?

Asking these questions to yourself will give you a better understanding about your interests and goals. To help you get started, this article will discuss different factors that will help you decide if BJJ is the right sport for you. 

To find out if BJJ is the right sport for you, it is important to find a good school and take one or two classes. Without taking a BJJ lesson, you won’t know if it is something you will enjoy doing. A good school is important because of the environment, instructors, and facilities. If you feel uncomfortable in your class, you will not enjoy BJJ. 

You can also look for schools that offer private lessons. These lessons will be a little expensive; however, they can help you decide if BJJ is the right martial art for you. You can also seek out experienced instructors who are also BJJ black belts. BJJ experts take part in competitions and have won many medals. You can discuss your personal interest and situation with them. With their experience, they can offer you better advice and guidance.

After taking a few BJJ classes in a good school, consider the following factors:

It is said that those who learn BJJ become addicted to it. BJJ offers mental challenges and physical fitness that many people enjoy. As a result, they keep thinking about BJJ and wait eagerly for their next class.

Notice whether you feel the same about your BJJ classes. Do you look forward to it or worry about it? It is important to understand that there will be days when you won’t want to attend a BJJ class. Sometimes, your body is sore or you have other things on your mind. But if you find yourself becoming anxious about every BJJ class, it is not for you.

In BJJ, there are more days where you will fail. This is because the sport is quite complex. There are endless techniques that you need to learn and practice. Getting better at every technique takes time and effort. Some people train at home as well to improve their BJJ skills. Others don’t have training partners to work on their weaknesses. Luckily, BJJ grappling practice dummies are available. These BJJ dummies are affordable and help you train without a partner. As you improve, your interest in the sport increases. But remember there are more failures in BJJ than successes at lower belt levels.

Therefore, don’t let the fear of failure stop you from learning BJJ. Sometimes students don’t feel excited about their next class because they think they will never make progress. Consistency is the key to success. If you are someone who fears failure, then perhaps BJJ is not right for you.

This point is related to the one discussed above. BJJ training requires a lot of effort and time. You need to be willing to learn constantly if you want to succeed. Therefore, if you are someone who wants big results fast, then maybe BJJ is not for you.

In BJJ, there are the following five belts ranks:

• White
• Blue
• Purple
• Brown
• Black

BJJ students spend at least a year training at white belt level before they reach the blue belt rank. Some BJ blue belts progress to the purple belt rank within two years. Others spend over four years before they advance to the purple belt rank. This is because some people are naturally talented or have a martial art background. The unique ability to train BJJ full time is also an advantage that only a few people enjoy. Do you have the patience to continue training BJJ for many years at one belt level? If the answer is no, then BJJ is surely not for you.

Before you quit BJJ completely, consider trying out No-Gi BJJ . This aspect of jiu-jitsu is quite unique. It allows you to train a different discipline without leaving the sport completely. The basics of No-Gi BJJ are the same as Gi BJJ. The former is just a faster version of traditional jiu-jitsu. Also, in No-Gi some techniques called leg-locks and heel-hooks are allowed.

No-Gi BJJ also lacks a strict belt ranking system, allowing you to make significant progress in less time. Before you decide that BJJ is not for you, take a few No-Gi classes and see if it interests you. Additionally, for No-Gi BJJ, it is best to have some previous knowledge of BJJ. If you are a blue belt or a purple belt, you will enjoy No-Gi much better than if you were a white belt. 

BJJ cannot be practiced alone. To become a skilled Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athlete, you need to learn techniques and positions from your instructors and fellow students. If you don’t enjoy the company of your mates or find your seniors and instructors unsupportive, you will lose interest in the sport.

But what if the people you train with are nice and supportive? What if you don’t enjoy contact with others? Some people are naturally introverted. They like to train in silence all by themselves. If you can relate, then BJJ is not for you.

To learn BJJ and take part in competitions, you need to be comfortable with physical touch. Sometimes, you also have to tolerate the body odor and sweat of your opponents or partners. This can be very uncomfortable for people who have strict personal boundaries. If you find it difficult to let others into your space, then BJJ is not the right sport for you.

On the other hand, if the people in your class or BJJ academy are making you uncomfortable, simply change your BJJ school. Sometimes, BJJ students need to change two or more schools before finding the right place for their BJJ training needs. Try the same method and see if it works for you. 

MMA or mixed martial arts is a fighting style in which techniques from various martial arts are used. These may include wrestling , karate, BJJ, Muay Thai , judo, kickboxing, etc. Out of all the martial arts, BJJ and wrestling are considered the most helpful for MMA fighters. 

BJJ teaches self-defense and ground fighting skills. On the other hand, wrestling teaches effective take down techniques. Wrestling skills also make it easier to hold your opponent to the ground. But is BJJ and wrestling enough for MMA? Not really. You also need to learn punching or kicking techniques. In MMA, these techniques are commonly known as ‘striking techniques’ and lead to knockout victories.

BJJ helps in MMA, but you also need other fighting skills to become a successful amateur and professional mixed martial artist. Therefore, if you want to join BJJ only to become a famous MMA fighter, be sure to also learn other skills as well. 

Humans are social beings, and they love sharing their passions with their friends and family members. A great way to find out if BJJ is right for you is to invite a friend or a family member to join the classes with you. Would you do that? If you enjoy the sport and find it beneficial, then you would surely want others to learn it as well.

You would want your loved ones to improve their physical and mental health. Another motivation behind wanting your friends and family to join BJJ is to teach them self-defense. Learning BJJ with your friends and kindred makes it a memorable experience. If you want those you care about to also become jiu-jitsu practitioners, then it is the right sport for you. 

BJJ is now a well-known sport. You will hardly find people who don’t know about BJJ. The popularity of BJJ has also resulted in an increased number of BJJ schools. However, not all BJJ schools are worth joining. Some BJJ schools are below average, and they are referred to as ‘dojos.’ The only good thing about dojos is that they are affordable.

If you want to become good at BJJ, then you need to invest money in it. A good BJJ school will help you become successful. You will also enjoy the learning experience in a well-reputed BJJ academy. But it is quite expensive. If you have to fulfill financial responsibilities and don’t have money to afford a good BJJ school, then don’t train BJJ at all. Avoid joining inferior BJJ schools simply because they have low fees. These schools lack skilled instructors and proper training facilities. 

Learning BJJ is a rewarding experience for those who enjoy it. Even though more people are learning BJJ now, it is not the right sport for everyone. You will meet people who love training BJJ. Similarly, you will come across students who call it a burden or a wrong decision in their lives.

Before you join BJJ, try out a few lessons and see if it is something you can keep up with. Watching a BJJ match or seeing your friend wearing a black belt will excite you and spark your interest. But there are factors that can change how you feel about the sport in general.

First off, to win a match or get a belt in BJJ requires a lot of time. You also need to have funds to support your BJJ training for years. Also, be consistent and patient with the process. BJJ cannot be mastered overnight. Some of the most famous BJJ athletes and instructors started learning in their childhood and still practice after turning old and gray. Assess your personality, financial situation, and life goals, before committing to BJJ.