Guest post by Evolve MMA, Asia’s premier championship brand for martial arts. It has the most number of World Champions on the planet. Named as the #1 ranked martial arts organization in Asia by CNN, Yahoo! Sports, FOX Sports, Evolve MMA is the best Singapore BJJ gym.
Nowadays, more and more people are flocking into BJJ gyms to learn the beautiful art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. There are many reasons why this is the case. For starters, BJJ is one of the most effective combat styles ever developed and that was clear during the early days of the UFC as Royce Gracie made quick work of all of his opponents, winning the first two tournaments.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is also arguably the most effective way to defend yourself from an attacker. Most physical confrontations eventually transition to a grappling phase and knowing how to acquire favorable positions and submit an opponent can be very useful.
Most importantly, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu allows you do subdue an opponent without causing any harm to the person. That drastically separates it from many martial arts and that is one of the reasons why most police academies incorporate it into their curriculums. BJJ makes it possible for a smaller, weaker person to subdue a larger person using leverage, chokes, angles, and joint isolation.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu isn’t just a martial art, it is a way of life that will drastically change you for the better. It allows you to go through life at your full potential, it enriches your social life and if teaches you how to properly defend yourself if the need ever arises.
Here are 3 Not-So-Obvious Ways Joining A BJJ Gym Will Change Your Life.
1) Improved Self-Esteem
While most BJJ students probably don’t walk into the gym looking for a way to boost their self-esteem, that is exactly what happens when you start training. BJJ is one of the more cerebral martial arts and most new students won’t pick up techniques and moves the first time it is shown to them.
For example, catching a person in an armbar can seem virtually impossible when you first start training BJJ. Your instructor shows you the technique, and you practice it several times with one of your training partners. You probably will not get the technique right the first time, but with repetition, you will eventually execute it properly.
Or so you think.
Performing a technique on a partner who is complying with you and a sparring partner who is resisting are two different things. When you first start training, you will likely have a hard time getting anyone to tap to that armbar you’ve been drilling, but with time, you will eventually figure out all the little details that make it possible for you to pull off the move on a resisting opponent like keeping your techniques tight and not giving the person any room to escape.
There are no words to describe the feeling when a new BJJ student gets their first submission. It’s an incredible feeling that requires lots of hard work to attain. By the time you get to that point, you would have a new found confidence in yourself.
2) Mental Transformation
Learning BJJ also comes with a handful of mental benefits. Students have to pay attention to the intricate details of techniques during class and that improves their ability to concentrate. You also have to figure out how to submit your training partners with moves you have both learned in class while that person is resisting.
It becomes a chess game and the student who outthinks the other often emerges victorious.
Training BJJ also teaches you important attributes like perseverance, being respectful, and discipline. It teaches you to keep pushing forward even when things get tough. These are things that will help you in your personal and professional life.
3) Physical Transformation
Signing up for BJJ classes will also change the way you look and what your physical limitations are. For starters, BJJ gives you a fat burn that is almost double of what you get from popular exercises.
It’s the ultimate exercise for anyone who wants to lose weight and become leaner. However, the physical benefits of training BJJ do not stop there. Some physical benefits are not so obvious. For example, BJJ training strengthens your core muscles and your hips. These are important parts of the body that are used during many simple and complex movements. Having a strong core improves your overall athletic ability and reduces your odds of developing hip issues down the road.
BJJ also improves your flexibility. Most BJJ students notice their flexibility improving as soon as they start training. This comes from the many drills and techniques that stretch out different muscles and joints.
BJJ also improves your cardiovascular endurance. You’ll no longer find yourself feeling tired after a short stretch of physical activity. This can open up opportunities and activities your cardio once prevented you from enjoying like playing basketball with the kids or riding a bike up a trail.
The most not-so-obvious benefit of training BJJ is probably how much it improves your overall physical coordination. The improved body awareness improves your posture and performance during other physical activities.
If improving your confidence and transforming your mind and body sounds good to you, give BJJ a go!
