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 top rated BJJ gym in Singapore.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one of the most rewarding martial arts you can learn and it’s one of the newest. It is widely viewed as the best martial art for one-on-one combat against untrained opponents with the early days of mixed martial arts providing lots of proof.
BJJ is a grappling-based martial art so you don’t learn any striking techniques in class. That doesn’t stop it from being one of the most effective martial arts. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specializes in ground fighting with the ultimate goal of submitting your opponent. There are countless submissions used in BJJ with a constant flow of new techniques being added.
The closed guard is the trademark position of BJJ. In this position, you’re on your back with your legs wrapped around your opponent’s torso. The position has historically been one of the worst positions you could find yourself in a fight, but BJJ players have proven the person in the bottom position has the advantage if they know what they’re doing.
Since strikes aren’t allowed in BJJ, students can spar with each other with full intensity after every class. This allows you to refine your techniques against resisting opponents, preparing you for real fights or competitions. Students of martial arts like boxing can’t go 100 percent with each other every time they spar since both parties are taking blows all over their bodies. Being able to go hard during sparring is one of the reasons why grappling-based martial arts like BJJ and Wrestling are so effective. Students gain a lot of fighting experience simply by training.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a lot more than an effective fighting technique. It’s a way of life that has many benefits for your mental health.
Five Ways Learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Is Great For Your Mental Health
Some of the ways training BJJ improves your mental wellness include:
1) Stress Relief
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training is an intense physical activity that stimulates the release of endorphins. These are feel-good chemicals released in your brain after any intense form of exercise for extended periods. BJJ gives you a great endorphin buzz, that gives you a zen feeling that lasts the rest of the day. Try training in the mornings if possible so you can enjoy your buzz all day long.
Unlike artificial ways of boosting your mood like drinking, BJJ training is good for your overall health and you still get to enjoy a nice buzz.
The boost you get from endorphins being released in your brain will lower your stress levels and improve your sleep quality.
2) Improved Social Circle
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gyms are some of the most positive, friendly environments around. It typically starts with the instructors who create an environment that brings out the best in everyone. Everyone is typically respectful and welcoming, especially when you’re the new guy.
Many of these people will end up becoming your friends and part of your support system. They’ll be there to pick you up on days you’re mentally drained. You’ll also find yourself spending time with some of them outside the dojo.
Social isolation is one of the risk factors for a variety of mental health issues like depression, but training in BJJ gives your social life a significant boost. It’s a great way to make new friends.
3) Improved Confidence
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu isn’t just a fun way to get some intense exercise. It’s one of the most effective martial arts ever developed and it gives you skills you can use to defend yourself if you ever need to. Knowing how to defend yourself leads to you feeling less anxious and more confident as you go about your daily activities.
You’ll also become more confident anytime you earn a new promotion or master a technique you once found difficult. The more you train, the better you’ll get, and the more confident you’ll be in all aspects of your life. Confidence is one of the most attractive traits a person can have. It makes others want to be around you, increasing your social circle. It also makes you less likely to be targeted by bullies or criminals.
BJJ training encourages you to make healthier life choices like eating healthy, drinking enough water, and getting adequate sleep at night. All these things help to improve your mental and slim wellness. You’re around martial artists who might be taking some of these things more seriously than you do when you first start training, but it eventually rubs off on you.
4) Improved Sense Of Purpose
Life is awesome when you have a career or job that fulfills your passions. However, getting there isn’t that simple. Some people aren’t sure about what they want, while others struggle with obstacles in their paths. BJJ training gives you a sense of purpose as you make your way through the ranks. You’re no longer just a person existing to pay bills, it gives you a passion that fulfills your desire to excel at things.
BJJ training also opens up other doors that give you something to aim for. It might be winning your local BJJ tournament or getting a side gig as an assistant instructor. You’ll find yourself talking about BJJ in other aspects of your life. Try not to overdo it though since people who don’t train typically find that annoying.
5) Teaches You A Healthy Way Of Life
BJJ training encourages you to make healthier life choices like eating healthy, drinking enough water, and getting adequate sleep at night. All these things help to improve your mental wellness. You’re around martial artists who might be taking some of these things more seriously than you do when you first start training, but it eventually rubs off on you.
You’ll eventually figure out that you perform better during your training when you eat carbs a couple of hours before your class or notice how much weight you lost by training without even going on a diet. You’ll then wonder how well you’d perform in class or what you’d look like if you cleaned up your diet.
Start BJJ Today!
Apart from being physically healthy, in this time and age, we shouldn’t neglect being mentally healthy. Our Mental well-being contributes a big part to our lives – being mentally healthy allows us to navigate tough times and make important decisions when needed. With the many mental benefits BJJ has to offer, what’re you waiting for?
