6 Benefits of Jiu Jitsu

New to Jiu Jitsu? There’s no time better than NOW to start a new workout routine that allows you to benefit from the beautiful, practical art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Late Summer is definitely the best season to get into a steady workout routine. Why? Well, for starters, the Sun ( you know, that warm glowing thing that we don’t get to see for months at a time every year) won’t be out much longer. Therefore, you should start making more opportunities for camping, barbeques, and working out before it’s too late. Benefits of Jiu Jitsu are numerous, some are below!

Getting the obvious out of the way, you’ll find that getting some mat time in throughout the week helps increase endorphins which are natural pain and stress fighters. Aside from simply burning calories, you are also gaining muscle strength and flexibility that you can feel throughout the week.

Everyone has vices: junk food, lame friends, or indulging in too much internet time. Some people go overboard and combine all of the above simultaneously, but that’s not advised! Sometimes you have to just unplug from everything and realize that the internet isn’t the best way to authentically connect with people. I know that sometimes the only times that I consciously disconnect from my Iphone is when I leave them in my cubbie before Jiu Jitsu class starts… and then try to extend that as long as I can.

I have spoken to too many people who claim that they do not have time to work out because of their obligations to family, work, and school. Undoubtedly, life has a way of getting super busy. However, if we examine the reality of what happens when we do not take time for ourselves to workout, eat healthy, and have “Me” time: we see that our relationships and professional life suffer. Sustained time rolling Jiu Jitsu is a great way to unwind and clear that mental plate so that we can step up to the plate when our profession or loved ones need us the most.

4) Get Better Rest:

 Waking up feeling like you haven’t really gotten a good night’s sleep? On the daily IV drip of RedBull just to slog through another day at the office? Not me, although I will admit that one of my vices happens to be VISO energy drinks, which is basically like hooking up your brain directly up to one of those dial-up modems in The Matrix and watching everyone move in slow motion while you run circles around them. Frankly, I think the Jiu Jitsu practice helps me drift off to a wonderful, restful dream-world and wake up feeling refreshed. You know that good exhausted feeling? When’s the last time you had that? Seriously, your sleep after Jiu Jitsu is excellent!

We know that you have been practicing your best “You talking to me?” impression of  DeNiro in Taxi Driver. Calm down, bro: it’s just not worth it! But seriously, there’s nothing more healthy for our ego than to spend time on the mat, frustrating our best efforts against a calm, methodical boa constrictor of an opponent. No matter what the chip on our shoulder might have us believe, we aren’t that big and tough, and that guy or gal who is below our weight class (but training harder)  will be more than happy to show us that gently. Don’t worry, your ego can handle it.