Let’s talk about martial arts, specifically, Brazilian jiu-jitsu. As of this writing, I’ve been training in this combat sport for almost 4 years. And I can confidently say that this is not simply a self-defense discipline. It’s a lifelong journey of self-discovery and self-improvement. There are countless mental and physical health benefits of jiu jitsu.

Aside from those rewards, many other lesser-known (although equally beneficial) health advantages can come from taking up this incredible martial art. And in this article, I’m delving into each one of them. Keep reading to learn more.

9 Unsuspecting Health Benefits Of Jiu Jitsu

While Brazilian jiu-jitsu involves physical training, this form of exercise also delivers many psychological and mental health benefits. And you don’t need to be a black belt, have any athletic characteristics, or even have a competitive bone in your body to enjoy these benefits.

Mental Health Benefits

You may not be aware of all the potential mental benefits that can come from physical training. But the truth is that Brazilian jiu-jitsu training can be a catalyst for improving your mental well-being.

1. Sense Of Community

“It feels good to be in a community. Community, above all, is bigger than individuals–we are something much more than individuals when we are part of a community. And this is how things ought to be.”

— Tony Blackshaw

You need social connections in your life.

I don’t care if you’re a hermit who desires to one day resign yourself to a remote cabin in the woods—you need a sense of community, whether you realize it or not. Scientific studies have repeatedly shown that social connection is critical for our health and well-being.

Community engagement is like the foundation of a building—a pillar of support.

And Brazilian jiu-jitsu is the perfect place to gain that sense of community and social connection. And the reason might surprise you. The experience of the shared struggle when it comes to training bonds you with your training partners.

And that makes you feel like you’re not alone…

2. More Mental Clarity

““You don’t have to control your thoughts; you just have to stop letting them control you.” 

— Dan Millman

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a form of psychological therapy.

The physical aspect of the sport doubles as a method for mental release, which creates a feeling of well-being. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve felt stressed and anxious about life, only to have those emotions washed away after getting a few rolls in on the mats.

Training shocks your system into the present, which has a few advantages…

• Strengthens your focus and concentration
• Reduces your anxiety levels
• Helps you to become more self-aware
• Builds your mental fortitude

Whatever drama you’re dealing with in your life instantly fades away the moment someone starts “attacking you” on the mats. All you can do is focus your attention on the immediacy of the moment. The best part is that these benefits are not reserved for experienced athletes.

Anyone who’s spent time on the mats will agree—it’s therapeutic and helps improve mental clarity.

3. Improved Cognitive Function

“Our brains are plastic, and we have the ability to change and shape them throughout our lives.”

— Andrew Huberman

Many people won’t suspect this one…

But when you think about it, it’s actually easy to see how each BJJ training session can help you think more clearly in daily life. When you’re on the mats, you’re being “attacked.” Your training partner is literally trying to choke, strangle, and incapacitate you.

And while this is within the context of a safe environment, the fact of the matter is, you’re still being “ambushed.”

This forces you to stop, breathe, and slow down mentally. You then engage in a critical thought process to help determine the best course of action to escape and get into a more advantageous position.

All of this requires you to think strategically in the moment.

And guess what? This mental exertion translates off the mats. You begin to become a strategic thinker in other areas of your life by default.

Physical Health Benefits

Your physical health is the foundation on which everything else in your life is built on. You can’t do anything meaningful without your health intact. Brazilian jiu-jitsu can become a catalyst for a physically strong body. Here are some of its advantages.

4. Enhanced Muscular Strength

“The resistance that you fight physically in the gym and the resistance that you fight in life can only build a strong character.”

— Arnold Schwarzenegger

Every part of you is continually engaged in BJJ.

This sport will have you constantly gripping, grabbing, and pulling, and constantly being gripped, grabbed, and pulled. It’s a grappling tug-of-war. As a result, Brazilian jiu-jitsu has the natural and expected benefit of developing your muscular strength.

Your hands will gain the gripping power of a mechanical claw.

So, if you’re looking to increase your strength naturally without having to spend years lifting heavy weights in the gym, BJJ is the sport for you.

5. Improved Athletic Performance

“If you only ever give 90% in training, then you will only ever give 90% when it matters.”

— Michael Owen

Stamina and staying power…

These are the two qualities required to go the distance in any athletic endeavour. Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a catalyst for improvement in these areas. And here’s where it gets interesting… If you develop a decent level of proficiency on the mats, your performance will skyrocket in other physical disciplines.

As a result, you’ll enjoy other benefits that may include:

• Quicker recovery times
• Improved speed and agility
• Reduction in injuries
• Better conditioning
• More body awareness

And all of these advantages aren’t even the best part…

The athleticism you gain from Brazilian jiu-jitsu can help you in everyday life. Training in this sport will give you a level of physicality that will serve you in everything else, from handling mundane chores such as yard work and cleaning to managing the stresses at work.

6. Toned and Shredded Physique

“Take care of your body; it’s the only place you have to live.”

— Jim Rohn

Jiu-jitsu is a full-body workout.

The rolling, gripping, and full range of body movements train every part of you. As a result, your entire physique tones up. Your body becomes lean and chiseled. I know that was the case with me. Prior to picking up BJJ, I was what they call skinny-fat.

And if you didn’t know…

Emotional Health Benefits

Becoming healthy emotionally is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Your emotions are your quality of life. If you experience negative emotions on a regular basis, your life will feel negative. On the other side of the coin, if you experience positive emotions regularly, your life will feel positive. Here’s how BJJ can help you emotionally.

7. Stress Relief and Relaxation

“Relaxation is not a luxury but a necessary skill for achieving optimal performance.”  

— Diane Matkowski

We’ve all experienced times of increased burden in our lives.

Tight deadlines at work, arguments with your spouse, financial difficulties, etc. These challenges put us in life’s pressure cooker. When this happens, we naturally seek out release—something that can relieve the tension on that pressure release valve.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is an incredibly powerful stress reliever.

In fact, it’s better than any other physical activity when it comes to relieving the pressure life places on me. Don’t get me wrong, weight training and running are great. However, both of those activities are—for me anyway—solo endeavours.

BJJ is done with training partners, which adds an additional layer to the experience.

You’re forced to be in the moment with Brazilian jiu-jitsu. If you’re not, you’ll get choked and submitted. For this reason, BJJ has a special way of pulling you out of your head and away from your problems and dropping you into the here and now.

Afterward, you walk away feeling tranquil, at ease, and like your problems aren’t as big as you made them out to be.

8. Humility and Patience

“Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.”

— Napoleon Hill

One of the biggest emotional health benefits of jiu jitsu is that of humility.

And once you’ve trained for a while, that attribute is coupled with the essential quality of patience. How so, you may ask? Let me explain:

• Humility: You will constantly be humbled in jiu-jitsu. Throughout your training career (especially when you’re just getting started), most people are simply going to be better at the sport than you. You’ll repeatedly get smashed and submitted. And this will give you the important wake-up call that you’re not that special.
• Patience: It takes a long time to get good at jiu-jitsu for most people. While there are anomalies who pick it up fast, the majority of individuals (myself included) will often take years to develop any resemblance of skill in this sport. As a result, you’ll learn patience not only with your development in BJJ but also in other areas of life.

These qualities are critical for a quality of life: Humility keeps you grounded and levelheaded, while patience keeps you steadfast and persistent.

9. Increased Levels Of Self-Confidence

 “If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.”

— Thomas Alva Edison

Self-confidence grows when you push yourself through challenges.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu (if you didn’t know) is the world’s hardest and most complex martial art. To put this into perspective, most combat sports take 3 to 5 years to earn a black belt, while it takes the average BJJ practitioner 10 to 15 years.

BJJ can be a huge confidence booster as it is constantly challenging you.

But if you persevere and refuse to quit, you’ll progress in that sport and, as a result, start to see that there’s more to you than you may have ever thought possible. And that can be a foundational element to true self-confidence.

Conclusion

As you can see, the health benefits of jiu-jitsu stretch far beyond physicality.

They are all-encompassing. They touch every area of your life. And they make you a better and more “complete” human being. My challenge to you—if you’re so inclined—is to try a BJJ class. Maybe it will change your life the way it’s changed mine.

And remember: Stay Motivated And Disciplined.