The Biggest Benefits of Jiu-Jitsu Training

By: Elisabeth Clay

Let me tell you about some of the biggest benefits I have found in training jiu-jitsu. To start off, I would like to say that, obviously, I do more than just train jiu-jitsu. It is my entire life and my world revolves around it. It’s how I make money, what I do for fun, my friends are there, it all revolves around jiu-jitsu.

I would also like to say that I wouldn’t want it any other way.

If I did, I wouldn’t have set my life up this way. One thing I love about jiu-jitsu, and I think anyone who trains would agree, is that you get what you want out of it. What I get out of it isn’t necessary what “Jimmy” or “Nick” is going to get out of it. When I wanna hang out or go out to eat with someone or have a girls night, it’s with my team, and I want it that way. Also, I am not saying you have to be a competitor for your team to be your everything, or even who you hang out with. They are my family and my friends. But, if that isn’t what you want, if you just want somewhere to go and exercise and learn jiu-jitsu, you can make it that. You don’t have to go out and spend all your time with the team. You can go out to their events, even if they aren’t jiu-jitsu related, because they’re your friends and you want to spend time with them.

The Biggest Benefit of Training Jiu Jitsu

For me, the biggest benefit has to be the enjoyment I get out of it, all of it, especially the family and community I have gained (and I have a pretty big family without them, lol). Part of what I think is cool is that, even my family members who don’t train, are still involved in my world and care about what is going on. They care about my “job” and how it is going, and I think it’s cool how involved my family can be in my “job” as opposed to if I had a normal job and didn’t do this. I love that if I need something, I have people who have my back, and I know they do. You are welcomed with open arms, even when they don’t know you. The love and caring that you can feel when you walk into a gym is amazing. The vibe and everything is the best feeling. Jiu- Jitsu also gives you a different type of confidence, which I think is super important, especially for young girls in this crazy world we live in.

Even More Benefits

Another great benefit is the exercise is super good for your body. It’s also a great outlet. For me personally, I am a lot nicer, sleep much better, and just all around feel better mentally and physically. Jiu Jitsu also teaches problem solving, there is a reason it’s called chess. But unlike chess, I actually do all right in this, haha. Problem solving is a very important thing to learn; in life, you are going to run into a lot of problems, but on the flip side, jiu-jitsu is a very good place to go when you just need to get away and get out of your head. It’s hard to think about work problems when someone is literally trying to simulate murdering you. Also, it greatly helps with my anxiety, depression, and ADD.

Yes, when I’m not training hard and even when I am (just not as bad), I suffer with all of those.

The worst of it has to be my anxiety. Little things in my mind that would never set off normal people, tend to set me off. I get tightness in my chest, my confidence goes down, and I want to make rash decisions, which is never a good thing. Funny enough, I always forget these benefits when I’m able to train hard. Yes, I still have pretty bad anxiety when I’m training, but it is nothing compared to when I am out for a week or two due to an injury. It’s not like I can at least supplement with hard lifting or exercise.

If you suffer with any of these I would HIGHLY recommend training. When you first start, being in a new environment might be hard, but it is well worth it. Anxiety, Depression, ADD, ADHD, low confidence, overthinking, these are just a few of the things jiu-jitsu can help with. So, if you have yet to try it, make sure you do! Become your inner lion or lioness! Until next time, thank you for reading.