Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Fun Competition and Effective Self-Defense

Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) has a long and interesting history, but more important is what it can do for you, the BJJ practitioner. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, BJJ is hugely rewarding. Not only do you improve your fitness, develop confidence, and learn effective self-defense, but becoming a student of BJJ is a ton of fun.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu first rose to prominence in North America in the early ‘90s when black belt and BJJ legend Royce Gracie defeated several masters of other martial arts in the early days of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Those tournaments proved BJJ’s efficiency and effectiveness in real combat, but learning jiu-jitsu is also a fun and safe way to build fitness and confidence.

In a typical BJJ class, students learn positions for ground fighting, as well as takedowns and submissions. Jiu-jitsu differentiates itself from other fighting systems by teaching you how to defend yourself on the ground, which is where the majority of fights end up.

In fact, one of the best attacking positions in BJJ involves the aggressor being on his or her back in a position known as “the guard.” A knowledgeable jiu-jitsu practitioner can lock in submission holds like the triangle choke and the armbar from the guard. This makes BJJ users diverse among martial artists, and means that a jiu-jitsu fighter is rarely in a position of disadvantage.

Because Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a “soft” martial art involving no punches, kicks, or strikes of any kind, sparring sessions can be unusually high-paced compared to other martial arts. Even beginning students can exert themselves fully in the sparring sessions that conclude most BJJ classes.

One of the features of BJJ training and competition is “tapping.” By tapping a hand on an opponent or the mat, or saying the word “tap,” a competitor signals discomfort, at which point his or her training partner/opponent releases all holds. This is a way of determining winners and losers in competition, but is also a safety feature, allowing practitioners the peace of mind in knowing that injury is unlikely.

At Revolution, an attitude of helpfulness and respect is foremost in the training environment. Students of all levels understand that to get the best out of their training experience, they need to have enthusiastic and positive partners to work with. For this reason, training jiu-jitsu builds a strong sense of camaraderie and trust with fellow students.

In addition to fitness, confidence, and self-defense, there is a psychological benefit to training BJJ. Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners learn composure under pressure. When attempting to apply or escape a submission hold, or even just to gain favorable position on the ground, a jiu-jitsu fighter will achieve the best results when mentally composed.

The ability to relax and think in a fast-paced situation translates to a great life skill outside of the gym – whether in a business environment or just driving through traffic, composure and relaxation are key to successfully moving through life.

Revolution offers Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a doorway to achieving your goals. Our accomplished staff, which includes five-time world champion, Bibiano Fernandes, will help you meet your fitness or weight-loss targets, build confidence, and gain skills to help you excel in all aspects of your life.

And for those interested in competition, Revolution offers world-class training and coaching for several types of tournament.