How Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Teaches Body and Mind Discipline

Introduction: Getting Started with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

I learned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) because it was an opportunity for me to exercise, learn a sport, discipline my body and my mind, and develop self-defense skills. During any given month I participate in a BJJ class at least four times. If I have free time I will do more, but I am at the very least consistently there for at least one session per week. I have participated in the Gracie School for several years, going back to 2015.

Since the beginning, I have learned many skills, such as bridging and shrimping, how to grip correctly, the standing guard pass, escaping the side mount, breath control, and the straight armlock from guard. Escaping from the bottom is one of the drills I remember most, as it really opened my eyes to what BJJ is all about (Barra, 2015). But aside from physical skills, there were always mountains of knowledge to consume. We were not always focused so much on the regulations of the sport as on the fundamentals of attack and defense.

The specific objectives I had for learning about the sport were straightforward. I wanted to get fit, become more disciplined, and learn self-defense. I felt that having some sense of how to defend myself would give me confidence, which it has done. I also felt that by learning BJJ I could become more disciplined and healthier all around, since the sport depends upon physical fitness to sustain good performance.

Resources I used to learn about BJJ included books, YouTube videos, information from friends who were involved with it, and articles online. Gracie University was always a good source of information. I also enjoyed the world of MMA and admired grapplers, and that got me interested in BJJ as well. BJJ Techniques to Defeat Bigger and Stronger Opponents by Dan Faggella was also a title I consulted frequently, as was Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Alexandre Paiva.

Observations and Reflections on Training

I did not have any preconceived ideas about the sport other than that I figured it would be good for me, it would be challenging, and that in the end I would love it. All three of those turned out to be true. My experience with BJJ has been nothing but positive. Since I did not know a great deal about it before I got involved, there was not much for me to go on in terms of forming preconceived notions.

I did think that I would be good at the sport. That was part of what attracted me to it. I was interested in the techniques, in the idea of it, in the philosophy, in the skills it could teach, and in the way it disciplined the body. I was also attracted to the idea that BJJ was designed for people who ordinarily would not be expected to put up much of a fight—so I liked that it was essentially made for the underdog.

I basically had the desire to learn about the sport and then got involved pretty quickly. It was not a decision I thought long and hard about for a year or two before taking the plunge. It was more a matter of hearing about it, seeing it, and thinking: yes, this is what I want. There were no major considerations about cost, location, or physical limitations. Other sports had nowhere near the same appeal. Baseball involves too much standing around. Football or basketball requires a certain body type. BJJ is designed so that nearly anyone can do it.

In terms of comparison to other sports, BJJ is really in a world of its own. One can compare it to traditional Jiu-Jitsu or other martial arts, but even there it is unique. Compared to basketball, BJJ is similar in the sense that one is constantly shifting from offense to defense, one has to guard, and one has to block the opponent's progress. Both are very physical and both require a great deal of attention to detail. As oddly as it may sound, I think BJJ is closest to basketball among all other sports—even though there is no ball involved in BJJ. It is the way you use your body to defend or attack where I find the similarities. In terms of rules, costs, and popularity, however, BJJ is in its own category. Basketball can be played for free, whereas practicing BJJ generally requires membership at a dedicated gym.

The personal changes I noticed as I became more involved in BJJ were that I spent more time on physical conditioning and less time sitting around watching television or browsing the Internet. I was no longer static—I was up and moving with purpose, and it was great. I could discuss it with my friends, and we would watch other grapplers and wrestlers together. I also paid more attention to nutrition, though my overall dietary habits did not change dramatically.

The hardest part of the sport to learn was how to move the hips. Hip movement is so essential to BJJ, which is why new learners spend so much time doing shrimps across the mats (Mullen, 2017). After that, the most difficult thing to learn was how to stay relaxed during training. Believe it or not, that is harder to do than one might expect. In BJJ you need to stay relaxed, but I had always associated relaxation with lethargy, so I had to relearn how to think about relaxation while actively training.

The easiest aspect of the sport for me to master has been learning each individual move. I have been fortunate to have a skilled instructor who really helps his students. It was never difficult for me to pick up on the techniques being taught—I could understand them almost instantly and visualize what needed to be done. Perhaps this is because I have always had a natural awareness of what my body is doing, or perhaps because I have enjoyed wrestling informally with my brothers since I was a young child. It is simply fun for me.

The difference between the first time I participated in BJJ and the most recent time is the amount of confidence I carry onto the floor. In the beginning I was cautious and unsure, wanting approval and support. Now I know myself and know how to handle myself in a match. I no longer need external validation, and if I have to submit, I accept it graciously and compliment my opponent. I respect myself and my opponents, and that is a great attitude to bring to this sport.

The part of BJJ that has been most enjoyable is the day-in and day-out grind—the process itself. I love learning, developing, growing, and getting better. Just as NBA player Joel Embiid famously talks about "The Process," I too embrace it wholeheartedly. As Embiid (2020) states, "The Process is never going to end. It's an ongoing thing." I feel that applies to BJJ perfectly.

BJJ is not a team sport, but everyone in the gym is very supportive of everyone else. I have observed individuals working steadily toward the personal goals they have set for themselves, and I admire them for their perseverance. They are great examples of how to push oneself consistently.

History, Rules, and Fundamentals of BJJ

The history of BJJ traces back to the Gracie family in Brazil in the 1920s. They were taught Judo by a Japanese master but wanted a fighting style that was better suited to their natural gifts and physical attributes. They developed BJJ as an alternative style of fighting and self-defense that took diminutive size and stature—normally considered a weakness—and turned it into a strength by focusing on grappling and forcing submissions from the ground.

The sport has progressed over time and has become a worldwide phenomenon. Some of the top competitors in MMA are accomplished grapplers whose BJJ skills are extraordinary. BJJ has won the respect of the world, and the fact that it has achieved such global recognition after having such humble origins is remarkable—though perhaps not surprising, given how finely tuned the art form is.

In competition, the rules of BJJ include: no slamming one's opponent, no talking to the referee, no stalling unless you are in a dominant top position, and there is a time limit for tying one's belt. One can see from these simple guidelines that there are not many rules—they are all basic and common sense. A competitor cannot leave the mat to escape a submission. Sweeps must involve the use of the legs. If an opponent taps out, the match is over.

Conclusion: Competition, Discipline, and Ongoing Growth

What I learned about the competitive nature of man is that there is something in you that simply wants to win. It seems to exist in everyone—a desire to keep fighting until you come out on top. I can respect that desire, and it is important to respect it in others as well. I like BJJ because it teaches you to respect your opponent. It is not a sport where trash-talking is encouraged. It also teaches you to accept losing graciously.

Participation in sports affects my competitive nature in other areas of life by allowing me to step back and consider what truly matters. In sport, I am able to give full expression to my competitive side, and it functions in a cathartic way. At work, I do not need to feel competitive with colleagues because I know I can channel those feelings onto the mat. It helps me put things in their proper context. Competition is appropriate in the gym—but do I really need to compete with the driver next to me on the road, or with a coworker for the boss's attention? The answer is no. Competition belongs in the gym, and that is where I prefer to keep it.

Parents can involve their children in leisure sports by simply taking them to where the sport is practiced and signing them up. Children will more often than not engage with what they are guided toward. Parents do a great deal simply by getting their kids to the studio. They also help by staying through practice and showing up for events and competitions to offer support. Children like to know their parents are watching and taking the time to appreciate what they have worked hard to achieve.

References

Barra, G. (2015). The five commandments of escaping from the bottom. Retrieved from

Embiid, J. (2020). The process. Retrieved from https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/joel-embiid-quotes

Mullen, M. (2017). The toughest things to learn as a BJJ beginner. Retrieved from https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/toughest-things-learn-bjj-beginner/