Starting Out in Jiu-Jitsu

  Today’s coverage and topics

• "Tapping Out Myths" Segment
• Expectations as a beginner in Jiu-Jitsu
• Benefits of Jiu-Jitsu on your mental health

Hello everyone, as many of my readers are attending IUSB I hope you had an amazing fall break. Today we will be covering the start of your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ for short) journey and what to expect when actually going to your first class. 

 I feel this is important because oftentimes people have expectations for the martial art that may give them a poor experience. I hope that after reading this post you will be able to have a better understanding of what starting BJJ is like and will have an amazing head start if you ever choose to give it a try. 

Tapping Out Myths vol. 1 -

“You need to be physically strong and athletic to do Jiu-Jitsu”

As the name implies, I will post every Monday explaining the myths surrounding BJJ and busting them better than a myth buster episode. Since BJJ isn’t as widely known when compared to massive sports like basketball, many people simply do not know the facts about the martial art and may make assumptions. Fret not as I will so kindly analyze the myths and help prevent you from making the same common misconceptions. 

Thank you for checking out the very first entry for the Tapping Out Myths segment (insert crowd applause here). The first myth that we will be talking about today is do you need to be a top level athlete to do Jiu-Jitsu? I decided to start with this one because I can imagine this being one of the biggest misconceptions about BJJ period. To cut right to the chase, I believe this claim to be false as evidence of the creation of BJJ. 

For those uninformed, Helio Gracie is the founding father that created the BJJ martial art.  Helio Gracie created BJJ in order for smaller built people such as him to use leverage to dominate larger opponents. Techniques utilize chokes and joint locks where the right form and angle can do damage to any body type. Since BJJ is a martial art, I understand how this misconception would come to be where more strike oriented martial arts can be made effective with more strength. 

• Verdict: NOT TRUE

Whether it’s a child or someone who is not used to intense exercise, anyone taught these techniques are capable of executing them perfectly and effectively. I am not afraid to confess that I have been submitted by younger students and those not from an athletic background.

Credit: Kaizen

Starting Jiu-Jitsu

As with any hobby or skill, you have to take a plunge and try something completely new and foreign. BJJ is no different from other sports in that regard where a considerable amount of skill will need to be built over time. Starting BJJ with no prior knowledge of martial arts and grappling may make starting daunting for many beginners.

 I want to assure you that I was in a similar situation when I started because I have never learned a martial art or grappled previously. The concept of being on the ground and trying to get into favorable positions was jarring to say the least and I most definitely moved like a baby on my first day. You will first learn the fundamental skills that are simple but effective and will be still used as a black belt.

 

The beautiful thing about Jiu-Jitsu is that you will be in a gym with other beginners  and will have a great support system of coaches and highly knowledgeable teammates. Always remember that even though BJJ is not a team sport, your gym will become one giant team that strives to help each other learn and grow.

What do you need on your First Day?

With all honesty, you are allowed to show up to your first class wearing a T-Shirt and athletic pants or shorts. Be sure that you are comfortable with rolling and moving on the mats with your chosen attire. It won’t be until you have fully committed to practicing BJJ that you will buy a Gi which is the uniform worn when training BJJ.

 As BJJ incorporates a safe way of grappling and sparring, there is no need for protective equipment unless for certain injuries. Lastly, the most important thing to bring on your first day of class is an optimistic mindset.  

Take a look at the Elite Sports Website for a greater detailed explanation of what to bring and expect from your first BJJ class. 

Source: Jiu-Jitsu Theory

How can Jiu-Jitsu Improve my Mindset?

Oftentimes I feel that many people choose to start BJJ because they want to improve their health which is fantastic but I would like to share with you some other ways BJJ can improve your life that may be under the radar. As final exams approach, students may find heightened stress levels that can negatively affect their performance and mental health. In my own experience, exercising always makes me shut out the things I worry about. Going to the BJJ gym with lots of great people with like minded goals can create a very healthy environment for the conscious. 

Confidence is an aspect of your mindset that is extremely relevant to BJJ. Having the ability to believe in the techniques you're using is one thing but being able to believe in yourself to correctly use them is another matter. A blog named “Student of BJJ” shared an interesting idea about self-confidence. 

“Some people seem to be born with an abundance of self-confidence, but most people need social feedback to build themselves up on the inside”. -Student of BJJ    

Jumping back to the healthy environment the BJJ gym creates, you will make friends and have teammates that believe in you which may be enough to help you grow. When I was a beginner in BJJ, it was my teammates that pushed me to try techniques or play more offensively that eventually got my confidence to improve. 

Question of the day: What are some questions that you have about Jiu-Jitsu so far? (Kindly answer in the comment section!)

Thank you for reading today’s post. This has been Grappling with Life and we hope to see you on the mats.