Top 15 Most Important Reasons Why Women Should Learn BJJ

It is no secret that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is one of the most effective martial arts for men and women alike. The Gracie family, who developed BJJ, has used it to become some of the most successful fighters in the world. But what many people believe is that it is a man’s sport. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are many reasons why women should learn BJJ.

It Is An Excellent Workout

One of the main reasons why women should learn BJJ is because it is an excellent workout. You use your entire body to execute techniques when you train in BJJ. You are constantly moving and grappling with another person, which means you are burning calories and toning your muscles at the same time. 

An American Council on Exercise study found that a typical BJJ class can burn up to 700 calories! That’s more than an hour on the treadmill! So if you’re looking for an intense workout to help you get in shape quickly, BJJ is definitely for you!

Yes, your body might ache for the first few weeks as you get used to the workout. But trust me, it’s worth it! And don’t worry, you will not look like a man. Building muscle is a long and challenging process, so you won’t get big and bulky just from training a few times a week.

Many women find that their bodies change for the better after they start training in BJJ. They become more toned and have increased energy levels. Not to mention, they feel more confident in themselves both inside and outside of the gym.

It Is A Great Stress Relief

BJJ is a great way to relieve stress. All your worries and stress will disappear when you’re rolling around on the mat. You won’t have to think about work, bills, or other life problems for a few minutes. Instead, you’ll be focused on the present moment and nothing else. 

And even though it is taxing on your body, BJJ is very calming for the mind. After a long day at work, there’s nothing better than throwing someone around and forgetting about your troubles!

It Teaches You How To Defend Yourself

Another great reason women learn BJJ is that it teaches them how to defend themselves. In today’s world, it’s more important than ever for women to know how to protect themselves. And while there are many self-defense classes available, few are as effective as BJJ.

BJJ will teach you how to use your body to your advantage in a fight. You’ll learn to take down an attacker and subdue them until help arrives. And even if you never have to use your skills in a real-life situation, knowing that you can defend yourself will give you tremendous empowerment.

There are plenty of “self-defense” classes for women, but they don’t teach anything practical or realistic. But with BJJ, you can be confident that you’re learning techniques that will work if you ever need them.

It Builds Self-Confidence

As I mentioned before, BJJ is a great way to build self-confidence. You might feel awkward and out of place when you first start training. But as you continue to train, you’ll become more comfortable with the moves, and your confidence will begin to grow. 

You’ll also find that you’re able to accomplish things that you never thought were possible. And your confidence will continue to increase as you get better and better.

Many women who train in BJJ find that their self-confidence extends beyond the gym. They become more confident at work, in social situations, and in relationships. All of us can use a boost of confidence now and then, so why not get it from doing something you love?

It Teaches Discipline

In today’s world, it’s easy to get distracted and lose focus. Staying on track and disciplined with social media, television, and other distractions can be hard. 

But when you train in BJJ, you’ll quickly learn the importance of discipline. In order to be successful in BJJ, you need to be able to focus your mind and body on the task at hand. You can’t afford to get distracted, or your opponent will take advantage of you. 

The discipline you learn from BJJ will carry over into other areas of your life. You’ll find that you’re better able to stay focused at work, and you might even start working out more regularly!

It is no wonder many people enjoy a high level of success mainly because of the discipline they got through BJJ. Jocko Willink is a prime example. A former marine and now successful business author, he swears by the discipline BJJ instilled in him.

You’ll Meet Some Great People

When you train in BJJ, you’ll meet some incredible people. The people you meet at the gym will quickly become like family to you. 

No matter your background, you’ll have something in common with the people you train with. And because of the intimate nature of the BJJ community, you’ll quickly make friends and develop strong relationships.

You may find that training provides you with a support system that you didn’t have before. If you ever need anything, chances are there’s someone at the gym who would be more than happy to help you out.

You Don’t Have To Worry About Hurting Your Face (Probably)

One thing that stops many women from getting into martial arts is the fear of injury. And while it’s true that there is always a risk of injury when training, the chances of being seriously injured are relatively low. 

When you train in BJJ, you’ll wear a mouthguard and a gi (the uniform in BJJ). This will protect your teeth and your face from being injured. And even if you get hurt, it’s probably not going to be your face that takes the brunt of the damage. 

So if you’re worried about getting hurt, don’t be! The chances of being seriously injured are meager, and even if you do get hurt, it’s not going to be your face that takes the hit.

You Will Learn To Defeat Larger Opponents

One of the great things about BJJ is that it levels the playing field. No matter how big or strong your opponent is, you can still defeat them if you know the proper techniques. 

This is especially useful for women, who are often disadvantaged regarding size and strength. But with BJJ, you can be confident that you’re learning techniques that will actually work if you ever need to use them.

It’s also worth mentioning that not all of your opponents will be larger than you. Once you get more experience under your belt, you might find yourself being the one who is larger and stronger!

You Will Have Fun

BJJ is a lot of things, but one thing is it definitely is not boring. There’s always something new to learn, and you’ll never get bored in class. 

Even if you don’t have any interest in competing, you can still find a lot of enjoyment from training. Whether rolling around on the mat with your friends or trying a new technique, you’re sure to have a good time.

Chances are you will look forward to attending class each week; before you know it, BJJ will become a big part of your life. 

You Might Get The Competitive Itch

Even if you are not competitive by nature, you might want to compete after training for a while.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of testing your skills against someone else and seeing how far you’ve come. And even if you don’t win, you’ll still learn much from experience.

If competition is not your thing, that’s perfectly fine! You can still enjoy all the benefits of BJJ without ever setting foot on the mat in a competition. But if you do decide to compete, you might just surprise yourself with how well you do. 

Flexibility and Joint Mobility

As we age, we must maintain our flexibility and joint mobility. BJJ is a great way to do this, as it requires a lot of movement and stretching. Not only will you be improving your flexibility and joint mobility, but you’ll also be having a lot of fun. 

To become proficient at BJJ, you’ll need to bend, twist, and stretch in ways you may have never thought possible. But don’t worry, you’ll get there with time and practice. 

Your hips, knees, shoulders, and elbows will all thank you for the increased mobility, and you might even find that other activities become more effortless.

Builds Stress Resistance

In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to have good stress resistance. But what exactly is stress resistance? 

Simply put, it’s the ability to stay calm and level-headed in difficult or stressful situations. And while it may not seem like it, BJJ can help you develop this skill. 

How? By putting you in stressful situations and forcing you to think quickly and efficiently. When you’re in a tough spot on the mat, you’ll need to stay calm and make smart decisions. This will help you develop the skills to save calm under pressure on and off the mat. 

You will also learn about human psychology, which will give you a better insight into yourself, your emotions, and how to control them. You will learn how far you can push yourself in stressful situations and how to better deal with stress in your daily life.

It Helps You To Be a Strong Woman

In a society that often tells women to be small and delicate, it can be empowering to learn how to be strong. BJJ will give you the strength you need, both physically and mentally. 

You’ll learn how to use your body weight and leverage to your advantage and develop muscles you never knew existed. But more importantly, you’ll develop the strength of character that comes from knowing you can defend yourself and the people you love. 

You’ll learn how to stand up for yourself and others and gain the confidence that comes with knowing you have the skills to back it up. Plenty of women need to learn how to develop their strength of character or simply showcase their strength in a non-threatening way.

Being a strong woman doesn’t mean you have to be aggressive or intimidating; it merely means knowing that you’re capable of taking care of yourself and those around you. 

It Breaks Gender Stereotypes

Since BJJ involves a lot of physical contact, some people may see it as a “man’s sport.” But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Girls can roll with boys and even defeat them. 

BJJ is for everyone, regardless of gender, size, or strength. Many women find that they have an advantage over men in BJJ because of their smaller size and different body composition. 

Women are also far more flexible than men, on average, which gives them an advantage when it comes to specific techniques. So don’t be discouraged by the stereotype that BJJ is a man’s sport; it’s for anyone who wants to learn and has the dedication to do so.

So if you’re a woman who’s interested in BJJ, don’t let the gender stereotype hold you back. Get out there and give it a try. You might just surprise yourself (and everyone else) with what you’re capable of. 

It Slows Down The Aging Process

BJJ can help you slow down the aging process mentally and physically. 

How? First, let’s look at the physical benefits. BJJ involves a lot of cardio, which is excellent for heart health. It also helps improve your flexibility and joint mobility, which tend to decline with age. 

But the benefits of BJJ don’t stop there. The mental benefits are just as impressive. BJJ requires you to think quickly and make split-second decisions. This helps keep your mind sharp and helps improve your cognitive function as you age. 

In addition, as we already said, BJJ is a great way to reduce stress and learn how to deal with it better. This can help you stay mentally young and prevent age-related mental decline. 

Conclusion

As you can see, there are plenty of reasons women should learn BJJ. Whether you’re looking to get in shape, learn self-defense, or just challenge yourself mentally and physically, BJJ is a great option. So don’t wait any longer; get out there and try it. You might just surprise yourself with what you’re capable of. a