Should i put my kids in jiu jitsu?
A sport that has been around since the early 20th century, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has always been something that people gravitate to for a variety of reasons. It was developed by the Gracie family after they had spent time training under Mitsuyo Maeda a Japanese Judoka. Refining techniques and meticulously developing the martial arts we know today, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Now why is this important to understand? Since the time this martial art has started, roughly 1 million people in the United States alone practice BJJ. Something that originated as a way to defend yourself against a larger opponent has now become much more than that.
Many find themselves on weight loss journeys and getting bored of the strenuous task of doing loads of cardio and restricting their eating habits. Yet BJJ has shown spectacular results in helping these people meet their goals! Here at Prism Jiu Jitsu we have had many come in to train with us and after a few months made a significant weight loss transformation. In the process, they also developed an incredible set of self-defense skills.
Another benefit of training BJJ is its impact on mental health. In BJJ we are always learning and improving upon ourselves one way or another. It is also common for you to hear the phrase, “Leave the ego at the door.” Once we step into the gym it is a place to be humble and open to learning in order to grow as an individual. The social factor of BJJ is incredible as well. With people from all sorts of careers and lifestyles, you get to learn so much and meet people that you may not have otherwise.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu throws a ton of problems at you. One moment you may be standing and the next you are laying flat down on your back after getting swept by your opponent. Many times you will also find yourself in dangerous positions or potential submissions and you will have to think of ways to get out. This is a brilliant way of developing your problem-solving skills and critical thinking. Challenging your brain every day with new challenges helps tremendously and goes a long way in personal growth.
Following the path of Jiu Jitsu can be a long and hard journey. You will face many ups and downs. Some days will feel completely helpless, and that is 100% normal. Every single black belt that exists in BJJ has faced those days for years, but because they had the discipline to stick it through as a white belt and climb through the ranks slowly but surely, they have now become one of the few who can call themselves a black belt in Jiu Jitsu. Along their journey of having that discipline to keep pushing and training, they learned to respect their partners and show humility since that is an important part of BJJ.
Speaking from experience, here at Prism Jiu Jitsu the environment has always been positive and energetic. With so many great people coming in to learn, it is never a challenge to work on social skills and make some new friends.
Right, so we have made it to the end and you must be wondering, “well, should I put my kid in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?”
If you want you child to develop discipline and respect, learn how to communicate and make friends, expand on their problem solving abilities and critical thinking, maintain a good mental health, and learn a fantastic martial art for self-defense all while having fun, then I’d say yes, you should sign your kid up for BJJ and fast!
If you happen to be in Escondido CA and want to try out Jiu Jitsu, kids or adults, check us out at Prism Jiu Jitsu!