Jiu Jitsu has given me many goals, a sense of purpose and the drive and discipline
to go after those goals.
I believe there is no program out there that encompasses physical education and character
development like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu does.
Below are a few reasons to consider Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for your Child or yourself over or in
addition to Team Sports:
1. Self-Defense
This is the number one reason why most people decide to study Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It teaches
you the techniques to defend yourself, but also the way to think about defending yourself – anticipate and avoid potential dangers. Training also helps build up the reflexes you need if
you’re ever in a dangerous situation, and give you the confidence to stand up for yourself and fight back if needed – which brings us to our next topic…
2. Self-Confidence
As you become more proficient Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, your confidence gets a big-boost. You
become more self-assured and confident. Your Professors encouragement goes a long way to help you achieve this goal, but the confidence level will extend far beyond the
Academy.
3. Belts and Ranking
Belts and rankings are a public recognition among peers for the student’s effort and progress.
Martial Arts ranking system helps teach you to set goals and achieve them, to persevere and prioritize.
4. Discipline
Martial Arts training is a physical expression of ‘practice makes perfect’. In a class a
student may execute a single movement or series of related movements, hundreds of times. This teaches the student that the progress that always happens during small improvements in
technique and stamina, flexibility or power – will come through endless repetition.
Even during sparring, where the student shows how creatively he or she can apply their
well-honed skills – there are still rules and protocols to be followed. All of this teaches you to respect one another, their opponents and colleagues, and how to play games fair and square
– lessons that follow you in your non-Martial Arts lives. It also teaches you to commit, to go to practice even when you don’t feel like it.
5. Individual Achievement: No one sits on the Bench.
Although there are many lessons to be learned from team and individual varsity sports, the
‘make the team’ model often favors the more physically developed players while alienating the late bloomers.
Coaches have access to a endless supply of players that renews itself each year, the big and
strong get picked and get to play while the less physically developed watch from the bench, this leads to an even greater disparity in skill development as the season goes
by.
At Gator Family Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, our mats are packed while the benches are empty, all kids
get equal ‘playing time’. Naturally some kids develop their skills and physical abilities earlier than others but we personally find that many kids who start out with underdeveloped athletic
attributes such as strength, speed and size, end up blooming onto some of the finest technicians we have in all of our programs.
If your child is an athletic wonder who is able to stay ahead of the game with his
natural talents, athletics may very well bring out the best in him or her. But if want your child’s full potential to be nurtured through years of disciplined and diligent training look for a
martial art school who offers a serious program taught by world-class accredited instructor.
6. Gender Equality
I am sure that while many parents would consider martial arts for their sons, not nearly as
many would consider it for their daughters. However the martial arts are one of the few sports where both boys and girls can play together.
At Gator Family Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, we have a large amount of girls in our kids and adult
programs, and in many classes they outnumber the boys. The girls are among the most technically proficient students we have and often dominate many of the local, regional and national
competitions they enter.
Martial Artist also gives brothers and sisters an opportunity to practice together and learn
from one another as well (not to mention the convenience of having all of your kids in one place at a time).
7. Weight Control
Childhood obesity is a global epidemic and rising trends in overweight and obesity are
apparent in both developed and developing countries (CDC stats).
The typical martial arts class will often be comprised of warm-up calisthenics, teaching
and practicing of moves and possibly some sparring, as well as some active games. The warm up and practice comprise the bulk of the time, and for that time your child will be constantly on the go
– stretching, crunches, takedowns, grappling, punches and kicks. The workout each child gets will not only assist in the natural development of his or her muscles but also help them build
stronger Cardio-Vascular systems. Even in the most active of team sports such as Basketball or Soccer, children don’t get that much of a workout simply because they generally don’t play the whole
game and even if they do, there are still breaks in the action.
8. You can do it with them
Most martial arts schools offer classes for both adults and children. While classes do not run
simultaneously, they are usually one right after the other. This means that you can watch your children workout, and then they can watch you.
If you have the proper space for it, you can practice with each other at home, and learn from
one another. This will give you a special activity to use as a bonding tool with your kids. You can also become physically fit together.
At Gator Family Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, we have many families that come to class together and
either take class simultaneously or watch each other's sessions.
9. The Never-Ending Season
Many team sports, especially those primarily played outdoors, or in specific weather (think
Soccer, Baseball and even wrestling) are seasonal. In Martial Arts we have classes year round. This consistency and availability also helps build upon discipline, and allows children to progress
at a much quicker pace in the Martial Arts than in Team Sports.
…and 3 more reasons that they should specifically learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Since I am, after all, a Jiu Jitsu Instructor, I would absolutely reinforce and
recommend Jiu Jitsu above all other Martial Arts:
10. Jiu Jitsu isn’t about brute force, it is about control
Grandmasters Carlos Gracie Sr and Helio Gracie, reinforced that Jiu Jitsu should be practiced
with the mindset that your opponent will be bigger and stronger than you. That technique and mental toughness should be pursued above all physical attributes.
11. Athletic Development
Jiu Jitsu’s main goal is technical prowess and perseverance but the training itself is a whole
body workout – Grips, Feet, Hips and Head all need to move in fluid and exact timed motions to properly execute a throw or a fight ending submission. Many world class professional athletes such
as NFL players take up Martial Arts in order to improve their game skills.
12. Jiu Jitsu is Global
Jiu Jitsu has experienced a World Wide growth in the past 10 years unlike any other Martial
Art. You can find a Jiu Jitsu school in any corner of the of any continent.
If a Karate practitioner travels to another city he or she might have a hard time finding a
school to work out in that has the exact same style and philosophy as their home dojo.
In Jiu Jitsu, a student may travel to any school and they will still be practicing the same
hip throw, arm lock or choke that are taught at his Academy. In fact I encourage all my students whose jobs involve traveling to always bring a Gi and visit other schools. Even when my students
go away on vacation they tell me stories of training from the other side of the country to the other side of the world.
Gator Family Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is part of the Robson Moura Association. We have affiliates worldwide.
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