Any Jiu Jitsu enthusiasts here?

adrianalindgren - October 8, 2022

 I love how it makes me feel and I use it to cross out my cardio for the day lol

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I started rolling at 46, lost a pound every week for e months, lovely sport.

 

I took a few classes in Brazilian jiu jitsu when I lived in a different state. That’s the floor-based jiu jitsu martial art. I also took some classes in Muay Thai and boxing at that gym when I lived there. All of it was great for cardio.

I’ve gotten too old for the joints to take the pressure any more, there’s no gym or studio nearby, and I wouldn’t feel comfortable in such close quarters given the pandemic. But it’s so much fun. I also think it helped my brain make better neural connections around three-dimensional reasoning, get over the “freeze” response to threat, and to know how one can be relatively calm under pressure.

 

Interesting point, I definitely felt like BJJ “stretched” my brain. In a good way haha!

 

How familiar are you with various martial arts? Is jiu jitsu one you would recommend to learn for self defense? Feeling confident in a martial art would be a great prep when weapons are not allowed, like when travelling, or when you want to use something less lethal.

Nice to hear from people that it is a good form of cardio exercise as well. Extra bonus!

 

Robert, I have studied a few martial arts including a little Brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ). Mostly judo, some muay thai, and combatives. Yes I do think BJJ, judo and other forms of grappling can be great for self defense, partly because you can practice real techniques full force full speed against someone trying to do the same to you.  Watch MMA fights and see how often they end because one guy chokes out the other or gets an arm breaking lock instead of just throwing a knockout punch. However, gaining real effectiveness takes a while because of the importance of balance and timing subtleties. Striking and weapons techniques don’t take as long to learn for the basics but often with those it’s hard to achieve the same level of realistic training against a live opponent.

 

Tony B – Thanks for the answer, that does sound like a good martial art. I know it depends on the person and such, but how many years do you think it will take for someone to learn a martial art in an effective way to protect themselves?

 

Robert, I think most people interested in self defense probably should start with a “model mugging” style combatives course. In a few weekends you can learn enough basic moves and concepts that you might not need anything else. My mom did that, I did a men’s version. This is the most effective for the time spent.

For boxing or Muay Thai or another striking focused martial art, I think you can learn the basics in about 6 months, enough to be valuable for self-defense in a stand-up situation. 

Jiu jitsu or judo or another grappling martial art probably takes a couple of years to be effective. But at that point if you’re facing someone about your size and strength who just knows how to punch, you will probably be able to cover up as you rush in and take them down, etc.

 

That is very helpful Tony. I think I’ll start with that model mugging like you recommend to get some basics and then see if I like it enough to keep going. 

 

In the mid 80’s I started my martial arts journey in an eclectic martial art which would later lead me to Ninpo Tai Jitsu and an amazing Jiu Jitsu weekend on a LA to Mexico cruise.  The presenters were Joyce and Jorian Gracie. These guys and their training were amazing. One of the best seminars I ever went to.   

Ditto to my joints not being able take it anymore. But absolutely having a disciplined martial arts practice is in my eyes, a valuable prep in oh so many ways.  There was a time when I was sparring and grappling 3-6 times a week, but those days are over for me.  Currently, I do  Chi Gong and Tai chi every day and 4 days a week do Barre and Pilates classes.  In the barre class, I often practice my punches and hand techniques instead of the foo foo foofy ballet moves the teacher and the other ones do.  I also love how it makes me feel :)))

Like any best exercise, the best martial arts for your best self defense is the style that fits you and that you enjoy.  Otherwise you won’t do it and it is useless.  All the great teachers that I have known allow potential students to watch a class and sometimes even offer a free trial.  Martial Arts are absolutely a worthwhile practice that can put awareness and muscle memory in your spirit and body and can be the difference between block check counter or literally peeing your pants and being a total victim.

 

Yes huge fan of bjj here as well.  As mentioned above it is a fantastic martial art to use for self defence.  It is one of the few martial arts that can be trained at a high intensity without major risk of injury to the practitioners.  The problem with a stand up art for self defence is the ability to train at a high level.  You can only take so many shots to the head or body.  A weaker, smaller individual can only do so much damage.  A smaller statured woman for example could train for years and punch a large male attacker in the head one time and break her hand and doing almost nothing to stop the attack.  At least a grappling martial art can give a smaller person a chance to break a grip or change position, (attacker on top to sweep attacker on bottom) and give them a chance to run away.  A rough individual could have virtually no stand up training and still be a serious threat throwing punches.  Even a basic 6 months of grappling training is a significant difference against an untrained attacker.  Like anything it takes time and the sooner you start the better you get.  Bjj also gives you a chance to compete in a tournament which gives you a safe venue to actually see what it feels like get an adrenaline dump when someone is trying grab you and beat you.  It is certainly nothing like a real fight but as close as you can get without risking too much.  Depending where you live, if you actually have to get physical for self defence, its better to end an altercation, with as little physical harm as possible.  In Canada, where I am, we don’t have the same legal protections as US citizens have and it can become a costly, stressful, ordeal to prove actual means of self defence.

 

Us smaller girls do have it a bit more difficult than a larger male, but there are things everyone can do. Clawing eyes, punching the throat or genitals, and other pressure points or sensitive areas. If it’s a real life or death situation, I am going to go full attack cat on someone. 

Use elbows, fingers, knees, chin, and anything pointy on your body.

 

Absolutely!  This would also apply to a male being attacked by a larger male.  The point from my post is that it takes time to get good at real self defence and bjj is excellent one to make as a life long practise.  The above techniques can sure work and if thats all one has in their arsenal and would hopefully give someone a chance to escape but would rarely stop an aggressive attacker.