Participating in any sport or form of martial art will always result in positive net benefit for anyone. How does BJJ in particular, benefit female practitioners? It starts from the point where BJJ can bridge any gaps regarding size and strength of an opponent.
One of the founders of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Helio Grace expressed the fundamental idea behind BJJ. “Always assume that your opponent is going to be bigger, stronger and faster than you; so that you learn to rely on technique, timing and leverage rather than brute strength”
No matter the age, race, physical ability and gender, BJJ will allow us the chance to be equal on the mat if we can learn leveraging and positioning techniques to defeat an opponent. That is why it is becoming more popular amongst women.
A very real social issue in our society today is violence against women. According to our watch, 1 in 3 women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15. The idea of having something more than pepper spray or a pair of keys in your hand whilst walking home alone in dark can be an extra security blanket for many women. That a smaller framed woman can manipulate and control the body of a much larger and stronger opponent via proven maneuvers and techniques is an incredibly attractive factor for women to participate in BJJ.
BJJ is also argued to mirror real-life altercations more closely than other forms of martial arts. It focuses on grappling and wrestling techniques to restrain, secure and submit opponents, rather than power and force required for one punch knockouts. Further, given its advantage as a low impact sport, training in BJJ not only mirrors real life situations more than its other counterparts, but also results in fewer injuries.
From a fitness standpoint, BJJ is physically demanding. BJJ is the perfect workout alternative if you do not enjoy going to the gym or for a run. You are learning incredibly useful life skills as well as getting strong at the same time. Mastery of the techniques will also improve your overall mental acuity and health over time.
Learning something new is both difficult and rewarding. It can be intimidating to be a beginner again. You may feel vulnerable and a lack of control. But the process of developing new skills and overcoming obstacles is physically and mentally empowering.
In a nutshell, BJJ can be for everyone, including women. Whilst your reasons for self-defense are legitimate – It may still be intimidating starting something for the first time or walking in a gym as a true beginner. We all have different reasons and different starting points. And that’s the underlying ethos of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu compared to other disciplines of martial arts. We are all equal on the mat.
If you are interested to see what its all about, why not signup for a free trial class?
