1 Month Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Training - Experience & Thoughts on BJJ - Is it a Practical Martial Art?

If you’re considering starting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, I’ll share with you my thoughts after training for about a month. I’m going to talk about why I started, what my experience has been at my gym, and whether or not I think it’s worth it to keep going.

If you’re looking into a martial art, or considering whether Jujitsu is right for you, this might help you in making a decision.

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is a martial art that focuses on grappling instead of punching and kicking. It’s very similar to wrestling. The goal is to take your opponent to the ground and submit them - meaning you get them in an arm lock, foot lock, or head lock where they have to tap out.

I’m not sure how other gyms that teach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu operate, so I can only speak to my own experience at the gym I started at. From the first day, I was sparring with opponents.

The nature of jujitsu sparring is physically intense and demanding. You’re trying to get control and maintain dominance, and get your opponent to tap out, or give up, by essentially bending their limbs to the point of extreme pain or choking them.

The moves in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are complex. They require multiple steps done in sequence and were sometimes hard to remember. So when we got into sparring, I forgot the moves completely. However on the receiving end, it was a different experience. Opponents who had trained for awhile knew the moves, and when applied to me, they were extremely effective. I found myself in positions where I simply could not move no matter how hard I struggled. So the answer to my question was clear - Brazilian Jiu-jitsu moves worked, and they were effective.

What makes Brazilian Jiu-jitsu unique and practical is its high focus on sparring. Other martial arts have a focus on routines and memorization, but without sparring, you don’t know if the moves actually work, no matter how well you can execute them. Sparring introduces resistance - there is a person actively opposing your moves, so you can really know if your moves actually work.

That’s where I believe jujitsu excels in practicality. Both sparring partners are using all their strength, speed and skill against each other, actively trying to defeat each other.

Whether or not you should try BJJ depends on your goals, but for me, I’ll definitely be continuing for the near future. If you’re looking for a unique way to exercise that’s out of the normal routine of running, cycling, or gym machines, martial arts is definitely an experience you’ll gravitate towards.

hope my one month of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu experience was helpful for you in making a decision. I’ll share more in future posts as I progress and learn more. If you do decide to go with BJJ or another martial art, I’d love to hear about your experience.

[Hyperchargegadget]

Thanks for sharing, im starting Jiu jitsu soon

[willow]

Thanks for sharing, i plan to start soon

[Muzzy]

Thanks for the video. Thinking about starting soon. Gives me an honest explanation of what to expect.

[Maximer]

Hey, really enjoyed watching your video and opinion of BJJ. One thing I might note is that the Gi is just a training analogue for "cold weather clothes" whereas no-gi is more suited for "warm weather clothes". Some no-gi techniques do not work as well in Gi (or heavy clothes) and vice versa. This is also applicable for possible self defense situations where they might be grabbing your clothes and you would need to know how to respond. For a well-rounded training in BJJ it's ideal to train both, imo. But, great video and good luck on your journey my friend!

[jalapablocrypto]

Good overview, thanks. I'm 3 months into BJJ. Everything you mention is spot on. The only thing I'd add is the soreness factor: if you take up BJJ be prepared to be perpetually sore. I thought it was just for the new white belts like me. But then the upper belts told me that they're pretty much always sore too. Peace

[The_King_sent_me]

Man, I’ve been training JJ for ten years. I’ve had a brown belt for two. It’s not a competition in the gym. It’s a school and a place to learn. There’s no winning or losing, there’s no trophy, belt or prize money. Also legit JJ academies train both in the gi and no gi. Keep training. Make another video when you’re a black belt.