In life there are some things you will learn on your own. No one will be able to teach you certain things. In Jiu-Jitsu there are things you will have to experience to understand.
#1. You will learn what it feels like to be helpless
There will come a point in every Jiu-Jitsu student’s life where they feel helpless on the mat. A skilled opponent can hold you down in such a way that makes you feel powerless. Sometimes the only thing you can do is tap. It develops humility in Jiu-Jitsu practitioners. There maybe several people you know that would could benefit from this lesson.
#2. You will bond with people in a different way
While training in Jiu-Jitsu, you will develop a special bond with your training partners. It’s difficult to explain, but it’s a relationship that comes forged only through the rigors of training. You may not know them as well others, but the bond is still there.
#3. You will see people in a different light
You can learn a lot about others when you roll with them. People react differently to the pressure and challenges of Jiu-Jitsu. Some panic, some give up, and others weather the storm. How they react on the mat can show you a lot about them.
#4. You will learn a lot about yourself
Jiu-Jitsu is mentally therapeutic. It will clear your mind and allow you to put many things in perspective. It’s also a path to self-discovery. It can help you to find out who you are, and what you’re made of.
#5. You really have to love Jiu-Jitsu
I’ve never met a Black Belt that didn’t love Jiu-Jitsu. For those that decide to stay, it stops becoming a hobby. It develops into a lifestyle. It’s a passion that fuels the rest of their lives.
#6. Getting to the top is never easy
It’s definitely within the realm of possibility to be good at Jiu-Jitsu training casually. Making it to the top is another story. Top-level Jiu-Jitsu competitors don’t train 2 hours a week. They don’t sit out rounds. You have to be willing to put in the blood, sweat, and tears. You have to be willing to go hell and back.
#7. It has the ability to change your life in a way you would never expect to be possible
Many people try Jiu-Jitsu. Not many make it to blue belt, fewer even to purple and brown belt. Very few make it to black belt. Regardless of when you stop training Jiu-Jitsu (if ever) or what level you are, Jiu-Jitsu can create beneficial change in your life.
