Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a popular fighting style in the UFC and the MMA world in general, but many athletes outside of the sport have never even considered giving it a try. Whether you're a runner, fitness enthusiasts or into team sports, participating in Jiu-Jitsu can help keep you in top shape and improve performance no matter what you favorite physical activity may be. Read on to learn about five reasons this Brazilian martial art may be the best workout you've never tried.
Many athletes shy away from martial arts because they think it may be too hard to get started, but that's not the case with Jiu-Jitsu. Anyone can take up Jiu-Jitsu, whether you're in prime physical shape or just getting started on your fitness journey, without too steep of a learning curve.
When you start Jiu-Jitsu training, you don't dive in 100 percent, but rather go through a gradual learning process and you train to learn new skills. Just because you're learning new skills doesn't mean that you're first training sessions will be slow and unrewarding, it's actually the opposite. Beginning Jiu-Jitsu skills still offer an incredible workout but are designed to ease amateurs into the sport.
When learning new martial-arts skills, you may find your energy drained due to the mental aspects of learning new skills and underused muscle groups may be sore after your Jiu-Jitsu sessions. Make sure that you hydrate with a TapouT sports drink to provide your body with vitamins to keep your mind sharp and plenty of electrolytes to help you muscles expand, retract and recover during and after your workout.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one of the few exercises you'll find that engages every muscle group in your body.
Even basic Jiu-Jitsu training works your whole body, so everyone from first timers to career martial artists get full-body benefits from the sport. The skills involved in the sport work the legs, core, arms and mind. There's no need to compartmentalize your workouts by doing leg exercises separately from upper body work or other focused training sessions. While these focused training sessions could improve weaknesses, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu reduces the need to target certain muscle groups since it is a true functional full-body workout.
While there are many athletes who enjoy running, cycling or weightlifting, some people need more mental stimulation during their workouts. If your current workout routine is repetitive, you may become distracted which could lead to a lack of motivation, reduced focus and an increased chance of injury.
A sport like Jiu-Jitsu engages the mind as well as the body to help increase focus and provide the motivation for better physical gains. When your workout is challenging not only your body, but your mind and your competitive nature, you'll want to get better and move to the next level whether your ultimate goal is to obtain a black belt or learn enough skills to participate in competitions.
This mental improvement won't stop once you leave the dojo either. Many studies have shown that participating in physical activities that challenge your mind will also lead to better clarity, metal focus and reduce stress outside of the gym. Not only will Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu improve your body physically, it could help challenge and engage your mind as well.
We've already mentioned that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu challenges the entire body, but it also functionally promotes physical improvements in strength, agility, flexibility and balance. Improving these four qualities will help improve performance in everyday life and go a long way to preventing injuries during any workout.
Many workouts focus on one quality or another, but martial arts can improve flexibility in your joints, muscle strength and agility and improve your balance. A Jiu-Jitsu workout that improves these qualities can save time at the gym and train your body to work as one system rather than only improving specific qualities one at a time.
There are many athletic activities that are daunting to those that are overweight and want to find an active way to slim down. Easier physical activities such as walking, riding a stationary bike or yoga can be beneficial, but may not achieve desired results or create long term exercise habits.
Due to the gradual, yet challenging, growth in Jiu-Jitsu skills, it can be an effective weight loss tool and create habits that will prevent the weight from coming back. Studies have shown that overweight adults who stick to Jiu-Jitsu not only work towards a healthy weight faster, but continue to keep the weight off. Jiu-Jitsu is constantly challenging its participants, and can build great life-long exercise habits for those who struggle with maintaining a healthy weight.
Whether you're going to your first Jiu-Jitsu session or you're a lifetime participant, you'll need to hydrate properly to get the best experience from your martial arts training.
Hydration during physical activity takes much more than water alone. Your body will require natural sodium in order to regulate fluid use. All TapouT flavors contain 240mg of sodium to assist your body in maximizing hydration efficiency. TapouT drinks also contain a mix of electrolytes to promote recovery and nine essential vitamins that are commonly lost through sweat.