How Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Can Help Relieve Stress and Anxiety
Stress and anxiety are both common problems that many people deal with around the world. Both can be caused by a variety of things, including work related stress, social anxiety, or relationships issues, which can often times lead to depression. One great way to help relieve these symptoms is through consistent Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training.
We can’t count how many times we’ve heard the phrase “Jiu Jitsu saved my life.”
When someone starts training Brazilian jiu jitsu they begin to realize many benefits both mentally and physically from doing this activity. The high levels of endorphins released during training causes positive feelings which can also help reduce anxiety symptoms by causing the body to relax.
Let’s dive into some of the main benefits of BJJ and how they can help.
Exercise Boosts Brain Function and Neurons
Exercise is extremely important for reducing stress and anxiety. In fact, there are multiple studies that show jiu jitsu can reduce symptoms of depression in both men and women. The physical activity from jiu jitsu works to create happy neurons which helps you build a stronger defense against stress and improves overall mood.
During BJJ training you are constantly moving, thinking, and problem-solving which all help stimulate your brain cells. This can have an extremely positive impact on anxiety by releasing happy endorphins that naturally make you feel good immediately following class.
Learn To Thrive Under Pressure
One major reason jiu jitsu is so effective at reducing stress is because it teaches you how to thrive under pressure. It forces you to go out of your comfort zone and learn new things every day, which can help reduce anxiety by increasing self-confidence.
While learning jiu jitsu, there are many moments where a technique will fail or an opponent gets the better of you during a roll. This helps with “real life” situations as well since we don’t always win but that doesn’t mean we should quit trying either!
Learn How To Relax During Stressful Situations
For those who live busy lives filled with lots of responsibilities such as work and family obligations jiu jitsu can be extremely helpful in relieving stress. Jiu jitsu is often times used by many people to help them relax and slow down during stressful situations because it gives you something else to focus on other than your problems.
The more relaxed we are, the less stressed out we get which makes jiu jitsu an ideal activity for reducing anxiety symptoms.
Gain Motivation In All Aspects of Life
Jiu jitsu can often give you the motivation to keep moving forward and progressing in all areas of your life. This can be extremely helpful for someone who deals with anxiety because it helps them achieve their goals no matter what obstacles they may face along the way.
Many people feel discouraged when trying to make changes in their lives but jiu jitsu can help your mindset be more self-motivated and give you the confidence that any goals can be accomplished as long as you keep trying.
Increase Your Mental Toughness
Jiu jitsu is often referred to as a mental sport because it forces you to use your mind and body working together in perfect harmony. This helps with building confidence while increasing the stress tolerance threshold which can have huge benefits for those who deal with anxiety or depression.
One of our favorite quotes from Royce Gracie sums it up perfectly, ” jiu jitsu is like chess. You have to be one step ahead of your opponent at all times.”
BJJ has the ability to improve every area of life both physically and mentally which can drastically reduce stress levels by helping you become more aware of important values in your life such as self-confidence, patience, discipline, and perseverance.
Gain Self Confidence
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has been known to build self-esteem through positive feedback within the art form itself as well gaining respect from other practitioners who experience your technique and personal improvements over time. This provides an immense boost toward one’s mental health by allowing them to feel more confident about themselves both physically and mentally knowing they have gained something valuable on their own without external validation or acceptance by others outside of jiu jitsu.
Get Support From a Community
Having jiu jitsu in your life is like having a built-in support group that can be there for you through thick and thin. Jiu jitsu brings people together to train, compete at tournaments, hang out after class, or just share the art with others who are passionate about it as well. Having this social circle of friends can have a huge impact on stress management and mental health by having a space to make new friends, meet like-minded people, or simply be around others who understand what you are going through.
So Much More Than Self Defense
The jiu jitsu lifestyle is a great way to relieve stress and anxiety because it offers many mental, physical, emotional benefits that can be beneficial to those dealing with any type of issue. Whether you are looking for self-confidence or just somewhere else to socialize jiu jitsu has so much more to offer than just learning how to defend yourself.