If you can't protect it, you don't own it
Libertarians and Anarchists definitely understand the concept of self ownership. The desire for freedom is fueled by the belief that we own our selves and therefore all of our choices and productivity. Part of self ownership is accepting the consequences for our individual choices and security of our private property. While there is no shortage of gun enthusiasts and staunch advocates for the natural rights of weapon ownership, it does seem like too many are unprepared to protect their most important piece of property. Just as we would expect that property owners would be good stewards of land or facility in a free society, we should be good stewards of our bodies and minds. As a lifelong student of the martial arts, I see this as an excellent option which aligns with my philosophical beliefs as it emphasizes self defense, discipline and honor. While many martial arts can bear positive results for body and mind, it is my opinion that they are all 2nd to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
What is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or BJJ
Wikipedia defines BJJ as "Brazilian jiu-jitsu (; Portuguese: [ˈʒiw ˈʒitsu], [ˈʒu ˈʒitsu], [dʒiˈu dʒiˈtsu]) (BJJ; ) is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting. Brazilian jiu-jitsu was formed from Kodokan judo ground fighting (newaza) fundamentals that were taught by a number of individuals including Takeo Yano, Mitsuyo Maeda and Soshihiro Satake. Brazilian jiu-jitsu eventually came to be its own art through the experiments, practices, and adaptation of judo through Carlos and Helio Gracie (who passed their knowledge on to their extended family) as well as other instructors who were students of Maeda, such as Luiz Franca.[1] BJJ promotes the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger, heavier assailant by using proper technique, leverage, and most notably, taking the fight to the ground, and then applying joint-locks and chokeholds to defeat the opponent. "
Most of you may have seen BJJ in action while watching the UFC or other MMA. The action that takes place on the ground is mostly what would be considered as BJJ (minus the striking). While BJJ has a deep history in NHB and Vale Tudo fighting, it also has a history as a sport style focusing on points and well as submissions. W
When BJJ first started getting noticed in the USA it was because of how dominant the BJJ fighters were when confronted with pretty much any other pure style such as Boxing, Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do, etc.. It seems like without fail the BJJ fighters were defeating their challengers. As these challengers were defeated they immediately sought to learn BJJ as there seemed to be no way to deal with it except to fight fire with fire. Since BJJ was so effective against trained combatants in other styles, you can imagine how effective it is against the average person who has no training at all.
BJJ proved it's effectiveness by accepting challenges from all comers:
BJJ for the mind
The physical rewards of BJJ should be obvious. Incredible cardiovascular stamina, endurance, strength and toughness are among the most noticeable. What those who have never trained may not realize is that BJJ stimulates the mind as much as the body. BJJ has been called "Human Chess", this is because the art is very technical. I have been training for over 15 years and still feel as though my knowledge is at it's infancy. This is because the concepts and techniques vary depending on the unique conditions of each specific roll and each particular opponent/training partner. Two people may execute the same technique a bit differently. At higher levels you begin to think moves ahead of your partner, setting traps or baiting in order to initiate a sequence that will result in attaining a sweep, dominant position or Submission. Even in the beginning you are forced to analyze the situation and make split second decisions and face immediate outcome. Due to the nature of BJJ training, you find out quickly if that decision was good and either shift the roll in your favor or find yourself pondering in bed what you should have done differently. BJJ has a way of consuming the mind and setting off a chain reaction thirst for knowledge of physics, body mechanics, psychology, fitness as well as technique so that you survive longer, at first, and ultimately attain victory. Through this process your confidence grows as you are exercising your mind, but also training your mind to face and overcome adversity.
BJJ for the body
Consistent BJJ training along will not make you as ripped as the gym rats and cross fitters, but your practical strength and conditioning will be as good or better. Also, you'll easily be able to choke them out or at the very least defend yourself effectively. Many BJJ players choose to complement their technical BJJ training with additional strength and conditioning sessions per week, some prefer yoga and some of the all time greats such as Marcelo Garcia believe that the best training for BJJ is BJJ. Whether you want to add anything or not, 3 days a week (or more) of consistent BJJ training will give you a significant strength and conditioning edge over most who do not train. The workout provided by BJJ is unique in that it challenges all aspects of strength and conditioning at once. I have seen many strong body lifters, lean runners and athletes from all sports in shock at how they felt after pushing themselves through a session.
Is it right for me?
Almost anyone can train BJJ and benefit from it. Of course there are always exceptions, but I am not the only person who believes this to be true. Age, gender, body type and fitness level are not prohibitive. BJJ is a lifelong journey and who you are will determine the path you take. A fitter younger person may choose to jump right in to tough training. Someone with a lower fitness level may choose to focus on more technical aspects as their body responds to the regular exercise. A person of advanced age may find the right kind of partner where they can balance intensity and technique. Whatever your situation, whoever you are, BJJ is for you. Whether you are interested in sport BJJ, self defense or simply fitness and confidence the benefits will be there.
What Now?
As the saying goes, the hardest part of any journey is the first step. If you're interested in learning more or finding someplace to get started feel free to reply or send me a message. There are tons of resources online, but don't be shy about asking questions or testing places out. A BJJ gym often becomes a place of comfort and the people their friends and families. I have found that I've met great people through BJJ as the conditions serve as somewhat of a "douchebag filter". Make sure you like the vibe and whatever you do, don't give up!