Jiu Jitsu Therapy

By Corey Kuropas, September 29, 2016

While it is a common joke and meme throughout the Jiu Jitsu community, believe it or not, Jiu Jitsu is a great form of therapy. There are actual reasons on why Jiu Jitsu makes such a good therapy session. It works out people physically, mentally and spiritually as well. With those three important aspects of our lives taken care of, we can feel happier all around. Let’s take a better look on how it works us out therapeutically.

Physically –

Jiu Jitsu at face value is a great physical work out. Not only that, but it’s a full body work out. You are using muscles that most people do not use on a daily basis. This is especially true when it comes to the rolling/sparring part of class. You are using your body to attack, defend and move around the mats. And besides a muscular work out, Jiu Jitsu sparring is a fantastic cardio work out. After a five minute round, you will be huffing and puffing. Eventually, you won’t, as your cardio will adapt to your Jiu Jitsu. All of that physical work makes our body release endorphin’s which will make us feel happiness.

Mentally –

Your body is not the only aspect of your life that gets worked out in Jiu Jitsu…your mind gets a workout too. Stresses and problems of the day do not seem so important as you are trying to fight your way out of a locked in triangle choke. The problem at hand, escaping the technique is what is important. Jiu Jitsu also allows you to think strategically. BJJ is like a physical game of chess. Attacking and defending will take up that good mental space. If Jiu Jitsu is something that you truly love and enjoy, our thinking will be that of an absolute positive nature.

Spiritually –

While BJJ lacks the far east philosophy of other styles, it does work us out spiritually as well. There are underlying principles of Jiu Jitsu that give us the spiritual edge. While we learn the self defense and sporting part of the art, the principles are still there. We learn self control, we learn how conflict avoidance, we learn confidence, and we learn to be humble. All of those things are part of the spiritual aspect of Jiu Jitsu. Those spiritual aspects will tie in with the physical and mental sections of us as a people.

Jiu Jitsu is a form of therapy. It can change the way we feel, is a positive light. You are learning, interacting and sharing space with other people. If you know the history, then you can find solace in that as well. BJJ goes back a long way. The lineage line goes all the way back to the Samurai. While we do not have to necessarily call ourselves modern day Samurai, we know that we share the same ideas and hard work as they had.