Learn How to Defend Yourself
Self-defence is probably the number 1 reason women decide to train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and for good reason! A lot of other martial arts focus on punching and kicking, but in BJJ we win our fights on the ground. When someone is close to you or has you pinned down, it’s techniques like those you learn in jiu-jitsu that will help you escape. We use timing, leverage, and proper technique to effectively gain the upperhand. With practice students can defend themselves against a larger opponent in real life.
This is why BJJ is particularly beneficial to women, as they are usually smaller than their attackers, it’s good to know techniques that don’t rely on size or strength. Unlike a lot of other combat sports, in jiu-jitsu you are able to practice and spar techniques 100% without getting hurt since you’re not getting punched and kicked. Adding resistance and more of a battle with your training partners gives you practice in executing techniques in a realistic manner.
Size and Strength aren’t Required!
In most sports being small is a disadvantage. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is for everyone and doesn’t rely on size, strength, and speed to work! With practice, technique overcomes strength and one day you’ll be able to submit men twice your size! This also helps with the self-defence side of training. When you’re training with partners who are bigger than you and successfully applying techniques, it’s only going to be more effective against an untrained attacker. The days are gone where you people think you have to be a big, muscley man to do well in combat sports. BJJ allows you to use your body to its full potential.
Be Part of an Amazing Community
The friendships made in Jiu-Jitsu are like no other, especially for women! Because there are fewer women than men in BJJ, they gravitate towards each other and build friendships based on trust and respect. You’ll find yourself becoming friends with women from other BJJ schools, even those you may come up against in competition!
When you’re training, you and your partner are each placing trust in each other to make sure everyone is safe and looked after. That creates a special kind of bond that you won’t find in other environments. The community that is formed in our Jiu-Jitsu academies is friendly and supportive, where you are surrounded by people who also want to improve their lives through Jiu-Jitsu and this common goal brings us all together. Women in BJJ don’t put each other down, you won’t be surrounded by a more supportive group of people anywhere else.
Feel Empowered
Jiu-Jitsu is empowering and can give you the knowledge to read signs of a threatening situation and know how to stand up for yourself should you need to. Not only will you learn how to defend yourself, but by training BJJ consistently you’ll learn how to not give up. It’s a challenging sport and you’ll make a lot of mistakes, but by showing up no matter what you’ll reach your goals, build resilience, and realise how strong you really are in your body and your mind. Training Jiu-Jitsu will allow you to appreciate what your body is capable of regardless of physical attributes and you will explore a powerful side of yourself that you may not know you have.
You’ll also be someone who younger girls look up to, a positive role model who practices healthy habits, is disciplined, and can look after herself. By exposing young girls to Jiu-Jitsu early on you can give them a head start in building their confidence, making good friends, and feeling empowered.
There’s a place for everyone in Jiu-Jitsu! It can be challenging taking that first step and walking into the Academy, especially as a woman in a male dominated sport, but with so many amazing women training now there’s no better time to get started! Jiu-Jitsu will challenge you to grow mentally and physically and you’ll never regret walking through that door!
