As you are walking through life, there are few things that are more important than being respected by those around you. Respect comes from your values and how you carry yourself. Have you ever wondered why you started to look at yourself differently since you started studying Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? Is your head higher, are your thoughts clearer? It’s amazing that the most valuable skills we can learn for life are learned right on the mat!
Whether you’re starting a young child to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, encouraging your teen to try something new, or seeking out the martial arts as an adult, there are ENDLESS ways that your thinking has changed since you started hitting the mats. Right now, we are going to focus on the Four Unseen Ways that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has changed your thinking.
1. Powerful Thinking
“To think is easy. To act is hard. But the hardest thing in the world is to act in accordance with your thinking.” ~Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Think of a time when you cracked under the pressure of a major task. Everyone has cracked under pressure at one point or another, so don’t feel bad about it. When you look back at the situation, if you knew what you know today, would you have cracked under pressure after all?
Probably not.
Today, you have the skills to think quicker, sharper, and more deeply because of the skills that you developed while training on the mat!
You can now think in the moment!
BJJ is an excellent tool for building one’s ability to think at a NEW level! Rolling with your teammates regularly and participating in healthy competition gives your decision-making skills an insane workout. While you are on the mat, you MUST think quickly to try to beat your partner’s next actions before they get the upper hand. Think about it, predicting your partner’s next actions requires a much higher level of thinking than just thinking for yourself.
Before you know it, your skills from the mat have made your job at work so much EASIER!
2. Patience
“A man who masters patience masters everything else” ~George Saville
People say that patience is possibly one of the hardest life skills to master. It is one that we see right in front of us, and are mindful of how important it is, yet we just can’t be patient. When it comes to patience, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu forces students to work hard and understand that patience is a valuable trait. A student’s patience is tested MANY times during class.
One of the best things about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is that everyone is really bad when they start! No submissions work right away. You won’t nail a move with proper technique on your first, third or tenth try. Skill comes from practicing the same moves hundreds of times.
What’s the secret behind that dedication to practice? Patience! We all have to accept the truth that some things simply take time to become great. Once we understand this our stress level be lower and we will find that we have better more positive thoughts! This is essential to growing on and off the mats.
3. Discipline
“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” ~Jim Rohn
Were you an expert the first time you rode a bike? Drove a car? Of course not! Regardless of age or level of physical fitness, BJJ isn’t something that one will master with ease. It takes an average of 8-12 years of training to receive a black belt. There will always be someone better than you in class. Someone will pick up a move faster than you do while you are training. You might find that your favorite move is useless against a fierce competitor. Nevertheless, your coaches will encourage you to keep going! That’s where discipline comes in! No matter how tired you might be, you will get better. Sometimes you are going to lose, but remember you are either when you are on the mat you’re either winning or you’re learning.
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4. Confidence
“If you don’t have confidence, you’ll always find a way not to win.” ~Carl Lewis
Each and every area of our lives we will get better from being confident. Younger children who understand their self-worth and have high confidence are less likely to be bullied in school. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is an excellent outlet for energy and keeps both their mind and body engaged in a way that other sports can’t. Each training class can bring a host of different variables. You might work with another student who is twice your weight, or much taller or shorter. This sounds really scary at first, but that fear shouldn’t last. Once you tackle these small fears during class, you will leave with the understanding that believing in yourself resulted in success. Practicing BJJ brings out your character and helps you understand who you REALLY are.
This power is something that no one can ever take from you!
Knowing who you are gives you the confidence to handle any situation at hand. Whether it’s your family, friends, work, or at school having confidence is the foundation of your success.
Did you realize that you developed these traits? Tell us how BJJ has changed your thinking!
Professor Mikal Abdullah is a 2nd Degree BJJ Black Belt, veteran, father, philanthropist, and founder of Aces Jiu Jitsu Club. You can find her personal Instagram account with the handle @cerebralbjj or just stop by one of our locations and get a session in!