In a mobile world, there are better ways for both men and women to spend time that are healthier and safer than activities that involve an electronic keyboard and strange loud noises. Friendly Challenges offer a way to interact that is both challenging and fun. Let’s take a look at how Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is much more than just a martial arts activity.
Everyday society seems determined to destroy self-esteem rather than build it. A single casual comment can crush self-esteem in an instant. Respect comes from within and doctrines that deal with oneself isolate those character traits that yearn to be accepted. Self-respect must come first before someone can respect others.
One of the best rewards of activities designed to improve self-esteem is general improvement in health. Cardiovascular problems improve with even the slightest physical exertion to help tone muscles and relieve stress. It is not necessary to lift hundreds of pounds of weight to achieve optimal body tone, only the required mental focus helps with muscle coordination.
Typical daily habits for most people include little more than sleeping, dressing for work, spending the day doing mundane chores, and returning home to repeat the same schedule, day after day. There is little room for competition and certainly no opportunity to participate in a spectator sport. Passive martial arts activities provide that advantage where the goal is progress.
Although competition is a good thing, success is not measured by the number of opponents a practitioner immobilizes on the mats. It is a state of progress in personal achievements that include body control, timing, and finesse. People of all ages benefit from the doctrine of self-awareness and how well they have mastered control of their body. Children are not the only ones who benefit.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, inspired by a Japanese sport called Jodo, is primarily about using the other person’s advances for self-defense. Instead of running away from an assailant, the goal is to engage with him in a form of wrestling and submission. Points are earned for the speed and duration of submissive restraints, making it a passive sport in the martial arts genre.
Coping with everyday life ranges from boring to scary, and in any case, there is always room for improvement. In a way, martial arts are very much like isometrics in that controlled muscle movements result in weight loss and self-confidence. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu offers a challenging activity that puts the mind and body to the test.