The Psychology of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

I just found this article, written by a clinical psychologist and brown belt BJJ practitioner:

The Psychology of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

"Why is BJJ so powerful and captivating for so many people? Why has BJJ become so popular, with so much dedication from its students, who so often describe the experience as uniquely addictive? "

I suspect most of us will agree with his observations...

 

This isn’t unique to just BJJ though, all sports have the same following from the footballers who when they stop playing help coach and ref, to the powerlifting where lifters help spot at meets, wrap each other’s knees and ref for no reward, people like to feel part of a community and feel validated and liked. And if we are honest we like to test ourselves in a relatively safe environment which is what BJJ is. Compared to judo, boxing, MMA or Thai BJJ is much safer and easier on the body.

BJJ is the easiest and less injury attracting of all the combat sports.

As such it appeals to allot of people who want to feel like they can defend themselves but don’t want to actually get punched in the head or thrown allot week in and week out.

So it validates you without you getting injured week in and week out, no wonder people like it

It also seems to attract allot of people who seek and need validation as well

 

Yep - works for me!

 

I think much of BJJ's attraction is due to the simple fact it's riding a wave of popularity right now.

Like kung fu in the 70s and ninjutsu in the 80s, BJJ is the current "cool kid on the block."

Social media - especially Instragram - is chock full of people doing the 'hang loose' gesture while posing in their crisp new Tatami* gi.

I suspect in a few years we'll see another style stepping into the limelight - quite possibly XMA due to the number of successful transitions to movies that many XMA champions have made to Hollywood.

* Other gi brands are available.

 

Need validation as in "need to know it works"or the insecure "I need validation"?

 

Honestly the second, there seems to be allot more BJJ players in need of a second family and validation from then than in say a judo school

Obviously the first is also useful though and also attracts people, but it seems to be a specific validation as it i want to know it works within BJJ specific rules not too many want to see if it works in a full contact setting (i could myself amongst these people lol)

 

Well although I'd say that it applies to me, it doesn't apply to anyone I train with. They're mostly old guys with happy families that do it for fun.

 

Good call, if anything's going to steal that white-collar-30-something crowd that have made BJJ gyms so busy it's definitely flipping about wearing gold-edged pyjamas that's physically impossible if you didn't start when you were 12.

 

With that sort of mentality you'll never be a baton twirling champion.

Sorry, I meant bo staff.

 

Yep. While BJJ is a proven effective style of ground fighting, it's not the sliver bullet some people make it out to be.

 

Should probably address that too. You'll find that in BJJ if it works we will use it. For instance, in all IBJJF rules, gi and no-gi, heel hooks aren't allowed. However you would be hard pressed to meet a BJJ BB who can't do one.

It is obviously not the be all and end all of grappling, but they will learn anything if it works in ground fighting.

I'd say for pure submission only ground fighting BJJ is most effective. In the most open rules etc it's BJJ players who win. Not a lot of SAMBO players winning ADCC. Not a lot of CACC guys winning it either, although I expect that's due to numbers of participants rather than the style lacking.

Not that this matters to most BJJ guys. I've found the number 1 reason they do it is for fun. Secondly to defend themselves, and thirdly because it's softer on the body than striking arts and a lot of other grappling arts. It is popular because it is effective in regards to grappling.

 

Im pretty sure UFC 1-3 proved the opposite.

 

Martial arts isn't defined by the UFC, nor should it be.

 

I think what UFC 1-3 proved is that if you train your BJJ like Royce did: against punches, doing allot of standing training, training to use strikes to enter the clinch and on the ground, then you will be a Seriously hard opponent to deal with. Thing is I'm not sure this is how most bjj classes are run

 

I don't want to go there with "what defines martial arts?" But what do you value in martial arts if not it's effectiveness?

 

UFC 1 was 24 years ago.

Just let it go, man.

 

Effectiveness for what, exactly? Winning the UFC, beating people up, self defense, feeling dominate over others, surviving war...?

 

You mean the butt scoot to spider guard, and the dlr spinny back take to gi choke, doesnt work on the street!

actually that's a very good point, "some" BJJ classes have evolved themselves to the pressures found in IBJJF Gi comps, and may not have the strong broad genetic background to thrive under different environments.

Which is why old school is always the best school!

 

Fighting, if you not regularly fighting its not martial arts.