So a few months ago I started doing Brazillian Jiu Jitsu. I didn’t know anything about martial arts or jiu jitsu in particular, but after some reading up it seemed like this was the art to start with. What is jiu jitsu, you ask? Well my standard answer is: It’s like wrestling, only more technical. Here’s a good fight between a couple of ladies that should give you an idea of what jits is all about:
I had a lot of reasons for wanting to get into martial arts.
- Get in shape
- Have fun and learn something new
- Self defense
- To be more like Crush
I’m only half-joking on that last one; when I started watching the new American Gladiators show and discovered Gina Carano and looked her up on Youtube…well let’s just say she inspired me. In addition, my boyfriend had done some Judo in college and also encouraged me to try out jiu jitsu.
I chose my gym because they offered a women’s only class twice a week, and I thought it would be less intimidating to start out that way. But I ended up going to a guy’s class about once a week for the first couple months. I was informed right off the bat by the head of the gym that most guys have zero problem rolling with a girl, but there are those guys that just can’t handle it. And in my limited experience wrestling dudes I’d have to say this is true. What’s really fun about jits is that you can get totally physical with another person, matching your strength, technique, and wits, and really push your body to its limits. When I wrestled guys (usually guys much bigger and stronger than me) I usually “lost,” but I had a lot of fun and learned a lot. Only once did I handle a guy that acted differently with me because I was a girl.
As far as self-defense goes, jits is no Krav Maga, but I believe it has a lot of merit for women who are looking for a way to at least increase their body confidence (which in my opinion leads to a bigger possibility of a better outcome if a woman is physically attacked). Before doing jits, I didn’t have a clear idea of how to force a person who was on top of me to the ground, or how to choke someone out. Before doing jits, I didn’t really know just what my body could do when taxed to the limit. I didn’t know just what it was like to be crushed underneath a man 80 pounds heavier than me. So even if I’m never going to end up pulling a kimura or a go go plata on a would-be-rapist or mugger, I have some confidence I could get that person off me, get up, and flee (at the very least).
On top of all that, jits is fun because it involves strategy and wit, not just brute force. And on top of THAT, it’s an extremely tiring workout even to roll against someone for two minutes. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to get into martial arts but doesn’t know where to start. If a noob like me can do it, so can you.
We’ll end this with a nice picture of my butt as I get swept in the gym (that’s me on the left):
5 responses so far ↓
1 TehSpectre // Jun 30, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Jits sounds a lot like zits.
Seriously though, if you haven’t seen the movie Red Belt, you’re missing out. While it is more about Judo, they have common themes.
Also, Chiwetel Ejiofor is pretty awesome.
2 TehSpectre // Jun 30, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Crush would’ve done the 100 push up challenge!
3 Melanie // Jun 30, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Crush is a professional athlete!
4 Shaz // Jul 2, 2008 at 8:01 am
How good is you at teh bjj
I do it for 2 years, except more like 1 year and then only a couple times this year because of other conflicting things
I suck
5 Dynagrip // Jul 9, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Red Belt was pretty weak. Fucking Mamet.
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