15 July 2022
 Categories: Recreation & Sports, Blog

If you are trying to find new activities for your kids to take part in but can't really find something universal that you think your kids will love then you might want to consider enrolling them in a form of martial arts. While there are many options out there, jiu-jitsu is one of the most popular for a reason, especially among kids just starting out. If you want to give your child a passion that they can carry with them for life and that will make them safer in almost every circumstance they encounter, then here is why you should choose jiu-jitsu. 

The Most Practical Martial Art

While a lot of other martial arts are based on aggression and subduing an opponent, jiu-jitsu recognizes that the safest way for an encounter to end is for you to try and escape as quickly as possible. The shortest amount of time in a dangerous situation means that there is less chance of injury for all involved. While that does not mean you are a coward for practicing jiu-jitsu, far from it, it does make you conscious of how you can quickly bring the fight to an end whether through finishing an opponent or finding an opportune moment to leave.

Groundwork

While a lot of other martial arts are all about engaging an opponent while you are both standing, jiu-jitsu teaches you how to fight on the ground, which is where a lot of fights will end up, particularly if one of the participants is not well trained. Even if you watch professional fighters in competitions such as MMA, you will notice that a lot of the fights will end up on the ground eventually. Not being able to survive a fight on the ground, where the encounter will likely end up, dramatically lowers your chances of success.

Using Your Size

Jiu-jitsu is a clear demonstration that size is not everything when it comes to winning a fight. Even very small people, such as kids, who are well trained can beat much larger opponents. It is all about recognizing your strengths and weaknesses and forcing your opponent to fight to your strengths, giving you the upper hand in nearly all bouts. While it may not be as elegant as some martial arts, jiu-jitsu is one of the most useful and long-lasting disciplines because of how useful it is for people of all shapes, sizes, and genders.  

For more information, contact a local academy like Alpine Jiu-Jitsu.