Most Americans at some point in their lives will have trained some sort of martial art. Most will train Tae Kwon Do, Karate or some variation of Kung Fu. This is great as it encourages and promotes fitness to individuals of all ages, but are these older, asian arts really the most effective means of acquiring fitness and increasing your skills related to self-defense? As more and more are learning, the answer to greater fitness, increased weight loss, better self-defense and overall well-being can be found by training a modern art that originated in a "western" culture; Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In a city such as Denver, consistently considered one of the fittest cities in America, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academies, like Busy Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, are opening at an explosive rate and allowing residents to achieve their fitness goals in a new and innovative way.
The explosion of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is not surprising. Americans have employed the same methods of staying fit for decades. Weight training combined with cardiovascular conditioning has long been the combination used by those looking to stay trim and fit. As a result, there's no shortage of gyms who provide the necessary equipment needed to meet the demand of those looking to stay lean and "buff". Lately, however, this combination has become rather boring. People are getting tired of spending time on a treadmill or pressing heaving weights against the gravitational pull of the earth in order to achieve their desired fitness levels. The search is on for alternative means of fitness training.
When we look at martial arts, many residents in Denver feel that the more traditional, eastern arts have become routine and trite. With the explosion of mixed martial arts, primarily through the success of the Ultimate Fighting Championships, many are now looking beyond the standard Karate or Tae Kwon Do academies and are instead looking for training in the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. They view the art as the most effective means of self-defense available. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu originated out of the desire to create a system of fighting that would level out the playing field regardless of the combatants size, weight, height or strength. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu places an emphasis on technique and detail. It takes physical altercations or interaction and transforms them into games of mental chess where the individual with greater attention to detail and technique will win. Those who practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu take the art very seriously and it takes upwards of eight to tens years to acquire your black belt, which is another reason why people are drawn to the sport. Practicing the art becomes a lifestyle, not just a hobby. You're not going to find any 12-year old black belts at your local Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy as you would with other arts.
By training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu you get a great mental and physical workout. When you're training in a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy you have no choice but to let go of your concerns and to free your mind. Training the art becomes your escape. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is also family friendly. Because the art relies on technique rather than strength, all ages are welcome to train.
With the addition of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training by most national, fitness chains it's easy to see that Corporate America is aware of the transition people are making towards more practical means of staying fit while promoting self-defense. With this in mind, it's hard to see the transition to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu slowing down anytime soon. It's only the beginning. In fact, some middle-eastern countries have now made Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training a requirement. When will it become one for you?
