For quite some time now, discussions in the martial arts world have circulated the idea of striking vs. grappling, and more specifically around Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu vs. Boxing. While both martial arts have been proven to be functional and effective for a plethora of reasons, it can also be difficult to know with which you should start your martial arts journey. The number one reason that most people begin martial arts is for self-defense, and Jiu jitsu teaches safe and effective ways to close the distance and take the fight to the ground. Whether it’s self-defense for yourself, your child, or the entire family, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu provides a martial art that is proven to be safer all around and effective no matter the opposition.
While striking is regarded as the way to win fights, its techniques come with a high risk. One of the most difficult parts of standing at a distance with an opponent and throwing strikes is that anyone can get lucky and end the fight with a single strike at range. Also, people overlook the damage you absorb when striking another person in self-defense. The human skull is hard, and even the best-thrown punches don’t come without the high probability of breaking one or more of the bones in your hand.
When it comes to self-defense for kids, a huge concern for parents is that they will use it unprovoked and/or seriously hurt another child. The last thing you want to hear is that a child was hit so hard that it resulted in a serious injury. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a great way to build confidence and self-esteem while having the peace of mind that they can safely handle bad situations. In BJJ for self-defense, the focus is on controlling and mitigating the situation. In our Growing Gorillas Kids Martial Arts program, your child will learn how to use jiu jitsu in a way that doesn’t have them looking for a fight at every turn.
Finally, Boxing for self-defense is a viable option, but no other martial art in the world levels the playing field of size and attributes like that of grappling. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu teaches effective ways of controlling and subduing a much larger and stronger opponent with techniques that are fun to train and repeatable in a self-defense situation. Even if everything goes wrong and you end up on bottom in a fight, jiu jitsu proves time and again to be the best martial art for recovering and gaining an advantageous position from the worst spots possible.
Students of all ages, abilities, and attributes can thrive in jiu jitsu. Fill out the form below to start your training!
