Why Every Fighter Should Train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
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Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is the quiet killer of the combat sports world.
It’s not flashy like Muay Thai. It doesn’t come with highlight-reel knockouts like boxing. And unless you’ve been caught in a triangle choke or strangled with your own gi, it’s hard to explain the magic of it.
But if you train in combat sports - whether you’re a striker, a wrestler or just starting out - here’s the truth:
You need Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in your life.
Even if it’s not your main discipline. Even if you never plan to compete in grappling tournaments. Training BJJ offers a depth of benefits that go far beyond taps and takedowns.
Let’s break down exactly why every fighter should train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - and how it’ll make you a better, smarter and tougher athlete overall.
BJJ Builds True Fight IQ
BJJ forces you to solve problems under pressure.
You're constantly adjusting, thinking two or three moves ahead, reacting to your opponent and making decisions in real time. Sound familiar?
That’s exactly what happens in a fight.
The difference? In BJJ, the pace is just slow enough for you to think while you move - something that’s much harder to develop when you’re eating punches in the pocket.
Training BJJ sharpens your:
- Timing
- Distance control
- Awareness
- Defensive instincts
Whether you’re on the feet or on the ground, this “combat intelligence” makes you harder to hit, easier to trust under pressure and much better at staying calm when things get ugly.
It Teaches You to Stay Calm in Chaos
If you’ve never had someone mount you, crush your ribs and control your breathing while trying to choke you unconscious, then congratulations - you’ve lived a peaceful life.
For the rest of us: welcome to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
BJJ puts you in horrible positions - deliberately. And it teaches you how to breathe, think and respond in them. That skill transfers everywhere:
- In striking, it helps you relax when you’re hurt.
- In wrestling scrambles, it helps you stay composed.
- In life, it helps you control your emotions under stress.
There’s a saying in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:
“If you can stay calm with someone on your back trying to strangle you, you can stay calm anywhere.”
It’s true.
It Complements Striking-Based Fighters
If you’re a striker - boxer, kickboxer or Muay Thai athlete - Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu might feel unnecessary. Why would you train on the ground when your goal is to stay on your feet?
Here’s why:
Because being one-dimensional is a weakness.
Even if you never plan to shoot a takedown, knowing what happens if the fight goes to the ground is essential. And the truth is, most street fights - and many MMA fights - end up there.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gives you:
- Better clinch awareness
- Improved takedown defence
- The ability to get back to your feet safely
- Submissions as a safety net (just in case)
A striker with good BJJ isn’t just dangerous on the feet - they’re dangerous everywhere.
It Builds Resilience Through Humility
Let’s be blunt:
BJJ will humble you.
You could be strong, fast, or explosive - and still get submitted by a 60kg blue belt who knows how to move better than you. And that’s a good thing.
In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:
- You lose every day (especially in the beginning)
- You’re forced to respect technique over strength
- You learn that timing and control beat power
This doesn’t just make you a better athlete - it makes you a better student of the fight game. It teaches you to respect the process, work through frustration and develop true grit over time.
And that mindset carries over into every other area of your training.
It’s One of the Most Functional Self-Defence Tools
You don’t train to be a tough guy - you train to be capable.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one of the most effective martial arts for real-world self-defence. Why?
- It’s based on control, not just striking
- It allows you to neutralise threats without causing damage
- It’s effective even when you’re smaller or weaker than your opponent
- It focuses on submissions and positional dominance, which are less likely to escalate into legal problems in public altercations
In a world full of egos, Jiu-Jitsu gives you the confidence to walk away, not posture up. And if things do go bad, it gives you the tools to end it - safely and efficiently.
It Strengthens Your Body (In All the Right Places)
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu builds strength where you need it most - and where you’re probably not training it.
It develops:
- Grip strength
- Neck durability
- Core stability
- Hip mobility
- Joint control and awareness
- Isometric endurance
You’ll be sore in places you didn’t know existed - and that’s because BJJ challenges your body in dynamic, functional ways that weights can’t always replicate.
It’s also low-impact (relative to striking) and something you can train for decades. That makes it a long-term weapon in your training arsenal.
It Builds Community & Brotherhood (Or Sisterhood)
Ask any long-term BJJ practitioner what keeps them coming back and they’ll usually say two things:
- The never-ending learning
- The people on the mats
BJJ gyms foster a unique kind of camaraderie. You suffer together. You grow together. You help each other tap - and tap each other out.
For combat athletes - who often train alone or in competitive environments - BJJ creates a tribe. A space where you’re constantly pushed, but never alone.
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to be a black belt.
You don’t have to compete in IBJJF tournaments.
You don’t even have to like wearing a gi.
But if you’re serious about becoming a complete fighter - physically, mentally and emotionally - you should be training Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.
It builds discipline. It sharpens instincts. It teaches control under chaos.
And most of all, it makes you a better martial artist - in every sense of the word.
Whether you’re a boxer, kickboxer, wrestler or weekend warrior, give BJJ a try.
Your body might hate you at first. But your future self will thank you.