A Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class for beginners seemed like the perfect choice for boosting my confidence.
Jessica (top) gets to grip with a 'choking position' during her Jiu Jitsu class
What is it?
Jiu Jitsu can be traced back to ancient India, where it was originally practiced by Buddhist Monks, but the craft first gained popularity in Japan in the early 20th Century.
It is known as ‘the gentle (martial) art’ and is based around self-defense and the principles of balance and leverage while ground fighting - rather than throwing kicks and punches.
By 1915 a Brazilian version of the martial art was created and developed into a way of becoming more tolerant, respectful and self-confident in life.
Teacher and brown belt fighter Bruno Zancaner, of Sao Paulo, has been practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for 11 years.
The European championships medalist said: ‘Some people come to the academy to get fit, others for self-defense... everybody has a different reason for being here.’
He says the most important thing when you come to the academy to learn the sport is to ‘leave your ego at home!’
What to expect?
I visited the Roger Gracie Academy in North West London to join a Ju Jitsu class led by Bruno.
He handed me a traditional Japanese kimono to throw on and gave me some tips before the group class got underway.
Important lessons to learn before starting the class were forward and backward rolls, and how to land correctly on my back to distribute my body weight evenly.
When the class kicked off, I started warming up with 20 other students by running around the studio, jumping in grasshopper-like movements, doing more forward and backward rolls and sliding across the padded floor mats using my hips to push off.
I was then paired up with another female student, who has been practicing Jiu Jitsu for 18 months, to wrestle with after each demonstration of fighting techniques by Bruno.
Jessica and her partner were injury-free during the lesson following a warm-up and careful instructions
We practiced five different wrestles during the 90-minute class, each swapping at half time between the attack and the attacker stances.
For the last 30 minutes students started sparring with each other – but I decided to sit this one out and just watch the more advanced pupils show off their skills.
Despite being my first time performing a type of martial arts, I was able to learn some simple manoeuvres after a bit of practice and picked up some great self-defense techniques, while working up a sweat.
My Jiu Jitsu partner told me that despite being a very physical sport, she has never suffered any serious injuries and regularly competes.
Thankfully I managed to finish the class unscathed too, despite being thrown over her shoulder onto my back and held down into a 'choking position'.
The aim of each wrestling match is to lock your component into submission by lightly choking them. Once they surrender, they give their attacker a small tap to end the match.
Verdict
If you don’t mind wrestling with someone shortly after meeting them and are happy to have a hands on approach to learning self-defense then Brazlilian Jiu Jitsu is the perfect class for you.
Not only is it a great overall workout for the whole body, it’s practical, improves your confidence and is great fun.
Injuries are uncommon if you use the right techniques and Bruno says: ‘Results don’t come over night, consistency counts a lot more than talent. It has to do with confidence, courage and determination.
‘It’s a lifestyle, and one thing is for sure - a fighter doesn’t know what quitting is.’ ( dailymail.co.uk )
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