The participation of women in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is increasing every day, and this sport is leaving prejudices behind. Many stories surrounding this sport are nothing more than myths, as the benefits of Jiu-Jitsu for women are great, mainly because it teaches them to defend themselves.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu versus Women
There are many myths surrounding Jiu-Jitsu for women, and we will see below that in practice, they are very different from what you imagine.
1. Women are not strong enough
Saying that a woman is not strong enough to do Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a myth because the sport is not based on strength but strategy, technique, and leverage. The sport was designed so a smaller opponent could overcome someone larger. Strength and good physical condition is part of it, but of course not a requirement to win a Jiu-Jitsu match.
2. Men’s muscles
The participation of women in BJJ makes their muscles more defined due to training, but this is not a rule, and not every woman who trains is like this. Jiu-Jitsu enhances a woman’s physical resistance and not muscles themselves, which is a consequence of training. So it’s a myth to say that women who do Brazilian Jiu Jitsu get “men’s” muscles.
3. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is not a female sport
Over the years, women have gained space in sports previously considered only for men. BJJ for women is growing more and more every day. Most schools have programs that support women, giving them a safe space to start training. Women are drawn to the sport because it is just as much of a physical sport as it is a mental one.
4. Women can’t train with men
It may have been true in the past, but nowadays it is very common to see men and women training together. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for women teaches self-defense and specific techniques using leverage which allows a women to feel comfortable and confident to train with a man.
Women can fight too!
Women appear increasingly in sports previously considered only for men, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for women is one of the modalities found at the Gracie Barra Salt Lake City academy.
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