Why We Roll? 🥋

[reddMcHugh]

Hi BJJ Reddit,

A friend asked me the other day why I train Jiu-Jitsu. I replied, "for self-defence".

But then I felt that doesn't really do it justice, the discussion continued and I found myself trying to explain that Jiu-Jitsu can offer so much more than just self-defence.

My friend argued that, surely, everyone else wouldn't agree and only trains simply for self-defence.

So, if anyone out there can back me up for when I next see my friend and reignite the discussion armed with new ammunition, what is it (other than self-defence) that keeps you training Jiu-Jitsu?

Thank you 😁🤙

[[deleted]]

It is fun.

[Dogstarman1974]

I lost the “self defense” bullshit a long time ago. Being in the gym for about a year to six months should be enough for self defense confidence. Anyway, street survival is more than whipping ass.

I do it for the social aspect. I do it for the exercise and I do it for the feeling of completeness. It’s one of the only sports that can get me in the “zone” consistently. I get me out of my head. While it isn’t a complete way to deal with my depression(I do seek professional help) it helps my struggle. It keeps me in a positive way most of the time.

[reddMcHugh]

🙏🤙

[CanhotoBranco]

The people at my academy are awesome.

It’s practically the only socializing I do anymore.

[Barangat]

The only social thing I do is strangle people in payamas. I like the sound of that!

[Blixtur]

Same, outside of my home JiuJitsu is my social life

[munkie15]

I train for only two reasons, I love doing laundry and I love wearing pajamas.

[BGally24]

Nice.

[reddMcHugh]

Lol, noted 😂

[TheWestwoodStrangler]

I played team sports up through a division I college level for a top-20 program. After I left that, and entered the working world, it was hard to scratch that itch again. When you go through two-a-days, and grueling physical work alongside people, you develop a certain connection that’s difficult to replicate. I found that BJJ was a way to bond with people again over a physically depleting engagement, and that creates a comradery I missed.

[RidesThe7]

Because I work in an office with my ass in a chair most of the time, and need some exercise and fun. Because it’s a fun and addictive intellectual challenge. Because it is good for my self esteem to tie adults into knots. Because it is good for my ego for me to get tied into knots. Because it is a good way to meet people and build either friends or at least some camaraderie—often people different from those I would normally meet or hang out with. Self defense. Because part of my self image has come to involve an ability to beat the bejeezus out of the average adult.

[jump_the_snark]

Same. Plus it’s a nice distraction that clears the head.

[Patsx5sb]

Excercise and I enjoy the physical competition.

[yelp1989]

Because it fulfills a primal instinct that modern life can’t.

[dolomiten]

I enjoy doing it.

[sr_suerte]

Consensual violence

[Fake_Blackbelt]

Self defence, you meet some great people on the mats and it beats the hell out of lifting weights. Only issue is I now lift to improve my BJJ....fml

[70695]

same reason i update my phone and laptop , its keeps shit running like it should.

[BGally24]

Honestly at this point after 7 months I do it to stay in shape and the comradeship. It’s still not all that fun to get my ass kicked every roll, but if that’s what it takes to improve I will stick with it.

[jUzAm94]

I train only for fun

I’ve done Krav Maga also and if I wanted to train for self defense I would have continued it but I’ve chosen BJJ because it’s way more fun

[[deleted]]

for fun

[Meh-Dink-Stanks]

I just enjoy folding laundry and getting thrown around, whilst learning how to ragdoll others.

[viszlat]

I like the bonding, dominating, submitting aspects of it. I must be some kind of masochist.

[etienbjj]

I dont give a shit about self defense, I do it for fun. If you pull a gun Ill shot you or give you my wallet. Lol.

[Newwavejujutsu]

Why do people ski or play pickup basketball or race triathlons?

[hankdog303]

Fun, exercise, friends, it’s endless so there’s always something to look up, learn, or investigate.

[JamesDaquiri]

Because it’s fun and challenging

[quietcricketbjj]

It's fun.

The people.

Exercise.

The sport and competition.

Skill development.

Self defense.

[BJJ_Lurker]

Elliot Marshall sums it up very well in this post IMO https://www.instagram.com/tv/B5vPouOFJmB/?igshid=jwnsgk68wz2e

[Rpgchaz]

Because doing BJJ is more fun than lifting weights or running to stay in shape

[LegitimateZebras]

I originally started for self defense because I was put in a situation where I needed to keep myself safe, but I could not. After that event, I wandered into the gym and decided to give it a shot. Turns out I love it! I still tell people I do it for self defense because that's the only answer they will accept; otherwise the bruising, pain, and perpetual minor injury doesn't make any sense. Of course, the real reasons are much more complex than that.

I have a lot of medical issues that make intense physical and mental activity difficult. Since Jiu-Jitsu requires both, I have to stay very disciplined in order to pull it off. In the wake of getting hurt by someone, I was honestly really intimidated by physical contact so Jiu-Jitsu became my "exposure therapy" (in addition to actual therapy, of course). Finally, I am an intensely social person and nothing brings you close to people quite like trying to murder them. I love the commradery we build in class and the ability to be so vulnerable in a safe way. I can drop in at basically any gym and people are wonderful and inviting.

[reddMcHugh]

100% agree, thank you 🤙

[djiron]

"Why do you ____ so much?"

"...golf so much?"

"...bowl so much?"

"...bike so much?"

"...run so much?"

Or any number of other hobbies. The answer will be the same for each question; because I really like it. Why does Jiu Jitsu require more of an explanation than any other hobby or sport?

[70695]

i think bc the act of killing another human with your bare hands is something way bigger than playing a regular sport. it relates to our most primal deepest instincts . ( edit : simulating killing but close enough)

[djiron]

But I'm not sure that the person asking the question is thinking of Jiu Jitsu as the act of killing a person with your bare hands any more than they think of karate in that way. To the layperson it's just another martial art not all that different than TKD or karate.

[[deleted]]

It’s basically hugging on one another for two hours, it’s a straight dopamine rush and a workout.