For those that stick around beyond the first few years of training, there’s a chance you may become slightly addicted to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Whilst some long-term practitioners won’t ever catch the bug and can train once or twice a week with no desire for more, there’s also a lot of people out there who fall deeply in love with BJJ and live and breathe the lifestyle. With this said, whether said in jest or said with complete honesty – the truth is that BJJ can be incredibly addictive.
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BJJ releases happy endorphins
Whilst this is true with all sports, there is something magical about BJJ. Some studies claim that the physical touch of BJJ makes us happier. As humans are social animals who enjoy the company of others, this makes sense. Even if you are naturally an introvert, your body’s biological needs can be met through BJJ as is creates happiness on a subconscious level.
Not only this, but endorphins can also be released by more obvious reasons. For instance, hitting a rare submission or sweeping a better practitioner can make you feel good. Similarly, winning matches at a competition can leave you feeling happy and accomplished. For some, constantly chasing these highs is the reason why they do BJJ – as it literally creates happy feelings.
BJJ as therapy
In the USA, many army veterans pursue BJJ after serving in the military. Supposedly, BJJ can help against PTSD by offering a release. As mentioned above, BJJ is good for your mind as much as it is for your body. However, like the military, it also offers a structured routine and is a group activity. Because of this, it is popular amongst those from a military background.
Away from the military, it is also used for those to battle depression. Whilst it may not cure the roots of your depression, it certainly can help. If you feel down and weak, then training for an hour may change your thoughts. Like yoga, BJJ is very mindful. Whilst sparring in particular; you aren’t thinking about the past or future. Because of this, you are truly living in the now. This is important in combating depression as it is often said that those suffering from the illness do not live in the moment, and either focus on the past or future too much.
BJJ is a constant puzzle
For some, life’s pleasures come from solving puzzles. This can be seen in the physical embodiment of those who play with Rubiks cube. The algorithms of the Rubiks cube are known, but people still try to beat the object and improve their efficiency. This is kind of like BJJ. When you achieve your black belt – you still don’t know everything.
Arguably the art never stops evolving so it’s impossible to be perfect. By chasing constant improvement and problem solving, your BJJ will improve. Some people take joy from solving problems on the mats. For instance, if you figure out how to defend an opponent’s sweep then you may do this next time in training. By then, a new problem will have occurred and the process continues forever.
Unlike video games, BJJ doesn’t stop. It can’t be beaten fully and represents life in that sense. In life, you are never perfect but you can always try to improve. Without this mentality, life isn’t as fun or challenging. This is the reason why many people get up in the morning, and BJJ mirrors this way of thinking perfectly.
BJJ against drugs
No one is perfect in life and some people can get addicted to drugs. There is no shame in this and drug addiction is no joke. However, for some BJJ can offer similar feelings of highs but in a more natural setting. Obviously, all addictions are bad and shouldn’t be encouraged. However, if you are addicted to BJJ then it is mostly a harmless activity. Whilst offering a myriad of health benefits, it can keep your mind pre-occupied and away from drug addiction.
In this sense, the concept is similar for those suffering from depression or PTSD. In short, BJJ can help you find a positive focus and keep your demons at bay. Because of this, BJJ should be encouraged for anyone suffering from drug addiction as it can turn your life away and enforce good habits and healthy behavior.
The dark side of BJJ obsession – what are the signs?
We’ve discussed how and why BJJ can become obsessive. A lot of these examples are positive and can help improve your life and give you meaning. However, it is only fair to look at the negatives of a genuine BJJ obsession.
There are several signs of being obsessive with BJJ. One example is continuing training whilst injured. Injuries in BJJ happen and are part of the lifestyle. However, if you can’t sit out for a few weeks or months and try to train through the injury then you have a problem. This means your relationship with training isn’t healthy and you risk harming your body to do so. Instead, you should focus on recovery and allow yourself to have time off.
Another example of addiction in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is that it completely takes over your life and dominates your thoughts. This is not healthy and humans should have other aspects of their personality. For instance, in BJJ training destroys your marriage or relationships then you may have a problem. Missing the odd training session to meet with someone is not bad and training will always be there. However, if you prioritize BJJ above everything else then your life outside of training may suffer.
Another issue is that people can prioritize their training over their careers. Some people may skip work or give up everything to pursue training. Whilst this ok as a youngster, it’s not so wise if you’re older with priorities such as a family or bills to pay. If you can’t afford it, you should not put training before your finances. This is because you need money to live and train. If you run out of money then you can’t train in the future so it defeats the point.
To combat a genuine BJJ obsession, it may be ideal to look at other hobbies and interests or if you’re really worried, drop one training session a week and see how it goes. If you’re desperate and feel guilty about missing training then you may have a serious problem. However, if you miss training but you’re ok with it – then you will know that it’s just a passionate, healthy hobby.
Summary
For some, training BJJ is undoubtedly obsessional. Whether this is framed in a positive or negative way is up for the individual to decide. Whilst most practitioners are happy to train as hobbyists, others may suffer negatively from the side effects of over-training. However, if jumping into training defeats your depression, drug addiction, or PTSD then obviously the benefits outweigh the negatives. Ultimately it is up to the individual to decide on the line between a hobby and a fascination and is up to themselves on how to act on this.
