BJJ has a lot to offer. And while it’s easy to focus on physical benefits, like learning self-defense and getting a full-body workout, your training helps develop mental skills, too.
Here are a few ways that BJJ gives your brain a mental boost:
1. Endorphin release.
After any physical activity, including BJJ, your brain releases feel-good chemicals. These endorphins help us feel less pain and regulate mood. The overall result of being physically active on the mat is that you feel better. And when you feel better, you learn better, as well.
2. Stress management.
BJJ can also give your brain a mental boost through stress management. Those same feel-good chemicals help you manage stress. And the physical training itself can help reduce any muscle tension brought on by stress. As you reduce the physical effects of stress, you also lessen the mental impact. Your martial arts training allows you to shift your mind away from your growing to-do list and bring it to the present, where you’re practicing skills and learning new techniques.
3. Better sleep.
Another positive side effect of your BJJ training is getting better sleep. And when you’re well-rested, you’re more likely to wake up feeling refreshed with a clearer mind. So not only will you feel better, but you’ve also given your brain a chance to rebuild and carry out critical cognitive processes while you’re sleeping.
4. More focus.
The mental improvement you get from martial arts isn’t short-lived. These are longer-lasting skills that you develop over time. One of the long-term cognitive skills you gain through BJJ is improving your attention and focus. By participating in martial arts classes, your instructor will help you establish and redirect your attention. This constant guidance leads to building a sharper, more attentive mind.
5. Improved memory.
Another cognitive skill that comes out of your BJJ training is improved memory. Martial arts trains your body, as well as your brain. And in BJJ, brain training includes learning and practicing martial arts skills that get you moving in new and different ways. While on the mat, you’re in a constant state of learning where you must also recall what you’ve previously learned. The brain training side of BJJ keeps your mind sharp and enables you to use and apply what you have learned.
To learn more about Tracks BJJ in Coon Rapids and the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu programs we offer, contact us today.
