Have you thought about starting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Salem Mass?  BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Salem Massachusetts) is a martial art and combat sport that focuses on grappling and ground fighting with the goal of gaining a dominant position.  It uses joint-locks and choke holds to force an opponent to submit and also teaches you how to escape encounters on the ground.  Today, BJJis practiced for fun, self-defense or sport by men and women, hobbyists, professional fighters, military, and law enforcement alike.

It is no surprise that with the onset and extreme success of UFC and Mixed Martial Arts, the popularity of BJJ(Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Salem Massachusetts) also increased.  Nowadays, in addition to having a competition aspect; BJJ is also taught as a realistic tool for self-defense.

Here are a few tips to those who are thinking about starting BJJ/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  How you can successfully “survive” the first few months and have a positive experience to obtaining your black belt.

The most important tool you need when starting any martial art, especially Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, is a positive attitude.  Having the wrong attitude off the bat will either make or break your BJJ experience.  The first class will probably be a blink and it’s over because of all the excitement; however, the excitement will soon turn to frustration because BJJ is a complex martial art.   Positive thinking will help you go a long way.  You will not be amazing right off the bat… it’s a long journey in learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu so by keeping your attitude adjusted and mind open, you will learn the techniques correctly.  Which is the strongest lesson learned in BJJ: it’s all about technique.

BJJ is a combat sport.  The techniques used could be harmful in some cases but we practice them in a safe environment.  There is a safety mechanism called “tapping” for exactly this reason.  Tapping is letting know your training partner that you submit.  It keeps you and your partner from getting injured.

But knowing when to tap isn’t simply enough. You also need to learn to become a good training partner. One thing to keep in mind while practicing martial arts like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is that you’re responsible for your partner’s health and learning process as much as yours.

Last, but certainly not least, is hygiene!  BJJ is a very close-quarters martial art, and good hygiene is extremely important for both safety and mental reasons.  Keeping good personal hygiene is a must. So make sure your fingernails are trimmed and that your Gi isn’t the equivalent to sticking your face in a dirty gym bag.  One way to get unpopular extremely fast is to come to the class with a dirty Gi and smelling of onions and cigarettes.