Most combat sports already include women practitioners. However, when it comes to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, only a few women are interested in learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu online or in a gym. This is understandable as BJJ has the perception of being a sport practiced primarily by men.

 

Even if BJJ might be a male-dominated sport, women can also train BJJ – it’s a combat sport for everyone. There is no written rule in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that only men can train. You may even be delighted to know that a lot of women out there are learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu online or inside gyms. Female BJJ athletes also exist, and they also participate in various tournaments.

Is Jiu-Jitsu a Good Sport for Women?

Jiu-Jitsu has various skills and techniques that women can enjoy learning. It’s a combat sport in that women can train the same as their male counterparts. Whether grappling or doing a takedown, women can find Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu a good and fun sport to dabble in.

 

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is similar to other martial arts when it comes to competitions. There are different categories, weight classes, and skill levels that BJJ practitioners join. IBJJF, which organizes official fights, even has female divisions in their events. The female division allows women to participate in the BJJ sport. Women can become BJJ athletes and compete in various competitions.

 

If you’re curious about how women can participate in a combat sport like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, you’d be glad to know that there are already famous female BJJ athletes. These women have made a name for themselves in the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

 

One of the pioneering female BJJ athletes is Yvone Duarte, who is the first female to get a BJJ black belt as she started training when she was 15 years old. Then there is Mackenzie Dern – she was the number one ranked IBJJF competitor before switching to UFC. And, from the Gracie family that established BJJ in the U.S. – Kyra Gracie, an ADCC Hall of Famer who has won countless ADCC and IBJJF World Championships.

 

As these well-known female BJJ practitioners have exemplified, learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu online or in a gym is no longer limited to males. As the sport evolves, plenty of women that want a martial arts activity they can enjoy can also train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Why Do Women Do BJJ?

There are various reasons why a woman would prefer mat training instead of other combat sports. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu offers tons of benefits that you may be leaving out. As a woman who is interested in learning Jiu-Jitsu, you would be glad to know the various reasons why other women are also training in BJJ. You might consider doing BJJ and love the sport. Here’s why.

1. To learn self-defense

BJJ is effective for self-defense, and women can also learn to protect themselves when they come across bad elements. They can learn various BJJ techniques, like grappling or choking, that come in handy in an actual combat fight or defensive maneuver. The good thing about BJJ is that the size of an opponent doesn’t matter as long as the practitioner has the right skills. This makes it beneficial for women who want to defend themselves in situations where they will be dealing with a person with a larger size advantage.

2. It’s a good workout

Women can also do BJJ as a workout routine. The exertion of physical activity while doing BJJ helps to condition the body and strength training. It’s a workout activity that builds up stamina, making it a great option for physical wellness. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training can be an alternative fitness routine that can get women in shape and keep themselves healthy. It may even help you shed pounds or gain muscle while doing Jiu-Jitsu training.

3. Increase one’s self-confidence

Practicing a martial art like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can also be a source of pride and self-confidence for women doing the combat sport. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gives you that sense of accomplishment once you master the techniques. Female BJJ practitioners are proud of what they can achieve in learning BJJ – be it improving their physical prowess, feeling good about themselves, or even joining tournaments.

4. Embrace the BJJ culture

The BJJ community is one where women can thrive and flourish. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu embodies the spirit of athleticism, discipline, and respect for one another, which women can embrace. You may even find yourself among women who also do BJJ and create a bond of sisterhood. As a few women practice BJJ, you can have a strong-knit community of female BJJ practitioners interested in combat sports.

5. To break stereotypes

Being a male-dominated sport, women can break gender norms when doing BJJ. It’s about showing that there is no such thing that women can or can’t do – even in a grueling sport like BJJ. Doing an impressive BJJ action shows what women are capable of and further solidifies the idea that women can participate in exhausting and physically-demanding martial arts activities.

6. Inspire young girls

Young athletic girls will also look for women in BJJ as inspiration. They will see themselves in women BJJ fighters as a positive role model. By showing what women can do in a physical combat sport like BJJ, young girls can aspire to achieve the same level of success when they grow up. Female BJJ athletes can encourage more young girls to be involved in combat sports training and even join tournaments as well.

What To Expect in Jiu-Jitsu Classes

As a combat sport with physical contact, you may have several questions and worries about how to train BJJ as a woman. But, don’t worry, BJJ practitioners are one of the most respectful and well-disciplined when it comes to practicing BJJ.

 

Joining a BJJ class as a woman may come off as intimidating at first. Past the initial interaction, however, it becomes easier to integrate yourself with fellow BJJ practitioners who are there inside the gym to hone their skills. A recommended action to make the most out of your time learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is to ditch your makeup. They will only get smudged once you’re practicing.

 

It is likewise important to wear appropriate clothing – preferably not too tight. Wearing the right BJJ gear allows you to do the fighting maneuver comfortably. When it comes to practicing with a partner, you will typically be paired off with a woman as well. In certain cases where you’re the only female practicing BJJ, a male partner will be the one to act as your sparring partner. Although, you don’t have to worry as BJJ practitioners are disciplined. They are only there inside the gym to practice their craft.

 

If you experience anything unpleasant, like unnecessary touching, all you have to do is speak up. This may not happen inside most gyms, but it can happen to women training BJJ.

 

On the other hand, learning Jiu-Jitsu does have some other options, and the mat training doesn’t only come in the form of a physical gym. Another training choice would be learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu online, mainly through instructional videos.

 

When you subscribe to instructional videos, you will access a plethora of skills training that will be useful in your BJJ practice. It is no longer prohibitive to train various Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu techniques as a woman interested in the sport.

These instructional videos are particularly important for women who have limited time to spend at the gym or prefer to cut the time training in an actual gym. Right in the comfort of your home, you can do your BJJ mat training to improve your Jiu-Jitsu skills.