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The sport of wrestling is incredibly difficult, and every year a large percentage of wrestlers quit. For many it is the last time they step on a mat and participate in the sport. To better understand why many quit the sport of wrestling you can read this blog, How To Motivate Your Child And Keep Them Interested In Wrestling, but to put it simply wrestling is not a very fun activity if you’re not good at it.
That’s where jiu-jitsu comes in. Jiu-Jitsu offers an opportunity to teach children the fundamentals of grappling without all the chaos of wrestling.
Learn More About Jiu-Jitsu
Jiu-Jitsu offers a multitude of physical, mental, and emotional benefits that extend far beyond the mat. As practitioners immerse themselves in the art of controlled leverage and technique, they experience enhanced physical fitness, agility, and coordination. Jiu-Jitsu’s focus on grappling and ground-based techniques not only promotes muscle strength and endurance but also cultivates a deep understanding of body mechanics.
Beyond the physical gains, Jiu-Jitsu fosters mental resilience, teaching practitioners to stay calm under pressure and strategize effectively. The art’s emphasis on problem-solving and adaptability translates seamlessly into everyday life, enhancing decision-making skills and boosting self-confidence.
It's Easier To Be Bad At Jiu-Jitsu
Jiu-Jitsu is popular among adults of all ages, from their early twenties to late adulthood. Many are drawn to the art for its physical and mental challenges, as well as its practical self-defense applications. But one of the most attractive qualities is that it is low impact. Individuals are able to train consistently in it without getting significantly injured. Of course, this is not a rule and people do get injured doing it, however, it is a much more relaxed pace than wrestling.
Just Keep Them On The Mats
As an adult, I’ve trained a lot in jiu-jitsu and in the process have trained a good amount of jiu-jitsu practitioners in wrestling. Whether someone starts in wrestling or jiu-jitsu they seem to eventually always train in the other discipline.
I recently spoke with a friend who is a former division 1 wrestler and he’s now consistently training jiu-jitsu during the week and referred to it as, “wrestling for old guys.” Jiu-jitsu requires a lot of the same skills as wrestling but not the same type of “grind” that 2 hours of wrestling does.
It’s because of this that I think if someone isn’t having a good time wrestling because they lack experience and are considering quitting, my advice would be to stay on the mats and try jiu-jitsu. As an individual’s general knowledge starts to grow and they gain a better feel for grappling, that’s when you can encourage them to go back to a wrestling practice.
