Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a martial art that deals not only with effective techniques, but also with the importance of nutrition. The human body acts as the most valuable asset. Therefore, it is important to defend it. However, in the so-called defense, the choice of proper nutrition also plays an underestimated role.
Maximum efficiency dominates in BJJ not only in training
Martial artists who practice BJJ pursue the goal of maximum efficiency. They give their best not only during training, but also in all other areas of their lives – professional or personal. For example, sleep and nutrition fall under this category.
The concept of health is not an end of the line. Instead, it is a constant journey. Both self-defense and BJJ are dominated by the principle of permanent improvement. The goal is to always improve. Over time, people make important changes. They change the way they live and eat because they are learning. In this endeavor, the power of the mind and the ability to visualize things before they happen serves as an aid. This is especially true in health.
Why do people neglect their own health?
The reason why people neglect the aspect of health is that society does not teach about the importance of health – or at least not to the extent that people realize it. Usually, the awareness about the importance of health starts in the majority only when they are not feeling well.
Lao Tzu, however, motivates a change in thinking by emphasizing: “Watch your thoughts, they become your words. Observe your words, they become your actions. Observe your deeds, they become your habits. Observe your habits, they become your character. Observe your character, it becomes your destiny.
Health over fun is a goal
Gracie Jiu Jitsu not only teaches self-defense, but also acts as a philosophy of life that teaches people that sometimes in life they have to do things they don’t want to do or even like to do.
It is not possible to always do what gives pleasure. Instead, people should – for their own good – also choose what is right. The concept from the Greek philosophy of hedonism acts as a good explanatory example. This favors only activities that stand for enjoyment and things that are fun. It is the opposite of the Stoic philosophy. The latter philosophy emphasizes that life cannot always be about fun.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a martial art that teaches much more than self-defense. Students learn during their training to anticipate potential problems that may arise if they do not follow certain rules. Those who eat a diet less rich in vitamins weaken their own immune system.
The goal is to avoid incurring large debts, because one day debtors will have to pay them off as well. Thus, the bill for a diet less rich in vitamins and nutrients also comes.
Never give up is the motto in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Not only techniques from Gracie Jiu Jitsu, but also techniques from self-defense teach the principle of not giving up. Both the immune system and the human body are designed to fight. In this regard, attacks on the immune system also count as attacks against which the body can successfully defend itself.
The human body has the remarkable ability to recover from attacks on the immune system. With a good dose of courage, it also recovers faster. In BJJ, courage is an important virtue.
Courage is the key to success
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu always emphasizes the importance of courage. This quality is indispensable not only in training on the mat, but also in everyday life. Courage can be transformed to all areas of life. This is also true in terms of nutrition. If you are brave enough to change the way you see and eat, you will make an important change after only 24 hours, which your body will slowly begin to feel.
Severe transformations require immediate action
Switching to a healthy diet is difficult for those who need to completely change their way of doing things. However, this does not mean that it is impossible to switch to a whole food diet rich in nutrients and vitamins. Furthermore, it can be helpful to act against the law of procrastination. Therefore, those who regularly practice the martial art Brazilian Jiu Jitsu follow the principle: If it is difficult, I do it immediately. If something is impossible, I take my time with the transformation.
In BJJ, challenges function as enjoyment
BJJ is a martial art that motivates people to enjoy change and challenge. Of course, no one changes their eating habits overnight. The decisive factor is the courage to change and the enjoyment of the transformation process. This is exactly where Lao Tzu’s quote comes in, pointing out how important personal choices are, because they become habits.
Every person is, to put it casually, the result of his or her decisions. However, those who choose a particular path walk it more easily by surrounding themselves with people who are on the same path. It is otherwise difficult to live a life that follows stoic teachings if the entire environment practices a different path.
In addition, the chosen fellow human beings act as inspiration. This is based on reciprocity. In groups such transformations can be realized more easily than in a single person.
But, what can people do who do not find a suitable or the desired environment? Is that a reason not to follow the chosen path? No, this is not a reason not to go the right way. Because, who chooses a certain direction, automatically attracts people who have the same way of thinking. A magnetic field is formed, which brings into life people who think the same way. As a result, they serve as inspiration.
Conclusion
Gracie Jiu Jitsu views the whole of life as a unified whole, which by no means takes place only on the mat. Instead, courage and efficiency act in all areas of life. Healthy nutrition is elementary, because it supports the immune system of the body and has a positive effect on the general well-being.
