AskIt Logo
  • New to BJJ?Starter Guide
  • The RulesDos & Don’ts
  • White Belt Problems
  • Starting BJJ
  • Learning BJJ Faster
  • BJJ for Self Defense
  • BJJ Belts & Promotion
  • BJJ vs Other Martial Arts
Home » Starting BJJ » Do I need to be strong to do Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
1

Do I need to be strong to do Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

- John Q. Whitebelt

Posted by John Q. Whitebelt in Starting BJJ | 1 comment

Community Answers

  1. 68
    9-8-14
    Marshal D. Carper says:

    The basic goal of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as an art is to give a weak person the tools to defeat or escape from the attacks of a strong person. So no, you do not need to be strong or athletic to do jiu-jitsu.

    The full answer, however, is a bit more complex.

    Even though jiu-jitsu is designed to focus on technique and the calculated use of positioning and leverage, strength and size do matter, and they will always matter. The stronger your opponent, the better your technique will need to be in order to overcome his physical advantages. If your opponent is strong and also has technique, the challenge is even greater. If a gifted athlete trains jiu-jitsu and has the presence of mind to learn proper form (instead of relying on his physical gifts), he can become a terror on the mat. The longer you train, the more likely you are to encounter someone like this.

    And it’s easy for the experience to frustrate you. Yes, the original goal of jiu-jitsu was ostensibly about empowering the weak in the face of the strong, but this self-defense motivation now coexists with a sport motivation. Now we see competitors who are not only smooth operators but also top tier athletes. They have brain and brawn. If you want to become a world champion, you will probably need to lift some weights. If you are training for fun and personal enjoyment (like me), keep most of your focus on your technique.

    Log in to Reply
    +150

    Was this answer helpful?

    LikeDislike

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

IMPORTANT NOTE: By submitting an answer, you give permission for it to be published in future editions of the White Belt Problems book.

Ask a BJJ Question

Buy the Book on Amazon

Categories

  • BJJ Belts & Promotion
  • BJJ Books & DVDs
  • BJJ Competition
  • BJJ Etiquette
  • BJJ Fitness & Diet
  • BJJ for Fitness
  • BJJ for Kids
  • BJJ for Self Defense
  • BJJ Gis & Gear
  • BJJ History
  • BJJ Injuries
  • BJJ Lifestyle & Culture
  • BJJ Techniques
  • BJJ vs Other Martial Arts
  • Finding a BJJ School
  • Health & Hygiene
  • Learning BJJ Faster
  • Starting BJJ
  • White Belt Problems

Recent Questions

  • Youth to adult transition
  • private lessons when your a newbie worth it or not?
  • Is it good practice for a beginner to be at open mats?
  • Is it ok to wear shirts and gear of other people/academies that im a fan of?
  • Is an open level gym bad?

Recent Answers

  • dogs_bolx on Is it good practice for a beginner to be at open mats?
  • LittleAussieGrappler on Does Gi color matter?
  • LittleAussieGrappler on What makes a martial art effective?
  • LittleAussieGrappler on private lessons when your a newbie worth it or not?
  • LittleAussieGrappler on Does BJJ prepare you for self defense?

Categories

  • BJJ Belts & Promotion
  • BJJ Books & DVDs
  • BJJ Competition
  • BJJ Etiquette
  • BJJ Fitness & Diet
  • BJJ for Fitness
  • BJJ for Kids
  • BJJ for Self Defense
  • BJJ Gis & Gear
  • BJJ History
  • BJJ Injuries
  • BJJ Lifestyle & Culture
  • BJJ Techniques
  • BJJ vs Other Martial Arts
  • Finding a BJJ School
  • Health & Hygiene
  • Learning BJJ Faster
  • Starting BJJ
  • White Belt Problems
  • Home
  • About
  • Ask a Question
  • Beginner’s Guide to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
  • Contact
  • Dashboard
  • Edit Post
  • Rules
  • Sitemap
  • Your Profile
  • BJJ Belts & Promotion
  • BJJ Books & DVDs
  • BJJ Competition
  • BJJ Etiquette
  • BJJ Fitness & Diet
  • BJJ for Fitness
  • BJJ for Kids
  • BJJ for Self Defense
  • BJJ Gis & Gear
  • BJJ History
  • BJJ Injuries
  • BJJ Lifestyle & Culture
  • BJJ Techniques
  • BJJ vs Other Martial Arts
  • Finding a BJJ School
  • Health & Hygiene
  • Learning BJJ Faster
  • Starting BJJ
  • White Belt Problems