How Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Will Make You a Better Man

I came across this podcast on The Art of Manliness a few days ago, but I already had another post planned. And then yesterday, I was having lunch and there was a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school across the parking lot...so I figured it was time to write this post.

In the 1980s, when people signed up for a martial art, they probably joined a karate or taekwondo school. Today? They’re probably signing up for a roll on the mat in a Brazilian jiu-jitsu class. And the Gracie family has played a central role in this martial art’s precipitous rise. My guest today is a member of the Gracie family, the head instructor of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy, and the co-creator of Gracie University, an online jiu-jitsu program. His name is Rener Gracie, and you may have seen the videos we made with him on our YouTube Channel a few years ago.

Today, Rener walks us through the origins of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, beginning with his grandfather Helio, and how a martial art born in Japan ended up being reshaped in Brazil. He then shares how his father helped develop the UFC as a way to promote the efficacy of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, but why there’s a big difference between sport BJJ and self-defense BJJ, and why BJJ is such an effective real world martial art. We end by talking about the mindset shift that occurs when you learn how to defend yourself, and how the confidence you gain from learning jiu-jitsu carries over into other aspects of life.

Rener is a very good speaker and is very knowledgeable and passionate about the subject.

Show Highlights

• The Gracie family and the origins of jiu-jitsu and UFC 
• What separates Brazilian jiu-jitsu from other martial arts
• Is BJJ more for sport or self-defense?
• How learning violence can actually make you kinder
• Why you should do all you can to avoid real-world fights 
• The dangers of overreacting (and those people prone to do so) 
• How the benefits of BJJ carry over into other areas of your life 
• How BJJ has changed Vince Vaughn’s life 
• What a typical BJJ class looks like 
• Why BJJ is perfect for men who are smaller and perhaps weaker to begin with

It's a long interview...it lasts an hour, but it's worth a listen.

Interesting days

Today - Bring Your Teddy Bear To Work & School Day, Cake Decorating Day, World Porridge Day, Hug A Drummer Day, World Homeless Day, Handbag Day, Emergency Nurses Day, Pet Obesity Awareness Day, World Mental Health Day and SHIFT10 Day

Tomorrow - Coming Out Day, Sausage Pizza Day and World Sight Day

Next Wednesday - Spreadsheet Day, Hagfish Day, Global Dignity Day, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Take Your Parents To Lunch Day, Wear Something Gaudy Day, Mulligan Day and Playing Card Collection Day

November 10 - Sesame Street Day, United States Marine Corps Birthday, Forget-me-not Day, Vanilla Cupcake Day and Area Code Day