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The number-one reason women are usually give for why they should train jiu jitsu is “because its great for real self defence.”

There’s a good reason for it: jiu jitsu is designed for weaker, smaller opponents to dominate larger ones using technique rather than strength. Jiu jitsu would be a recommended form of self defense for a group of people that is (usually) smaller and weaker than the people most likely to assault them.

That said, jiu jitsu has so much more to offer than just self defense. We’ll help you get in shape, develop friendships, and have a lot of fun – and that’s only the beginning! 

If you know a woman or are a woman who’s been thinking about stepping onto the mats, there are plenty of reasons to do it that don’t involve choking out would-be attackers.

1. It teaches you to love your body for what it can do rather than for what it looks like

Both genders deal with the frustration of not having the “perfect” body, blame it on the media, society, whatever you’d like, Jiu jitsu erases a lot of those insecurities by showing you all the awesome things your body can do.

Jiu jitsu will show you, and it’s a lot more satisfying than any number that could show up on the scale. As an added bonus, all that exercise will get you closer to the hot bod you’ve always wanted, but by the time you make it there, you’ll be way more invested in your abilities than your appearance.

2. You don’t need to be big and strong to be good at it

Yes, there are lots of women who are stronger, heavier, or taller than lots of men, but the vast majority are not. It can be really intimidating to walk into a martial arts gym and see really fit dudes beating the crap out of each other, but jiu-jitsu allows anyone to beat the crap out of anyone else. Isn’t that beautiful?

A a girl who is 5’2” on a tall day, can submit people who are literally twice their weight, but jiu-jitsu is all about technique overcoming brute strength. You don’t need to be a beefed-up weightlifter to dominate your opponent. While that’s certainly good from a self-defense viewpoint, it’s also great for those of us who have lived our lives thinking that only large, muscly dudes can be successful in contact sports.

3. The sisterhood is like no other

The people you train with at Premier are bound to become your non-biological family. It’s hard not to become close with someone when you’re sweating all over each other and place your safety in each other’s hands. 

It’s not just the ladies at Premier that will grow to be your sisters, either. You’ll form an instant connection with female BJJ practitioners from other gyms and even the ones you compete against in tournaments. 

Women in jiu-jitsu don’t tear each other down, they lift each other up – sometimes literally, if they can get the leverage just right.

4. It smashes ideas about what a woman “should” or “shouldn’t” do

On the mats at Premier BJJ, we don’t care if you’re male or female, everyone is equal; there is no gender. You will be welcome to get stuck in to training and get your butt handed to you just as much as the men do, and you’ll also dish out a fair bit of butt-handing yourself.  Whether or not you actively label yourself a feminist, gender equality should be something that we work towards all over the world. And luckily, Brazilian jiu-jitsu is something that is practiced all over the world.

5. It makes you a positive role model for younger girls

Throughout her childhood, a little girl will encounter all kinds of women that she will potentially look up to. When you’re a woman who does jiu-jitsu, you’re providing her with a role model who practices healthy habits, is disciplined, and can handle herself. 

Jiu jitsu comes with plenty of benefits, and when you have a daughter, a niece, or any other young lady who wants to be you when she grows up, you pass on a lot of those benefits to her just by showing her what you do. You can give that little girl a head start on loving herself and making friends who genuinely care about her well-being. 

While all of these are also great reasons for men to train BJJ as well, at Premier we know first-hand how intimidating it can be as a girl to take your first jiu-jitsu class surrounded by a bunch of dudes.

If you’re a woman facing the same situation, don’t back out due to fear. Jiu-jitsu has helped so man women, but more specifically, it’s made then more capable of facing the challenges that women are subjected to on a daily basis.

Whether you’re motivated by self defense or something completely different, it’s never a bad idea to put on that gi and take your first steps on an unforgettable journey.