You know that thing that sometimes happens when we're ambling along in life, and something really cool jumps in that we didn't even know we needed? I mean, it could be finding a new place to eat fried green tomatoes, discovering a fun trail to ride your 17-year-old Schwinn 10 speed bike on, or maybe walking straight into a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school without really understanding why you did it. I know, I know, these are all so common that it's hard to find someone that hasn't happened to, right? Well, if you're like me, you know the spirit and intent behind fried green tomatoes, and you know all you need to know about trail riding on old bikes but your knowledge of what Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is maybe a little on the light side. I decided I wanted to learn more about this martial art and sport, so I visited one of Roseville's great offerings-Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Learning a New Way to Be Fit
The day I visited Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, I was patiently helped by an instructor named Kristóf. He took the time to ask me questions that helped me decide whether or not Jiu-Jitsu would be right for me. In turn, I had the opportunity to ask him a ton of questions about the martial art and sport of Jiu-Jitsu. I should explain that I'm a big believer in using martial arts to lead to many goals. I've practiced tai chi for years and have seen its transformative powers over the mind, body, and spirit. If that's true for tai chi, why not Jiu-Jitsu? Here are the benefits I learned about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that makes it so tempting to learn. The first thing that's important to know is that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a wonderful way to get fit tailored to all fitness levels. While it's physically demanding and involves sparring with another person, practiced correctly, it burns calories quickly and safely. Many people love Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu because it's a different way of getting fit that is mentally, physically, and emotionally transformative.
Japanese Jiu-Jitsu versus Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Never having been exposed to Jiu-Jitsu at all, I was curious as to what distinguishes Brazilian from Japanese Jiu-Jitsu. I learned that they have several differences. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu mostly takes place on the ground and focuses exclusively on grappling. Practitioners use strangles, joint locks, and chokes to submit their opponents from a sports perspective. Practitioners use takedowns to move their opponents to the ground and then focus on taking control there. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has a very active sports community with competitions worldwide, so most gyms focus on teaching this form of Jiu-Jitsu with competition in mind rather than just self-defense. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu dates back to the early 1900s.
Japanese Jiu-Jitsu focuses on joint manipulation, throwing opponents, striking, and blocking with some chokes and strangles, all from self-defense. The focus is on defeating an unarmed opponent by using their own momentum against them. Practitioners focus on defending themselves against the opponent as they are an attacker. Japanese Jiu-Jitsu is preserved from its tradition as a self-defense system for unarmed samurai. This is one of the oldest martial arts with ancient roots.
The Gracie Barra Community
During My visit to Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, I got the sense that this was more than a school teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I felt it was a place of community. I read about the ideals of the Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle, which foster self-esteem, consistency in life, creativity, and of course, physical fitness. The Gracie Barra way welcomes the whole to come and spend quality time together. The training environment is accessible to women, men, and kids.
Children and teens of all skill levels can start at Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and learn the art of self-discipline beginning at a young age. The same is true for adults. Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has courses that teach adults the fundamentals all the way to achieving the Black Belt of excellence. For adults and children alike, mental and emotional conditioning cultivates skills that lead to self-confidence, interpersonally and workplace success, respect, and leadership. While the age and individual capabilities may vary, the core benefits to each student are the same. In addition to classes for all ages, Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu offers private training.
When you visit Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Roseville, you’ll see that the environment is clean, organized, and very welcoming. With the highest and strictest standards for cleanliness, the facilities are immaculate. Schedules and rules of conduct are posted clearly, giving the sense that this is a place where the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is taken seriously. The impression I walked away with on the day I first visited is that Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a place where a person goes to test herself, to be supported in growth at an individualized pace in a way that she may not have realized was possible. If you want that sense for yourself, please take the time to visit Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu; it may just set you on a path you didn't know was out there for you.
Roseville Self Storage
As your neighborhood self-storage facility, Roseville Self Storage is honored to be part of the community of Roseville. We appreciate learning about the wonderful family-friendly places to dine and have to have fun. That's why we want to share what we learn about things to do, like attend the Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school. Please come by our state-of-the-art self-storage facility and let us know what other gems we can share with the rest of the community. Roseville Self Storage is open and practicing social distancing. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
7441 Foothills Blvd, Suite 155
Roseville CA, 95747
916-298-5850
Hours of Operation: Monday through Sunday 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Schedule of classes are posted on the website.
https://graciebarra.com/roseville-ca/our-school/
