Not only are the stars of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu amazing role models, but girls don’t have to look much further than their own gym to find mentors and role models to look up to. There are great women in local gyms that are more than happy to be mentors and be supportive of the women and girls in their own community. They provide younger women and girls with the image that everyday women can join combat sports and can kick some serious butt. They show a positive image of strong women who are living healthy, active lifestyles while also potentially getting degrees, having successful careers, and reaching other life goals.
They See What Healthy Competition Looks Like
The growing community of women and girls on the mat shows what healthy competition looks like. On one level, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is an individual sport, but when you look closer, the team is deeply ingrained into every aspect of the game. The right type of competition in a positive environment is important for young women and girls to learn healthy ways to release stress, improve their skills and techniques, and strengthen bonds between teammates and friends.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Promotes Self Confidence and Higher Self Esteem
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a sport created for smaller opponents to gain the upper hand through leverage and smart technique. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu effectively levels the playing field against opponents, allowing practitioners the ability to roll (spar) with opponents that are of varying sizes, strengths, genders, and ages. Seeing their own strengths and hard work pay off through training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu while learning to continue working on themselves can inspire women and girls to see value in themselves beyond conventional beauty standards and stereotypes.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Develops Leadership Skills in Young Girls
We occasionally invite our students to teach their peers their favorite techniques or assist in teaching a class for a day. Outside of this fun experience, students often lend each other a hand when they see their teammates having a hard time learning a technique or when a new student isn’t familiar with the rules or layout of the class. Giving girls the chance to step into leadership roles such as these shows girls that they can be leaders and gives them experience that they can build upon to become great leaders. Strong leadership skills carry over and apply to school, careers, and hobbies and set women and girls up for future success.
