How am I going to pay that bill? Why did my dog eat my charger cord? Of course my car would have to break down when I need it most. These are just some of the issues people deal with on a daily basis. Some major and some minor but still problems nonetheless. Sometimes, it all just becomes too much and you may get a little overwhelmed, you just simply need a break from it all. The daily grind just becomes blah and you feel mentally drained from everything going on. If only there was an outlet that would let you release all that pinned up aggression and tension. Good News! There are plenty! Everyone has that one thing they like to do that will help them “Escape Reality”. Something that will make you forget about all the struggles of the world, if even just for a short period of time. For me, it is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. BJJ has some amazing healing properties for your mental state. Down below, we will discuss how BJJ will help you cope with the day to day grind we call life.

When you are having a bad day and nothing seems to be going your way, roll. I know, easier said than done. Many of us have jobs during the day and it may not be as easy for others to just simply leave to relieve some stress. However, if you do have that kind of freedom, and you are able to escape for an hour to roll, do it. BJJ has this amazing ability to make you forget about the world for a while. I have many friends who work at jobs that allow them to take “Wellness Time” either daily or a number of hours weekly. This is time that is given to the employee to use for health related reasons. The company encourages their employees to live an active lifestyle since their jobs are usually behind a desk for many hours at a time. They use this time to exercise and workout since they don’t have time to go later in the day or because of other commitments. If your job happens to be close to your academy and it is open for lunch classes, JackPot! Shoot over and get some mat time in.

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The moment you step foot inside your Academy, everything disappears. As your feet hit the mat and you tie that belt around your waist, the last thing you are worried about is that project that is due later on this week at work. That promotion you were waiting on didn’t come thru but you know what, right now, that doesn’t matter. What matters is that your teammate is trying to choke the crap out of you at that exact moment. What matters is that your professor is crushing you and forcing you to think about the current real situation you are in. At that exact moment, nothing else matters, only the fight you are fighting. In the middle of a roll, you don’t have the time to think about anything else. All of your concentration is focused on the task at hand. That is why I love BJJ. For that hour or more you are so happy, you are talking to your team about techniques you are trying. Yall are showing each other details that will help you and walking thru strategies for your game. Again, Nothing else matters. In that moment, you are free. That kind of inner peace can’t be bought. The release you get after class is done is priceless. You leave clear minded and level headed, ready to take on the day again. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, for me, is the ultimate stress reliever.

Along with its many mental healing qualities, BJJ also gives you a huge total body workout. I don’t know about you, but everytime I leave the Academy or gym after I just killed it, I feel way better about myself mentally and physically. Clear and relaxed ready to get on with the rest of my day. The constant workouts start to change your body and mold yourself into a strong, chiseled, better version of yourself. Which in turn starts to boost your self confidence and overall outlook on life itself. So those days that become a little much at times, come fewer times. You are able to mentally handle the situation better. Through BJJ you develope a great mental fortitude that enables you to remain calm in tense situations and figure out the problem in front of you. This skill comes in handy everyday in your life. You will always find little battles you fight everyday but with the mental toughness you have, you can surely dismantle the problem with ease.

So if one day, you seem to have started the day off on the wrong foot, don’t beat yourself up over it. Use what you have been taught. You will be amazed at how the lessons that we learn in BJJ class translate into everyday life and experiences we encounter. Buckle down and look at the problem in front of you and break it down the same way we do techniques. Step by Step you will figure it out, and if you need a break, then the Academy is only down the street. Get some mat time in and return ready to conquer the day. Your Academy will be your best stress reliever from the struggle. Use it every chance you get. The outside world has no business on the mat. Nothing else matters when you are there. Clear your mind of all the nonsense and enjoy the purity of BJJ. Hope this gave you a little insight on how to use BJJ in other aspects of your life, enjoy the journey and have a RollBliss Day.

Chris IronMan Hinojosa

Brown Belt

Austin Submission Fighting

Rafael Lovato Jr Association