How Martial Arts (Like BJJ) Help Your Mental Health

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) have been gaining popularity in recent years, not only for their physical benefits but also for their positive impact on mental health. Through stimulating neurotransmitter production, these martial arts can help individuals achieve a sense of clarity and euphoria after a hard training session. This surge of energy is a result of the release of dopamine, a chemical that keeps individuals motivated and driven to achieve their goals.

In addition to dopamine, BJJ and MMA can also stimulate the production of other essential neurotransmitters, such as norepinephrine, serotonin, and acetylcholine. These chemicals play a crucial role in keeping individuals happy, energized, and focused. Furthermore, martial arts can help individuals build confidence and introduce them to a supportive community, which can further improve their mental well-being. By understanding the science behind these benefits, individuals can better appreciate how BJJ and MMA can positively impact their lives.

Want to learn more about this? Watch this episode of the Jiu-Jitsu Outlet podcast:

Key Takeaways

• Martial arts like BJJ and MMA stimulate neurotransmitter production, resulting in a surge of energy and clarity after a hard training session.
• These martial arts can also help individuals build confidence and introduce them to a supportive community.
• By understanding the science behind these benefits, individuals can better appreciate how BJJ and MMA can positively impact their mental health.

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Neurotransmitters and Jiu-Jitsu

Jiu-Jitsu is a form of hard strenuous physical exercise that stimulates all the neurotransmitters in the brain. According to Muhsin Corbbrey, a 1st-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, pro MMA fighter, and a 4th-year doctoral student at the University of Arizona, there is nothing that science is finding that helps the brain more than hard strenuous physical exercise like the one you get on the Jiu-Jitsu mats. It does a lot more for you than just going for a jog or lifting weights at the gym.

One of the neurotransmitters that Jiu-Jitsu stimulates is dopamine. Dopamine is a very important chemical that keeps us motivated, going, and wanting to achieve things. Whenever you overcome adversity in your life or achieve a goal, like a submission in Jiu-Jitsu, your body registers it as a biological evolutionary achievement and releases dopamine. Science is finding a causal link between the production of dopamine and the production of testosterone, especially in men. As men achieve goals and unlock more dopamine, there is a simultaneous boost in testosterone that also happens.

Testosterone is extremely important for men beyond just getting jacked and having more muscle mass. It influences happiness levels, energy levels, the ability to fight off infection, and weight.

Jiu-Jitsu also stimulates the production of norepinephrine, serotonin, and acetylcholine. Serotonin, especially, is known as the happiness molecule. Science is finding that strenuous exercise, like Jiu-Jitsu, is actually more beneficial for you than SSRIs. The body is already hardwired to produce these chemicals that doctors are trying to give us medication to stimulate. Jiu-Jitsu also produces oxytocin, a chemical that helps the body heal, repair, and experience a feeling of community and bonding.

Learn more about this by watching this episode of the Jiu-Jitsu Outlet podcast with Muhsin Corbbrey:

The Role of Dopamine

One of the ways that Jiu-Jitsu helps mental health is by stimulating the production of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a crucial chemical that is stimulated by hard physical exercise, such as Jiu-Jitsu. When an individual achieves a goal, such as a submission, a surge of dopamine is released into the body. Dopamine is responsible for keeping individuals motivated and driven to achieve more goals. It also has a causal link to testosterone production, which is essential for men's overall health, including their immune system, energy levels, and happiness.

The power of physical exercise to produce dopamine is unparalleled. Regular physical exercise has been found to be more beneficial to the body than SSRIs, which are often prescribed by doctors to stimulate the production of these chemicals artificially.

Instead of taking these medications, it is more productive to expose your body to extreme physical activities like a BJJ or Judo class.

Related Posts:

• Insulin resistance in brain alters dopamine turnover and causes behavioral disorders

Other Essential Neurotransmitters

In addition to dopamine, there are several other essential neurotransmitters that are stimulated by practicing martial arts like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and MMA. These neurotransmitters include norepinephrine, serotonin, and acetylcholine.

Norepinephrine is a hormone and neurotransmitter that is responsible for activating the sympathetic nervous system, which controls the body's "fight or flight" response. It helps to increase focus, attention, and alertness, and is often released during stressful situations. By practicing martial arts, individuals can stimulate the production of norepinephrine in the brain, which can help to improve their ability to handle stress and stay focused under pressure.

Serotonin is another important neurotransmitter that is often referred to as the "happiness molecule." It plays a crucial role in regulating mood, appetite, and sleep, and is often used as a target for antidepressant medications. By practicing martial arts, individuals can stimulate the production of serotonin in the brain, which can help to improve their mood and overall sense of well-being.

Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that is involved in a wide range of functions in the body, including muscle movement, memory, and attention. By practicing martial arts, individuals can stimulate the production of acetylcholine in the brain, which can help to improve their cognitive function and ability to learn new skills.

Overall, practicing martial arts like BJJ and MMA can have a significant impact on the production of essential neurotransmitters in the brain, which can help to improve mental health and overall well-being.

Related Posts

• The Science Behind Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) & Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) w/ Muhsin Corbbrey

The Impact of Oxytocin

Oxytocin is a "feel good" chemical that is released by your body whenever there is physical connection between humans. Jiu-Jitsu is a great way to stimulate the production of oxytocin through touch with your training partners during class while drilling or sparring.

Oxytocin promotes healing, repair, and a feeling of community. Not experiencing oxytocin can result in depression and a feeling of distance from the tribe. Oftentimes, if someone is feeling low on energy or withdrawn from society, their body will not be producing oxytocin.

This is one of the many reasons that martial arts training is a great way to build confidence and introduce oneself to a supportive community.

How Martial Arts Stimulate the Vagus Nerve

Martial arts like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and MMA help improve mental health in different ways. They stimulate neurotransmitter production, build confidence, and introduce practitioners to a supportive community. Additionally, martial arts stimulate the vagus nerve, which connects the entire body.

The vagus nerve is responsible for regulating the parasympathetic nervous system, which controls the body's rest and digest response. When the vagus nerve is stimulated, it helps regulate heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion. Martial arts like BJJ introduce physical stress to the body, which activates the vagus nerve. This stimulation improves vagal tone, which helps the body better handle stress and promotes overall well-being.

Overall, martial arts like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA have a positive impact on mental health by stimulating the vagus nerve and promoting the production of beneficial neurotransmitters.

Learn more about how the vagus nerve impacts your mental and physical health by watching this interview with Sterling Cooley:

The Importance of Physical Exercise

Physical exercise is essential for maintaining optimal health, and martial arts like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and MMA are excellent ways to stay fit and healthy. One of the most significant benefits of physical exercise is that it stimulates all of the neurotransmitters in the brain, which helps to promote mental health.

Research has shown that hard strenuous physical exercise, like the kind you get on the Jiu-Jitsu mats, is more beneficial for the brain than other forms of exercise. When you achieve a goal, like getting a submission in Jiu-Jitsu, your body registers it as a significant accomplishment, and it releases dopamine and other chemicals, which promotes feelings of happiness and contentment.

The physical and mental challenges of martial arts training help to build resilience and self-confidence, which can carry over into other areas of your life.

Finally, research has shown a link between insulin resistance and anxiety and depression. This means that if we have an unhealthy amount of sugar and extra fat in the body, we are more likely to be anxious or depressed. Regular physical exercise, like Jiu-Jitsu training, can help to reduce insulin resistance and promote overall health and well-being.

Related Posts:

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Why Martial Arts Increases Confidence

Martial arts, such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and MMA, have been shown to increase confidence in individuals who practice them. This increase in confidence can be attributed to several factors.

Firstly, as discussed, martial arts stimulate the production of neurotransmitters in the brain. The physical exercise involved in martial arts induces stress on the body, which in turn stimulates the production of chemicals such as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. These chemicals are responsible for regulating mood, motivation, and overall well-being.

Secondly, martial arts build confidence through the process of learning and achieving goals. As individuals progress through their training, they learn new techniques and skills, and are able to apply them successfully in sparring sessions. This process of learning and achievement helps to build confidence and self-esteem.

Finally, martial arts introduce individuals to a community of like-minded individuals who share similar goals and interests. This sense of community and belonging can help individuals feel more confident and supported in their endeavors.

Community and Jiu-Jitsu

When asked about the benefits of Jiu-Jitsu, most people say that it is the supportive community of like-minded people that they meet on the mats. Martial arts are kind've like an international secret society of people who are all obsessed with the same "ninja kill each other" game where we pretend to strangle each other. There are many benefits that a positive community brings to your mental health.

Practicing Jiu-Jitsu can help individuals build relationships with others who share their interests and goals, leading to a sense of belonging and camaraderie. This is an amazing outlet for neurodivergent people (like me) to learn how to communicate with others in a safe space around similar interests.

Chris Round came on the Jiu-Jitsu Outlet podcast to talk about how training in Judo helped him develop his social skills, despite being diagnosed with autism at a young age. You can hear more about this by watching this episode of the show:

Through Jiu-Jitsu, individuals can build confidence and develop a sense of achievement as they progress in their practice. This can have a positive impact on self-esteem and overall well-being.

Overall, Jiu-Jitsu and other martial arts can offer a unique combination of physical exercise, social support, and mental health benefits. By participating in these activities, individuals can improve their overall health and well-being, both on and off the mats.

Check out all the episodes of the Jiu-Jitsu Outlet podcast on our YouTube channel or podcast audio feed to learn more about how martial arts impact your mental health and life off the mats.