Martial Arts for Fitness... Oxymoron?

Question

I just thought I would share this...

i was watching the weakest link as i was getting changed for work... and i saw a lady contestant...she was being picked on as usual and when she was asked where she was from and what she did... she replied...

"im from Bradford and i teach Martial Arts for Fitness"

nothing wrong with that im sure...its when she was asked wht Martial Art it was she taught she replied....

"jujitsu"

i was flabbergasped!!! i mean...

if im not wrong then jujitsu is "the gentle art" translated from the japaneese...

so isnt her job a little...fake?

just curious about what you think about the statement...

i know about the whole warming up...but she said it was purely about the technique... im just... in disbeleif!!!

thanks alot! il rate the best answer

x

hi...i also forgot to mention that she said there was no grappleing involved, that they didnt do that in jujitsu... that was judo...

how did she ever get her licence???

i train in jujitsu... but it also incoperates ninjitsu and karate... but its mainly jujitsu based so i know i know what it involves...

Answer 1

Many people in America teach martial arts for fitness...whether they accomplish that goal is a very different question. Look at the sad state most Tai Chi classes are in nowadays! Also, due to many instructors working a "real job" to pay for living expenses, sometimes the staff at the schools are not really the resident experts, rather they are some shmoe with some dedication who the instructor gives some basic training and a special uniform to. So, all that being said, perhaps the lady on TV was a lower belt (or just pushe dthrough the ranks) that didn't really have itnimate knowledge of her system, and was simply put in charge of the "KardioJitsu" program so the school could make a quick buck. If the shoe fits... ;-)


{OT response to previous answers}

Since when is Tai Chi a gentle art with only kicks and punches? Maybe the way the hippie at the gym does it. Most Chinese arts include what is known as Chin Na (seizing and locking), much of which is similiar to judo, sumo, jiujitsu, etc, with the added emphasis on knowing and utilizing the weaknesses of the human anatomy via locking and tearing tendons, ligaments, nerves and muscles in the process of the takedown. A system such as White Crane or Tai Chi probably has more locks and throws than many grappling systems.

Answer 2

Well, judo is really considered the gentle martial art but I can assure it means to be gentle on yourself, not your opponent!

Jujitsu was truly a combat art. You do need to be in shape in order do much jujitsu properly or effectively. I've studies several martial arts and in general if you get two practitioners at the same skill level and more or less the same height and weight, the one in better shape will usually be victorious in a fight.

Martial arts classes are normally a decent way to stay in shape but some are better than others. The thing is that many folks who won't go to the gym to work out will come to participate in a martial arts class as they make friends and will often find the want to achieve something there. I think to really be in good shape that you have to do additional workout though. Most classes last only an hour and a lot of that is instruction and practice. Often times you are therefore not doing strenuous activity during a class. But it all depends on the type of art and they way the instructor likes to teach it.

Answer 3

Yes of course it will be about fitness.

Martial arts is not about fighting, contrary to popular belief, it is about the mastery of the body, mind and spirit. The perfect trinity.

So yes, teaching jujitsu for fitness is normal, but what is confusing, is that the "sensei" said for fitness, but not the other two, Mental attunement, and eventually, when you master and balance the first two, spiritual enlightenment. This is what martial arts has been about for a long time.

I don't believe that it should be only for fitness, then it is not an art, this is the distinction. Jujitsu is compleate in many ways, it is a path to mastery different from those of karate or the other offensive martial arts. Like aikido, jujitsu is very defensive and has a lot more to do with the feel of the person, and grappling with them. The offensive is much more to do with watching and reacting or anticipating.

Both sides of the martial art ying yang are demanding physically and lead towards physical mastery and a focused and calm mind, If you use them right and teach all the parts of the arts and the essence of the philosophy.

So teaching for fitness seems wierd to me because it is defeating the purpose of the practice. If students are only going to classes for thier fitness, then wonderful, maybe they will be interested by the philosophy as well and then they do indeed become apt students. But if nobody is teaching the other half of the art, then nobody will learn and it will be lost, like in boxing or this UFC stuff you talk about.

I wopuld prefer to see tradition styles against other traditional styles, for example, Aikido againt Tae kwan do or karate. That would be fun.

To see the elegance of the fighter, likew we emulate in the movies, rather than a street fight in a cage between two animals.

but this is another topic that wil require some time.

Jujitsu is great for fitrness, LOSE 10 KILOS IN JUST A WEEK, just call 9999-jujitsu

Answer 4

There is no best style. Your size, body type and sex have nothing to do with the style you want to choose. People that think that your size and body type determine the style know little to nothing about martial arts. people of all various so called body types, are found in all styles of martial arts and do well in those styles Most people will tell you there style is the best or they heard such and such is a great style, The style is not important, what matters is how good your instructor is and how you train. The style is secondary, they all have there pro's and con's there are no superior styles. If you have an instructor that can’t teach you how to fight, regardless of the style, what good would it do you? Choose a school with a good instructor in the end that’s all that matters, that and how you train. Its the person that has the ability to fight not the style

Answer 5

Don't miss interprate the translation. JuJitsu or JuJutsu in Germany and BRazil it is JiuJitsu, is defined as a soft art meaning the object is to use your attackers force and energy against them so if someone grabs you and pushes you back words you would turn and throw them to the ground using their momentum. Where in a hard style like Tae Kwan Do they teach you how to kick the attackers arm as they try to punch you.
I have over 13 years of Judo training which is very similar to Jujitsu only with throwing. And 5 years of wrestling. Both got me in better shapoe than anything else I ever did.
She probably didn't want to get into a big long explanation as to what her class is about. Maybe she is a Black belt who wanted to create a fun way of learning self defence and getting into shape. Or maybe she is just another loser using the hype around the UFC to get people into her health club. Either way I work out with alot of people who only train for the health aspects of it and couldn't care les about fighting or being graded. I don't do it but I got into Judo for fighting beacuse I love to compete.

And as far as saying JuJitsu is not good for fitness. Go spend 5 minutes on the mat doing randori and see how much it wears you down. In randori (sparing) you don't go out to beat your uki (opponant) you go until you get the hold on then stop and start again. Trust me it is a better work out than any Karate or Tae Kwan Do one. And no push-ups and other excercises don't count. Sorry but kicking the air and grappling on the ground for an hour don't compare as far as work outs go...

Answer 6

Yea, that's a little crazy. Jujitsu is a grappling style so to say it's for fitness does come cross a bit odd but then again, a lot of people take martial arts just for fitness because going to the gym gets too routine. Martial arts mixes things up and there is always the goal of receiving the next belt or stripe. If she said taekwondo or karate, it would of made more sense but I agree with you that jujitsu for fitness does come across as odd.

Answer 7

I spent 4 and a half years in the Army Infantry. A normal PT session would be running 3-6 miles and 30 minutes of various exercises(push-ups, pullups, situps, etc.) every day. We carried 100 pound rucks in the field and moved at least 10 clicks a night when we were in the field with full battle rattle. I was sent to an Army combatives course where they taught us the basics of BJJ. We would spar for 5 minutes at a time on the ground. No stand up punches or anything just the techniques they taught us. For those 3 weeks i was in the course my body was sore everyday. The reason why that is such a good art for fitness is because when you're doing it correctly even going half force you use more muscles in your body then you would doing any single exercise. Juijitsu is great to take if you want to get in shape.

Answer 8

I would suspect that her reply may have been said in a modest attitude,although not having seen the programme i couldn't say for sure, jiu-jisu by definition is indeed described as being "the gentle art" but is anything but gentle during training,not putting jiu-jitsu on a pedestal but I've encountered ,street fighters, boxers,black belts in various styles of karate coming into class to train and not lasting a week mainly due to break falling as the toughest part of jiu-jitsu in the beginning is learning to cope with and endure endless break falling which is hard going in the beginning hence why so many people quit regardless of experience in other martial arts that don't do break falling,fitness is a by product of training and not a prerequisite for starting to train.
I doubt most people would say they started jiu-jitsu to keep fit
If you seriously want to keep fit then do ,running swimming aerobics etc its much less painful

If people are honest with them selves jiu-jitsu is purely started for self defence reasons and nothing else.

Unless the woman was being modest then she's clearly talking nonsense I'm afraid.

Hope this helps

Answer 9

Jujitsu unlike other MA teaches holds and grapples as opposed to strikes, so it looks gentler, but you are still very active, and as long as you are burring calories and getting up your heart rate it is a good work out, if you would rather sit on a bike or run in place go for it, I would rather do something more like this.

Answer 10

If I followed you correctly, your question is how does ju-jutsu training equate to fitness?

Coming from an art that is derived from ju-jutsu, I can tell you that the general pace of the training is, at the minimum, a very good aerobic / cardio-workout. When you start training against resistance, you get into more anaerobic exercise. To train in any martial art is to engage in a physical activity and a philosophy that encourages physical and mental fitness.

Currently, at least in the States, there is a big push to be "fit", to exercise, and to "be healthy". So when she claimed to "teach Martial Arts for Fitness", she was probably using a truthful marketing phrase that appeals to a broad audience.