How do I convince my mom to let me take BJJ lessons (updated)?

Question

Because I got answers due to lack of information given, let me ask this again. My mom is really hesitant about letting me take Brazilian Jiu Jitsu lessons because she thinks it's too violent. We've both taken a couple of years of Taekwondo together, but her argument that BJJ is more violent is that in TKD (at least in our school), it's not full contact.

Answer 1

use the fact that if you know 2 different ways to defend yourself then youll have a better chance if you do get into trouble. i never used it but its how my friend talked her mom into letting her wrestel (or whoever you spell it.)

Answer 2

Show her some competition videos like this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sL3eBiA_... that show young kids competing in BJJ. That will help her see that it's not some crazy violent head smashing thing. Also, take her down to the nearest BJJ school and let her watch the classes and talk to the instructors.

You can also explain that it's a lot like High School Wrestling and has many similarities.

Answer 3

Unless you are paying for your own lessons, she has the final say!

You are better off sticking with one discipline.

A person who can perform one discipline WELL can easily

defeat somebody with a mediocre knowledge of several disciplines.

Answer 4

Tell your mother that her conception of BJJ as violent is completely wrong. After all, Jiu Jitsu means "the gentle way". I've been practising BJJ for about 18 months and I've never been seriously injured. I broke my ribs recently but that's nothing that you can't do in other sports.

There's no striking in BJJ, only holds, locks and chokes. The techniques allow you to subdue your opponent without using excessive force. I could quite easily overcome someone (all other factors being equal or fair) if they had no ground skills, and I wouldn't even have to hurt them, at least not permanently or seriously.

From a self-defense point of view, BJJ is excellent for one-one-one encounters (like you get at school). If I'd known BJJ at school, all of my fights would have ended in seconds. I'd have submitted everyone.

Answer 5

I don't think BJJ is very violent as long as you're not one of those dummies in class that won't tap

Answer 6

Man I feel bad for you. My mom is one of my best training dummy's sept sometimes she gets pissed and then I'm the training dummy.

Tell her that you tap out before you get hurt and also ask her what happens when some kid takes you down to the ground and starts beating your A##

Answer 7

I've never actually studied Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but I have studied Judo and Japanese Jujitsu, and there are many similarities.  I would suggest that you do research on the art and explain to her what it really is, with proof and information backing you up.  

The difference between TKD and Jujitsu (since I've studied both) is the way you attack.  TKD is based on kicks and punches (hence the meaning "hand and foot")  but jujitsu focuses more on close range throws, locks and chokes.  Its a different way of fighting.  The so called "contact" in jujitsu isn't the same contact as being punched in the face or kicked in the stomach.  Its more about bringing a person to submission using joint locks and choke holds.  You probably already know this.  But when it comes to this, there's only a certain point, when in training that you are allowed to push.  Usually people will tap out right when they feel the pain or feel like they are being choked, so that they won't cause any injury to themselves.  Of course accidents can happen, but that's part of any martial art, as well as any other sport.  I would explain how the tapping out and everything works, and how the contact is different.

As the person above me stated, you could explain that you would learn two ways to defend yourself.  TKD can help when you're on your feet and maybe a little if you get knocked down, but probably not too much.  If you're knocked down, jujitsu becomes very useful, or even when you're on your feet and in close range of the person.  Plus, it can also solve problems with out actually "beating a person up", with its locks and chokes.  

I probably wasn't much help, but I hope that something in my rambling might be at least a little helpful.

Answer 8

well its kinda been stated in a way but basically,  

1. you need to let  your mother know  that 70 percent of fights end up on the ground anyway so tkd isn't as useful in a real life situation as you might assume. Especially if the person is bigger and rushes you. So you need to let your mom know that you want adequate training that covers the several different levels of fighting rather then just to hope you dont ever fall down and be caught off guard.

2. Let your mother know that locks and restraining is in fact the preferred legal way to handle an assailant rather then kicking or hitting them.( which may get you in trouble with the law. As long as you don't choke someone out or break a joint you should be ok.)

3. Take your mom to the BJJ dojo and let the instructor speak to her. I'm sure he will do a much better job at convincing her then any of us will. She want to know that her son will be ok.

Answer 9

1) Stop watching UFC in front of her - that puts BJJ in a violent context.

2) Show her that you want to take BJJ because it helps muscle developement and is a great workout - dont say because you want to learn how to fight.

3) Show her that you are mature enough to handle the full contact arts without adopting an overly agressive behavior.

Answer 10

If she's taken TKD, then she knows all the positive benefits of learning martial arts (like more patience, better self-control, etc) so why would she not want you to take BJJ?

It would be easier to answer this if you included YOUR reason for wanting to take BJJ.  Do you want to learn so you can fight in MMA-style events?  Perhaps that's why she is hesitant, because she thinks you want to use that training to become a fighter.