Grappling or Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a growing popular sport for the young and old alike. Like every sport, you can take it to the extreme by becoming talented enough to join the Ultimate Fighting Championship and coming out a winner. If an all our brawl is not in your plans, you might want to try grappling just to stay in shape and to build a little self esteem. Grappling, like all martial arts, is a great pastime. For children grappling gives the student a sense of discipline and purpose and for the older adult it gives the student a chance to have a formal workout and at the same time develop techniques in self defense.

Though grappling originated in Brazil, it has come to the world's attention that it is a martial art to contend. After a grappling expert won the Ultimate Fighting Championship three out of four times, the world of martial arts has taken this new style serious. Grappling is designed for the fighter to fight from the ground up. Most fighters will learn to fight from their feet. In grappling you want to close in on your opponent and get him or her to the ground. Once on the ground a combination of joint holds and choke holds will subdue your opponent as you take dominance in where you were trained, on the ground.

Taken from other martial arts like karate, judo, and jiu-jitsu, grappling combines the best of all worlds to make a truly unique form of fighting. If you want a good work out, join a grappling class and you will get a full workout that includes stretching, building body strength, and learning self defense techniques. It doesn't matter if you are male or female; grappling is build for all sexes and all body types. Even if you are a little overweight or out of shape, grappling classes offer beginning, intermediate, and advanced classes. As you learn and are able to demonstrate your knowledge of grappling, you will move into a more advanced course that offers more rigorous workouts and more challenging techniques.

Finding a grappling class may be difficult. Though the sport is gaining in popularity, there are some areas of the country where it is not offered. Check on the internet for classes near you or contact local law enforcement agencies to see if they have had some form of grappling training. The military and several law enforcement agencies at both the state and national level are embracing grappling as a sound self defense method that allows the officers of soldiers to be able to take out an opponent and at the same time keep themselves safe and out of the judicial system for using excessive

Your new grappling class will give you pride and self assurance as you start getting into shape and learning the techniques taught to you. You will have more self confidence and will be able to look at the world in a new light. Grappling, though violent, is a way to make you learn how to take care of yourself. If you want to take the sport to the extreme and fight the Ultimate Fighting Championship, go for it. If not just enjoy the exposure of this new martial art and what it can do for you.