By COURTNEY HO

ASSISTANT WEB EDITOR

There is a 200 pound man on top of me and I can hardly breathe, but I tell myself to stay calm and think. Hundreds of possible scenarios flash through my mind, and I gradually eliminate each one based on his reactions. I find an opening. He submits.Get your mind out of the gutter people – I’m talking about Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.

To elaborate, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is a martial art that focuses on ground fighting. It was developed by Helio Gracie, a Brazilian who initially trained in Japanese Judo. This style of jiu-jitsu concentrates on the use of leverage and submission techniques such as joint-locks and chokeholds. Brazilian Jiu-jitsu rose to prominence in the early 1990s when Royce Gracie, son of Helio Gracie, used Brazilian Jiu-jitsu to beat his opponents in the Ultimate Fighting  Championship. People were astounded that he was able to beat much larger, heavier opponents who were experts in other fighting styles, such as boxing, muay thai and wrestling.

I got into Brazilian Jiu-jitsu after realizing that I did not know how to defend myself on the ground. What if someone stronger and heavier than me attacked me, and he or she started hitting me on the ground? As an average-sized woman, I understand that people who fall into my demographic are usually targets of violent crimes. Still, no matter what demographic you fall into, it is an unfortunate reality that bad things happen in this world, and you must know how to protect yourself.

So, I learned how to protect myself. I started taking classes, and I have never looked back. The beauty of Brazilian jiu-jitsu is that it is not just a martial art and a style of self-defense – it is a philosophy and a way of life. It has taught me to be calm in situations where it seems like there is no way out. It is a martial art that challenges me mentally and physically. People who train in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu often compare it to chess. In order to beat your opponent, you have to be focused, adaptable, composed and a few steps ahead of him or her.

I try my best to convince my friends to take Brazilian jiu-jitsu, but I have found that most women are uncomfortable with the idea of fighting so closely with men who are probably stronger and heavier therefore. For all you women out there who are unconvinced that women are able to defeat bigger and stronger opponents, I suggest you look up the current UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. Although men’s and women’s divisions are separated, and she fights within her weight class, there is no doubt that she is an exceptional female fighter who would be able to beat up any man who attacked her.

Nevertheless, whether you are a man or a woman, I recommend that you try Brazilian jiujitsu one day. It will teach you how to defend yourself, you’ll get a hell of a workout and I guarantee it will inspire you to become a better person.