What were your resolutions this year?

The usual suspects? Exercise more? Get in shape? Take up a new hobby? Get out of the house more? Join a club? Make some friends? 

Well the good news is you can do all of the above by simply taking up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu!

Get rid of that Christmas weight

It’s not uncommon to put on a few pounds over Christmas, we’ve all been guilty of it. The real trouble comes when you try to lose it again.

And it’s not just the delicious turkey and stuffing that’s to blame – it’s the big boxes of Roses going for 3 quid at Tescos.

A wee chocolate here and there doesn’t hurt… until you add up just how many you’ve had over the past few weeks.

But don’t worry, you can lose any weight you’ve put on if you work at it. And the wonderful thing about taking up BJJ is, you don’t even realise you’re working at it.

When you’re on the mats, learning new techniques and rolling with your friends, losing weight just sort of happens. You’ll notice it even after the first week as your body starts to burn off those excess calories. 

Then before you know it, you’ll…

Get in the best shape of your life

Just like losing weight goes almost unnoticed, so does getting fitter.

They are both bonus “side-effects” of training BJJ, happening in the background while you work on your moves.

And when we say you’ll get fitter, we mean it.

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu will have you in the best shape of your life. The constant struggling against an opponent works every muscle in your body, toning, shaping and strengthening you in ways nothing else does.

You’ll suddenly realise one day that you can bound up a flight of stairs without being out of breath, or maybe catch yourself in the mirror and wonder where that six-pack came from.

Meet new people and make new friends

For many, New Years is a time to look back on the year and see what went right and what went wrong.

It can be a time to make changes to your life, a time of self-assessment and honesty.

For many people, that means having the courage to be more adventurous, to take up a new hobby or activity, sometimes as a way of meeting new people.

Ask anyone who does Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and they’ll tell you their club is like their family. Rolling with people brings with it a respect and bond that is hard to describe to those who haven’t experienced it before.

Many great, long-lasting friendships have developed through BJJ, along with plenty of romantic relationships.

And they were all possible because someone had the courage to try something new.

What will your resolutions be this time next year?

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one of these things that once you start, you wish you started years ago.

Come next New Year, will you be making the same resolutions? Still wishing you were a few pounds lighter? Still kidding yourself that this is the year you’re finally going to get in shape?

Now imagine it’s a year later and you did join our club.

12 months from now your life has changed. You’re in great shape, have a hobby you absolutely adore, and have made some great friends along the way.

It’s a no-brainer really, isn’t it?

Come along for your free 14-day trial and give Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu a go. If it’s not for you, then it’s not for you. But if it is, then 12 months from now you’ll thank yourself for taking those first steps through the door.

Happy New Year. Make it a good one.