https://mail.ej-sport.org/index.php/sport <p>European Journal of Sport Sciences</p> European Open Science Publishing en-US European Journal of Sport Sciences 2796-0048 <p>Authors retain the copyright of their work, and grant this journal the right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License</a> that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.</p> https://mail.ej-sport.org/index.php/sport/article/view/189 <p>This study investigates the potential for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), a close-contact martial art, to cultivate real-world life skills beyond physical self-defense. Conducted in a Phoenix, Arizona, gym setting, the research employed a quantitative experimental design with in-person surveys to assess the transferability of BJJ-learned abilities and experiences into daily life strategies. Two surveys were developed, targeting adult participants, young adults, and the parents/legal guardians of youth enrolled in BJJ classes. With a participation rate of 62.9% from the gym’s membership base, the study yielded significant findings. Notably, all participants reported a strong sense of community fostered by the BJJ program. Beyond this social benefit, the research suggests that BJJ can play a role in mitigating feelings of anxiety and depression. The analysis revealed a positive correlation between BJJ participation and psychological and emotional well-being, with participants reporting a transfer of life skills learned on the mats to real-world situations. These findings contribute to the growing body of evidence on the holistic benefits of martial arts, suggesting that BJJ can extend its positive influence beyond the realm of physical self-defense and into the emotional and psychological well-being of its practitioners.</p> Dulce Ruelas Heather Noblitt Danielle Henderson Jose Muñoz Copyright (c) 2025 Dulce Ruelas, Heather Noblitt, Danielle Henderson, Jose Muñoz http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 2025-01-06 2025-01-06 4 1 1 9 10.24018/ejsport.2025.4.1.189