How to convince the jiu jitsu doubters??

[Karim Graham]

What, u don't like it :-P

no, its awesome.
made me really think for a while

[JordanSilva]

This goes for martial arts training in general. Martial arts is like having an umbrella, its something that just sits in the same place day in day out. But on the day it rains well brother I bet you are glad you have an umbrella.

[Enrique "Kiko"]

This goes for martial arts training in general. Martial arts is like having an umbrella, its something that just sits in the same place day in day out. But on the day it rains well brother I bet you are glad you have an umbrella.

Great analogy.

[DarbyBarby]

Ask them if they care about you why would they want to discourage you from doing one of your favorite things in the world, and if they bring up injuries explain that everything has the potential to harm you. Way more people get injured or killed on their way to work at a job they don't even enjoy. I bet if you quit your job your parents/girlfriend wouldn't be too thrilled.

[Scott Philips]

step 1: get in noticeably better shape. if they say anything just show them your abs that develop from just rolling and ask where are theirs...

step 2: win shiny medals, people like those things.

step 3: bring out athletic nay sayers for a nice arse woppin on the mats, shuts them up. make sure you actually wup that ass though, don't need any half way/being nice on these people.

step 4: do mma, win money and obtain some sort of local celebrity status.

If you do these 4 or really any 1 or 2 out of 4, people will give you a little slack. Now if I can just get everyone in real life to stop asking when i'm fighting next as the first topic of discussion

[Scott Philips]

One conversation in particular that I remember going a long ways towards acceptance was me inviting my Grandfather to a smoker "exhibition" grappling match we held at my gym. His response was something along the lines of "to go watch you get killed?" and my response was "no...to go watch me live." ever since then I believe it kind of clicked.

[Robert Sevigny]

EASY!
tell them youll ONLY use BJJ and THEY cannot strike you
use your BJJ and embarrass the hell outta them by just HOLDING them in guard/closedguard or taunt with openguard
then
move your way to mount, see if they giveup their back, hold them from backmount til they BECOME a believer
they can escape anyway they want JUST NO GROIN SHOTS , BITING, ETC

[Matt "Gumby" Glach]

Thanks for all the great responses guys! I will mention tho that in my particular situation, nobody in my family is willing to get on the mats, and it'll probably take some serious convincing to even get them to come to a training session or tournament, I think my best bet in showing them how great the sport is through experiencing it is probably getting them to watch a video of me in competition. The problem isn't so much as they doubt the effectiveness of jiu jitsu as a martial art, it's that they don't support training martial arts at all. Like I said before I'm going to continue training anyway but itd still be nice to not get the "dont you care about anything else???" look when i start blabbing about jiu jitsu. I'm sure you guys can relate.

[David Rosado]

Well, an important question to ask/answer is: what do they consider worthwhile?

Most hobbies aren't "worthwile" to the practitioner. They're just a means of self challenge and self expression. In that sense, in the sense that it centers you, makes you better, improves your life; in that sense, what would they consider more worthwile to your life? Antiques? Stamp collecting?

Tourney medals and highlight vids. Success can move through doubt like no words can.

I used to be a rapper. Nobody in my family took me serious until I started booking gigs and they saw the turnouts. Any success, even marginal success, usually gets people to support you.

yeah like in the begining of x guard book where marcelo's parents didn't get it till he came back from adcc w/ a ford focus for his ol' man.

That right there is swag on a million. Didn't know that. Awesome story.

[Robert Sevigny]

listen, THIS is what you do...

...you explain to the 'rents how its a COMBO sport

#1 it teaches you how to defend yourself / self-defense
#2 great way to stay healthy/exercise/lose weight
= take a photo of ROY NELSON NOW then! find a photo of roy when he was at GRAPPLERS QUEST vs FRANK MIR (he looks
180lbs) show the FAT ROY first THEN show them AFTER HE DID BJJ HE LOOKS LIKE THIS then show them THIN ROY

win win!