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Does Jiu Jitsu make you lose weight?

Author

Emily Ross

Published Jan 09, 2026

Even if you've never stepped foot on a mat before, we all need to start somewhere. In terms of calories burned, BJJ can be a highly effective weight-loss tool.

How much weight will I lose doing Jiu Jitsu?

While losing half a pound per week may seem like a small amount, given that BJJ is a lifelong journey and long-term pursuit, this estimate puts you at around 25-45 pounds lost per year with BJJ training alone. By the time you are a blue or purple belt, you could potentially have lost hundreds of pounds.

Can Jiu Jitsu get you in shape?

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a great way to get in shape. Not only will you lose weight and increase muscle strength, but you'll improve flexibility and coordination and benefit from better health overall.

How many calories do you burn doing Jiu Jitsu?

For an hour of jiu jitsu, a person who weighs 180 lbs will have burned about 647 calories. That's one hell of a workout! As you can see, the calories burned per hour is highest for sparring, therefore the longer you train, the more calories you will burn.

How many times a week should you do Jiu Jitsu?

2-3 days per week

If you are a beginner or a “casual” Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, aim for two to three days a week. Training around two days a week is a good starting point when you're just starting Jiu-Jitsu. You get enough time on the mats to learn and work on your technique while not getting burned out or overtrained.

22 related questions found

Should I lift weights for BJJ?

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) fighters lift weights in order to improve their power-to-weight ratio (PWR), performance, and health. BJJ fighters who lift will typically focus on compound exercises (squats, bench, etc.) as these are the best moves to improve PWR. Power-to-weight ratio is so crucial in martial arts.

What does Jiu-Jitsu do to your body?

BJJ is an effective way to build strength, and you won't even need to pick up any dumbbells. The full-body workout you get with BJJ includes a lot of grappling, which builds strength throughout your entire body. It's not uncommon for some BJJ students to add some weight lifting in their training.

Is BJJ 3 times a week enough?

Training three times a week seems to be the sweet spot for a lot of people between avoiding burnout and making rapid progress. You'll be able to spar hard every session. You'll be able to remember what you learned last class, and you'll develop good timing and reflexes.

How many calories does 2 hours of Jiu Jitsu burn?

Total: 706 calories in an hour.

If you stick around and do 5 or 6 five-minute rounds, that would shoot up to over 1100 calories. It's no wonder people lose weight doing BJJ.

Is Jiu Jitsu good for cardio?

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is an excellent form of aerobic workout. Consistent aerobic activity can help you become healthier and expand lifespan. Getting the cardio exercise you need is important to keep your heart in good shape. Doing sparring is also a great form of exercise.

Is training Jiu-Jitsu worth it?

BJJ keeps you healthy by Increasing Flexibility, Strength, Endurance, Cardio and burn more calories than your traditional gym session. 2) Self-Defense. BJJ teaches a safe, simple and REALISTIC way to defend yourself from a would-be attacker. 3) Builds Confidence.

Is Jiu-Jitsu healthy?

The physical benefits of BJJ are heavily related to increased mobility, strength, aerobic and anaerobic endurance, and strength. You'll be sure to use every muscle group in the body that will take almost an immediate effect.

Do I need to be fit to start Jiu-Jitsu?

While this might be natural, it shouldn't prevent one from getting back into bjj class. So to answer the question “Do I need to get in shape before I start jiu-jitsu?” The short answer is “No”.

How long does it take to get your blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

The typical time to get a BJJ blue belt is between 1-3 years. A year to a year and a half is the normal amount of time to get a blue belt. In extenuating circumstances, the time it takes to get a BJJ blue belt could take longer.

How many calories are in a pound?

Past research has shown that there are roughly 3,500 calories in 1 lb of body fat. This has led many people to believe that if they want to lose 1 lb of body weight, they just need a reduction of 3,500 calories.

How many calories does 30 minutes of Jiu Jitsu burn?

According to my estimate based on these data, 30 minutes of hard sparring in BJJ burns approximately 507 calories, and 60 minutes burns 1015 calories.

How much of a workout is BJJ?

BJJ is an excellent full-body workout. In it you activate all your muscles, from your neck on down to your calves, and heavy sparring is as good a high-intensity-interval-training session as any CrossFit class will give you.

Can I train BJJ everyday?

The Sweet Spot Number of Training Days.

The hardest part is that people get hit with the “Jiu Jitsu Bug” and want to train everyday. That can lead to burn out fast for the “average” person. So for the average hobbyist, 3 days a week is enough to maintain your jiu jitsu and grow at the same time.

How often should I roll BJJ?

As noted, 3-5 times a week is ideal for most people. But an essential part of your BJJ journey is understanding that not every week, month or even year will be ideal. Life situation will impact your BJJ journey a lot.

How can I improve my Jiu-Jitsu fast?

Attend Training Sessions Regularly

The fastest way to improve your Jiu-Jitsu skills is consistency. If you are training only once a week, you may not see progress or retention of skills for a very long time. If you can find a way to train every other day, that is the sweet spot for improvement.

Is Jiu-Jitsu hard on your body?

All of them have a list of chronic injuries that affect their life constantly. BJJ is a brutal sport that will ruin your body. It is not good for you physically. If you want to get healthy you should do Yoga and mountain trekking or something.

Does Jiu-Jitsu make you strong?

BJJ training develops your core muscles unlike any other martial art. In fact, your core is where the majority of your strength comes from in BJJ. The core is responsible for your body's basic functions, like breathing. It also helps you with your overall balance and stability.

What body type is best for Jiu-Jitsu?

Mesomorphs are the athletes who appear to be in ideal physical shape. They are muscular with low levels of fat. These are the fighters who like to post photos of themselves on social media, hash tagging their bjj bodies proudly for all to admire.

Is BJJ good for a street fight?

Most definitely, yes, BJJ is incredibly effective in a street fight. It is one of the most effective martial arts for self-defense due to the benefits listed above. You learn various ways to defend yourself against larger opponents and neutralize them with a lesser chance of getting hurt.

Does gym help BJJ?

If your main goal in BJJ is to train three days a week and be the best you can be at open mat, it's still worth doing strength and conditioning. Even just two days a week will make a big difference in your ability to roll hard, avoid injury, and ensure you can train and enjoy BJJ for the long-haul.