Looking for something you and your spouse can do together that is fun, challenging, and completely different from the usual date night?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu might be exactly what you’re looking for.
At Greenwood Jiu-Jitsu in Toronto, we see couples training together for all kinds of reasons. Some want a new fitness activity. Some want to learn self-defence. Some are looking for a hobby they can share. And others simply want to find something that gets them off the couch and onto the mats together.
Whatever your reason, training Jiu-Jitsu with your spouse can be an incredible experience.
Why Train Jiu-Jitsu With Your Spouse?
Finding an activity that both people genuinely enjoy isn’t always easy.
One person may love the gym while the other hates it. One might enjoy running while the other would rather do almost anything else.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is different.
You don’t have to be at the same fitness level, have the same athletic ability, or even have the same experience.
You can start together and progress at your own pace.
And because BJJ is based heavily on technique, leverage, timing, and problem-solving, couples can train together without constantly competing over who is stronger or faster.
It’s a Workout You Actually Have to Think About
Traditional workouts can sometimes become repetitive.
You lift weights.
You run.
You use the machines.
You go home.
Jiu-Jitsu gives you something completely different.
Every training session presents new problems to solve.
Where should your weight be?
How do you escape?
How do you control a position?
How do you use leverage instead of strength?
What happens when your opponent reacts?
You’re constantly learning while you’re exercising.
That combination of physical activity and mental problem-solving is one of the things that keeps people coming back.
You Don’t Have to Be at the Same Fitness Level
One of the biggest concerns couples have when considering martial arts together is:
“What if one of us is much more athletic than the other?”
That’s okay.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu isn’t simply about strength.
A smaller person can use leverage and technique against a larger person. An experienced grappler can use positioning to control someone stronger. And beginners can learn together regardless of their starting fitness level.
That’s one of the reasons BJJ can work so well for couples.
You’re not necessarily trying to beat each other.
You’re learning together.
You Can Encourage Each Other
Starting something new can be intimidating.
Walking into a martial arts academy for the first time can be even more intimidating if you don’t know anyone.
Having your spouse beside you can make that first step much easier.
You can:
- Attend your first class together
- Learn the fundamentals together
- Encourage each other
- Celebrate promotions together
- Help each other stay consistent
- Talk about what you learned after class
And eventually, you may find that Jiu-Jitsu becomes something you both look forward to during the week.
Jiu-Jitsu Can Bring Couples Closer
Training together gives couples something that many hobbies don’t.
You’re both working through challenges.
You’re both learning something new.
You’re both going to struggle.
And you’re both going to improve.
There will be days when one of you has a great class and the other doesn’t.
There will be techniques that make sense immediately to one person and take the other several weeks to understand.
That’s part of the journey.
The important thing is that you’re experiencing it together.
But Don’t Turn Every Roll Into a Marital Competition!
This might be the most important advice of all.
Leave the arguments at home. 😂
Jiu-Jitsu is supposed to be training.
If your spouse catches you in a submission, tap.
If you catch them, don’t celebrate like you just won the UFC championship.
And remember that training with your spouse should be about helping each other improve—not keeping score.
There is no prize for winning the most rounds against your husband or wife.
The real victory is both of you getting better.
You Don’t Have to Train Together Every Class
Another great thing about BJJ is that couples don’t have to do everything together.
You can attend different classes based on your schedules.
You can train with different partners.
You can have different goals.
One spouse might love competition while the other trains purely for fitness and fun.
One might prefer Gi training while the other loves No-Gi.
That’s completely fine.
You can still share the experience of being part of the same Jiu-Jitsu community.
Couples Can Start as Complete Beginners
You don’t need previous martial arts experience to start Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
At Greenwood Jiu-Jitsu, our Beginner Fundamentals classes are designed to help new students learn the foundations of BJJ in a structured environment.
You don’t need to know:
- How to grapple
- How to escape a mount
- What a guard is
- How to submit someone
- How to “roll”
That’s what you’ll learn.
You simply need to show up willing to learn.
A Great Alternative to Going to the Gym Together
If you’ve tried going to the gym with your spouse and found that you end up doing completely different workouts, BJJ offers something different.
You’re both participating in the same activity.
You’re both learning the same fundamental concepts.
You’re both getting a workout.
And you’re both part of the same community.
That’s a pretty good combination.
Training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Toronto
If you’re searching for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Toronto, Jiu-Jitsu Toronto, BJJ Toronto, or a martial arts academy where you and your spouse can start together, Greenwood Jiu-Jitsu in Leaside is a great place to begin.
Our academy welcomes beginners, adults, families, and experienced martial artists.
You don’t need to wait until you’re in perfect shape.
You don’t need to wait until your schedule becomes less busy.
And you don’t need to know anything about Jiu-Jitsu before your first class.
Start together and learn together.
Make Jiu-Jitsu Your Next Couple’s Activity
Dinner is great.
Movies are great.
Going out for drinks is great.
But sometimes it’s nice to do something that challenges you both.
Something where you can laugh, struggle, learn, and improve together.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can become more than just another workout.
It can become something you and your spouse do for years.
So if you’ve been looking for a new activity to try together, why not give BJJ a shot?
Your next date night could be on the mats.
Greenwood Jiu-Jitsu — Toronto
🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
🥋 Beginner Fundamentals
🥋 Adult BJJ
🥋 Kids & Families
🥋 No-Gi
🥋 Wrestling
📍 Leaside, Toronto
Start your Jiu-Jitsu journey together at Greenwood Jiu-Jitsu.