A growing number of Permian Basin residents are pointing to the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu workout they learned at Midland BJJ as a way of relieving stress.
Army veteran Michael Gutierrez served six-years, including time overseas, but he insists his time at Midland BJJ helps to ease his mind.
“I came in very depressed,” he told Your Basin. “Hard days, long days at work just hard to get through and coming to Midland BJJ gave me something to look forward to daily.”
Gutierrez added Jiu-Jitsu helps him test his patience.
“It tests a lot of muscles in your brain a lot, especially with some of the moves you get into,” he said. ”It tests your mental patients a lot as well, so overall, I’ll say do Brazilian Jitsu if you have PTSD.”
Others, like Banaise Blake, have come to swear by the routine in other ways as well, like helping keep his promise of staying in better shape.
“I’m in my 40s; it’s always a challenge when you hit 40,” Blake said. “Jitsu is filled with people just like you who are going through tough times; stress from work. We have veterans here with PTSD; everybody has got something that’s weighing on them; jiu-jitsu is a great way to come in and connect with people like that.”