Out of all of the new clubs that have emerged in recent years, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is rapidly growing at LHS.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a form of martial arts and self-defense focused on different grappling submission techniques without actually striking one’s opponent. The club enables students to learn about self-defense, practice self-control and gain confidence.

This club is open to students from LHS and from Liberty North, and practices are held every Thursday from 4:30 to 6:00 PM in the LNHS Wrestling Room.

Many practices are spent learning new moves and perfecting the techniques they are taught.

“[At practices,] there’s up to 30 guys, and we drill some moves,” senior Alex yates said. “Mr. Wheeler demonstrates for us first, and then we go back with a partner and try to do it ourselves, and try to perfect that move.”

Physical activity and fitness are extremely important aspects of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but a lot of learning and practicing is involved as well.

“It’s a learning process,” sophomore Isaac Elliott said. [We] just keep learning different moves, and then after a few weeks you use what you’ve learned and try to spar with other people. It’s really fun.”

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can be a great outlet for students who are not interested in traditional sports, but still want to be active and get involved in something at LHS.

“The club was created so that high school students can learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in a fun, safe environment and do it for free,” Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu sponsor Joe Wheeler said. “It’s an alternative to regular high school sports, and something to participate in [where] they can make a lot of new friends. It helps them be a better person.”

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s membership has also sparked the interest in female students at LHS.

“The first time I went I was actually the only girl, but now there’s about 10 girls,” junior Justice Thompson said.

Not only are more females getting involved in the club, but also the overall membership of the club has more than tripled in the year it has been at LHS.

“We started off with about five kids originally, and now we have over 30 kids at each practice. So the club is growing, and lots of people now know that we have it,” Wheeler said. “Lots of other Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools in the community know about us, they come and practice with us and we train with them as well.”

As LHS’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu club continues to grow, members are learning more and more about the art of this unique self-defense system and even more about themselves.

“I’ve realized that I’m a lot stronger than I think I am,” Thompson said. “In reality, I would never really try something new on occasion, but trying new things is good because I never thought I would like it and I do. And I’ve also learned a lot of self-defense moves.”

Yates agreed.

“I’ve never had to use it in real life” he said. “But I feel like I would be prepared if I had to.”

More information about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can be found on their website, www.libertyjiujitsu.weebly.com.