Source: REUTERS/Craig Brough
[Saba Sports News] Recently, 23-year-old Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes revealed in an interview that learning Jiu-Jitsu has significantly impacted his performance on the pitch. Gomes stated, “Learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has improved my football skills. It has greatly helped my flexibility and agility. Before trying Jiu-Jitsu, I felt I was lacking in both areas. I used to experience a lot of pain. Jiu-Jitsu has given me a strong resistance to pain. It has also helped improve my physical fitness. So practicing Jiu-Jitsu has brought many benefits to my football career.” Many people think Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is just a martial art related to violence. However, Gomes believes there are many other important factors. “The ability to use an opponent’s strength against them is very appealing to me. Although it is a martial art, it relies more on using the brain than on physical strength. So it has some similarities with top-level football, as many matches are played in the mind. It is more of a mental than a physical contest, and in this regard, the two are similar.”