The Mat as a Masculinity Proving Ground: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Beyond Technique
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is often considered a technical martial art focused on leverage, technique, and strategy. Yet beneath the surface, the mat frequently becomes a stage where deeper issues of masculinity, identity, and emotional struggle play out. For many practitioners, BJJ is is a complex arena where questions of insecurity, dominance, and self-worth are unconsciously worked through. Masculinity and Identity in BJJ BJJ communities are predominantly male and deeply in
