People study martial arts for a variety of reasons. Some seek fitness, while others use the arts for a healthy way of life. Still, others, who study martial arts want an effective form of self-defense. Brazilian jiu-jitsu is viewed by many as one of the most effective martial arts.
Jocko Willink is a retired navy seal. During a discussion about martial arts, he listed Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as the first art to learn, saying "Because it's going to teach you how to handle, yourself when that combative situation gets into a grappling scenario, and you're on the ground and you need to get up and get away or protect yourself while you're on the ground. That's the best one to learn."
Jiu-jitsu is also viewed as being one of the most effective forms of martial arts is due to the fact that it allows a smaller opponent to defend against larger opponents. Experienced martial artist, and television personality, Joe Rogan spoke about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu saying "When we saw the Bruce Lee movies, and Bruce Lee is a smaller guy can beat all these guys because he had better technique. That is actually real in Jiu-Jitsu. It's one of the only martial arts where that's real... little guys are the best to learn technique from because they can't rely on strength.
Beyond practical use, the art, which has attracted people of all ages, it is a cerebral martial art. Willink continued saying "There is something more in Jiu-Jitsu that gets into people's heads... You get this kid, some smart kid, and you can tell they are smart, those are the kids that get really into Jiu-Jitsu. They realize 'Oh if I learn this, I can beat that big kid.'"
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is also extremely effective because many fights go to the ground. One the ground a jiu-jitsu practitioner can defend and neutralize an opponent.