Smoking sucks. BJJ / Grappling rules. Chances are you agree with me.

The three above statements are my summary of the poll that I suggested to Caleb at the Fightworks Podcast  a couple of weeks ago. They were kind enough to run it and here is a table of the results


Firstly, a huge thank you to Caleb and Dan for taking this poll idea and making it happen. I know they are very keen on understanding the BJJ / Grappling community better and these polls always help.

Secondly, it’s very important to understand how to handle statistics or we would be trying to “use a ruler to measure the circumference of an orange”. We can’t really prove anything with statistics, but we can state with strong probability that something is likely or unlikely which in a lot of cases is more than enough.


Looking at the above numbers, we can state with strong probability that:

1. The hypothesis “People are likely to start smoking after they start at BJJ / Grappling” is most likely untrue

2. The hypothesis “People are likely to stop smoking after they start at BJJ / Grappling” is most likely true

3. The hypothesis “Smokers are likely to smoke less after they start at BJJ / Grappling” is most likely true

This is huge, I’m sure you agree. Not only for those who DO smoke, but for a very vulnerable demographic – young people. If the third statement isn’t a reason for people to sign their teenage boys and girls up to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes, I don’t know what is.

 
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6 comments:

A.D. McClish said...

That is awesome!! Congrats to everyone who was either able to quit smoking entirely or to decrease the amount they smoke! Who would have thought that paying to get choked out and to have your joints bent the wrong way would be so beneficial to your health!! ;)

Liam H Wandi said...

Thanks Allie. Yeah exactly!

It's just a giant nicotine patch really :)

That's why I loooove this sport. It enriches your life and those around you.

Steve said...

I quit after 14 years of 1 to 2 pack a day smoking. I don't know how anyone can smoke and train in BJJ. Just the thought makes me tired.

Meerkatsu said...

My karate sensei would have apuff just before class. I didn't question it at the time - he was a BB afterall and his ki skills could negate something so trivial as lung cancer. Sadly he couldn't neutralise his stale cigarette pong that pervaded the dojo each lesson. I'm glad I partake in a sport that is so obviously free from smokers. Yuk!

Get Beasty BJJ said...

Yep - I would be one of those who began BJJ & stopped smoking altogether.

Kind of hard to roll for very long when your lungs are caked with tar...

Liam H Wandi said...

@ Steve and Beasty, stories like that are so awesome! One of the courses I'm studying is called "Social Marketing" and the money spent by cigarette manufacturers' marketing, cigarette consumers and and anti-smoking campaigns put together is ginormous!! Imagine all the good all that money could achieve!! Many congrats on your victories!

@Meerkatsu, Keiji Tomiyama mentions in Fundamentals of Karate-do that university Karate (which is probab the biggest demographic) in Japan is littered with smokers! Senseis, students...everyone smoked as a sign of coming of age. They'd even have a smoke break half way thru the 3 hour sessions.

YUK!

Gotta love the jits :)