Transforming trauma with Jiu-jitsu : a guide for survivors, therapists, and Jiu-jitsu practitioners to facilitate embodied recovery

Heal from trauma and PTSD with the martial art of jiu-jitsu--written for survivors, mental health therapists, and trauma-informed martial arts instructors. This groundbreaking book introduces jiu-jitsu as a powerful embodied modality for trauma survivors in recovery, and includes 10 grounding practices, self-defense techniques, and 30 instructional photos. Unhealed trauma--from “little t” traumas to complex PTSD--leaves a lasting imprint on the bodies and minds of survivors. And in the aftermath of trauma, many people experience shifts in how they feel, connect with others, and interact with the world at large. This embodied, whole-person approach will help you heal the wounds of traumatic stress and how it shows up within yourself and your relationships, from disembodiment and numbness to anger, fear, anxiety, confusion, and dissociation. As part of a martial arts trauma recovery program, you’ll learn about: • Trauma, embodiment, and the transformative power of jiu-jitsu • Self-defense skills that can help survivors of violence define boundaries and feel safe, secure, powerful, and at home in their bodies • Creating a welcoming, responsive practice space as a studio owner • Integrating jiu-jitsu practice into a safe, accessible recovery protocol for survivors--and how therapists can recommend them to clients or build them into a treatment plan Written for trauma survivors, mental health clinicians, and martial arts practitioners and studio owners who want to create a safe, empowering, and trauma-sensitive space, Transforming Trauma with Jiu-Jitsu is a unique and vital guide to healing trauma’s invisible wounds. Title Page Praise for Transforming Trauma with Jiu-Jitsu Copyright Dedication Acknowledgments Basic Jiu-Jitsu Glossary One: The Transformative Power of Jiu-Jitsu Jiu-Jitsu and Martial Arts as Healing Practices What Makes Jiu-Jitsu Special? How to Use This Book Two: Trauma and Embodiment Finding the Magic in a Wounded Body-Mind Complex Working the Edge and Other Essential Knowledge What Jiu-Jitsu Offers Survivors of Trauma Three: An Expanded History of Jiu-Jitsu and Jiu-Jitsu Philosophy A Brief History of Jiu-Jitsu Jiu-Jitsu Philosophy and Approaches to Life Four: Trauma-Sensitive Jiu-Jitsu—Yes, It’s a Thing What Is Trauma-Sensitive Jiu-Jitsu? Preparing Ourselves for Jiu-Jitsu as Survivors of Trauma Building a Toolbox Applying the Toolbox in Jiu-Jitsu and in Life Five: For Trauma Survivors: Defining Trauma-Sensitive Jiu-Jitsu Six: For Trauma Survivors: What to Expect The Need Healthy Awareness and Vigilance vs. Hypervigilance Why Do Jiu-Jitsu Techniques Work? Seven: For Clinicians, Therapists, and Educators Vetting Your Jiu-Jitsu Facilities and Instructors for Partnership Identifying Goals and Intentions Helping Clients Orient and Examine Their Choices Clinician Involvement Eight: For Jiu-Jitsu Instructors Your Potential Impact Language and Instructional Approaches for Communicating on the Mats Rising Above the Violence: A Choice Available After Safety Is Established Nine: Conclusions and Future Directions An Unexpected Shift How Can We Better Serve Trauma Survivors? Final Thoughts Appendix Resources and Further Study Books Websites & Podcasts Endnotes Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Index About the Authors About North Atlantic Books