ABOUT BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was developed for a small person to be able to defeat a larger, stronger opponent through the use of leverage and positioning. The goal is always to establish dominant position then submit your opponent using chokes, armbars, footlocks, or other joint manipulations.
“The main emphasis in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is to dominate the opponent through application of technique used to force them to quit (submit).”
The art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is unique not just because of the sophistication of its techniques, but for the realism of its training methods. No other art allows you to train at 100% without hurting your training partners.
All training workouts generally hit three main areas:
- A warm-up that builds the level of general conditioning
- Introduction of new techniques
- Sparring, which is an opportunity to practice the techniques against a resisting training partner
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one of the fastest growing martial arts in the United States. California has the most schools and tournaments outside of Brazil than any other state. Sporting events such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and reality shows such as the Ultimate Fighter have put Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on the map as a respected martial art.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
“Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art based on grappling and ground fighting techniques.”
The aim of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is to control and subdue a larger and stronger opponent through the use of superior techniques, leverage, and body mechanics. With an emphasis on grappling rather than striking, students are able to practice with varying levels of intensity, without the threat of serious injuries which can occur more often in martial arts focused on punching and kicking.
Traditionally, the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu student practices in a gi or kimono, a martial arts uniform similar to a judo outfit. In recent years, many schools and academies have incorporated no-gi BJJ, commonly referred to as submission wrestling, to their teaching curriculum. In no-gi BJJ, students typically wear t-shirts and shorts, instead of the typical gi.
In the late 1920s Grand Master Helio Gracie started developing Gracie or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu after he realized that he was too frail to utilize the traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu techniques. Over the past 80 years, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu has proven to be the most reliable system for a smaller person to defeat a larger, more athletic opponent. The techniques of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu are based on precise timing and effective use of leverage so that virtually anyone can do them, man or woman, regardless of their age or athletic ability.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is primarily a ground-fighting art. Most techniques involve both fighters on the mat. There is a heavy emphasis on positional strategy, which is about which fighter is on top, and where each person’s legs are. Positions are stable situations, from which a large variety of techniques are available to both fighters.
The primary positions include:
- Guard: The person applying the guard is on the bottom with his back on the ground; his legs are wrapped around his opponent’s hips (who is said to be “in the guard”).
- Side control: Chest-on-chest but without the legs being entangled.
- Mount: On top of his opponent (who “is mounted”), sitting on his chest, with one leg on either side of his torso.
- Back Position: Behind his opponent, with his feet hooked around his opponent’s hips and upper thighs.
Specific techniques taught are designed either to improve one’s position (for example, to “pass the guard”, by going from being “in the guard” to getting around the opponent’s legs, resulting in side control); or else as a finishing submissions. Most submissions are either chokes (cutting off the blood supply to the brain) or arm locks (hyperextending the elbow, or twisting the shoulder).
Belt ranks start at white belt, and progress through blue, purple, brown, and then black. It generally takes about 2-3 years of training multiple times per week to be promoted to the next belt rank. However, there is no formal rank test. Instead, rank is about the ability to apply jiu-jitsu techniques in a competitive match. A student generally needs to be able to reliably defeat most other students at a given rank in order to be promoted to the next rank.
Given the jiu-jitsu roots, and the interest in competition, occasionally related techniques are taught. In each case, other specific martial arts focus on these sets of techniques more than BJJ, and they generally just receive passing mention and rare practice in BJJ training. For example, takedowns tend to be similar to Judo and western wrestling; leg locks (such as in Sambo) are not encouraged but sometimes allowed. Some schools teach street self-defense or weapon defense as well; this instruction tends to be much more like old-style Japanese jiu-jitsu with partner practice, and rarely impacts the day-to-day grappling training. Also, many dedicated BJJ students are also interested in MMA competition, and attempt to practice their techniques without a gi, and sometimes with adding striking from boxing or Muay Thai.
BRAZILLIAN JIU JITSU
Brazilian jiu jitsu is a grappling-based martial art whose central theme is the skill of controlling a resisting opponent in ways that force him to submit. Due to the fact that control is generally easier on the ground than in a standing position, much of the technique of Brazilian jiu jitsu is centered round the skill of taking an opponent down to the ground and wrestling for dominant control positions from where the opponent can be rendered harmless. To control and overcome greater size, strength and aggression with lesser size and strength is the keynote of the sport. This is done by utilizing superior leverage, grip and position upon your opponent. Students of the sport gain a deep understanding of the workings and limits of the human body. This knowledge can be used to subdue and control an opponent with whatever level of severity the student chooses. The path to this knowledge is physically and mentally demanding. Students benefit from greatly increased physical fitness, problem-solving ability, self-knowledge of their body and mind and the many social benefits of working within a large group of like-minded fellow students as you learn and have fun together.
Many students first learn about jiu jitsu through the great popularity of mixed martial arts (MMA) competition, where Brazilian jiu jitsu technique is very prominent. Indeed, the beginnings of the contemporary MMA competition were largely tied up with proving the combat-efficiency of Brazilian jiu jitsu . The practice of Brazilian jiu jitsu as a sport, however, is strongly separated from MMA. Daily classes do not feature kicking or punching. The focus is on safe grappling technique that can be done on a daily basis with no more fear of injury than any other contact sport. While there is a professional MMA team at the FIT FIGHTING, the great majority of students study only the grappling sport and find that this is the most enjoyable and satisfying route to take.
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Philosophy:
The application of traditional Gracie Jiu-Jitsu transcends the practice of chokes, joint locks immobilizations, throws and strikes. A true Gracie philosophy prepares men, women and children for life, showing them paths to a healthier life and the most effective use of physical, mental and spiritual strength. Eating well is Jiu-Jitsu, taking care of your body is Jiu-Jitsu, saying no to cigarettes, alcohol and drugs is Jiu-Jitsu, as well as keeping a close bond with relatives and friends. This philosophy, which can be called a “way of life”, has been propagated by Grand Master Helio Gracie for almost a century.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art and combat sport that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting with the goal of gaining a dominant position from which to force an attacker to submit. The system developed from a modified version of pre-World War II Judo including some techniques from Japanese Jujutsu and with a focus on ne-waza (ground technique). It promotes the principle that a smaller, weaker person using leverage and proper technique can successfully defend themselves against a bigger, stronger assailant.
Submission
By using the techniques of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a smaller practitioner, male or female, can control much larger and stronger opponents and actually force the larger opponent to submit. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu literally translates to, “the gentle art.” The philosophy is that not only can you, but that you actually should, learn to avoid the use of strength. Controlling your emotions, you should be able to obtain a position of dominance without using your strength, rather than necessarily immediately attempting to make the opponent submit.
Application
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can be trained for self defense, sport grappling tournaments – gi and no-gi, and mixed martial arts (MMA) competition. Sparring and live drilling play a major role in training, and a premium is placed on performance, especially in competition.
The live component of the art creates some of the most realistic real-world preparation available in the martial arts world today. It is one thing to be able to drill with an accomodating training partner, and quite another to be able to dominate someone who is resisting you, especially someone also skilled. You will not find someone in the street whose movements will be ‘cooperative’.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gives you the advantage of knowing what to do on the ground, where the vast majority of fights end up, whether it is by the clumsy nature of fighting itself, or because one of the combatants directed it there. Most people have no idea what to do once they’ve fallen.