About Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian jiu-jitsu (/dʒuːˈdʒɪtsuː/; Portuguese: [ˈʒiw ˈʒitsu], [ˈʒu ˈʒitsu], [dʒiˈu dʒiˈtsu]) (BJJ) is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system
that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting. The art was brought to Brazil by Mitsuyo Maeda (1878-1941), a student of Kodokan Judo with a history of
challenging and interacting with other combat arts.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu promotes the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger assailant by using leverage and proper technique – most notably by applying joint-locks and chokeholds to defeat the other person. BJJ training can be used for sport grappling tournaments (gi and no-gi) and mixed martial arts (MMA) competition or self defense.[2] Sparring (commonly referred to as "rolling") and live drilling play a major role in training, and a
premium is placed on performance, especially in competition, in relation to progress and ascension through its ranking system.
that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting. The art was brought to Brazil by Mitsuyo Maeda (1878-1941), a student of Kodokan Judo with a history of
challenging and interacting with other combat arts.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu promotes the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger assailant by using leverage and proper technique – most notably by applying joint-locks and chokeholds to defeat the other person. BJJ training can be used for sport grappling tournaments (gi and no-gi) and mixed martial arts (MMA) competition or self defense.[2] Sparring (commonly referred to as "rolling") and live drilling play a major role in training, and a
premium is placed on performance, especially in competition, in relation to progress and ascension through its ranking system.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Lineage
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is known as more than just a system of fighting. Since its inception in 1914, its parent art of judo was separated from older systems of
Japanese jujutsu by an important difference that was passed on to BJJ: it is not solely a martial art: it is also a sport; a method for promoting physical
fitness and building character in young people; and, ultimately, a way (Do) of life.
Mitsuyo Maeda, a member of the Kodokan, was one of five of judo's top groundwork experts that judo's founder Kano Jigoro sent overseas to
demonstrate and spread his art to the world. Maeda had trained first in sumo as a teenager, and after the interest generated by stories about the success of
judo at contests between judo and jujutsu that were occurring at the time, he changed from sumo to judo, becoming a student of Kano's Kodokan judo.[5] Maeda
left Japan in 1904 and visited a number of countries[5] giving "jiu-do" demonstrations and accepting challenges from wrestlers, boxers, savate fighters
and various other martial artists before eventually arriving in Brazil on November 14, 1914.
Gastão Gracie was a business partner of the American Circus in Belém. In 1916, Italian Argentine circus Queirolo Brothers staged shows there and presented Mayeda. In 1917, Carlos Gracie, the eldest son of Gastão Gracie, watched a demonstration by Maeda at the Da Paz Theatre and decided to learn judo. Maeda accepted Carlos as a student and Carlos learned for a few years, eventually passing his knowledge on to his brothers.
At age fourteen, Hélio Gracie, the youngest of the brothers, moved in with his older brothers who lived and taught Jiu-Jitsu in a house in Botafogo. Following a doctor's recommendations, Hélio would spend the next few years being limited to watching his brothers teach as he was naturally frail. Over time, Hélio Gracie gradually developed Gracie Jiu Jitsu as an adaptation from Judo, as he was unable to perform many Judo moves.Hélio Gracie also held the rank of 6th dan in judo.
Although Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is largely identified with the Gracie family, there is also another prominent lineage from Mayeda via another Brazilian disciple, Luis França. This lineage had been represented particularly by Oswaldo Fadda. Fadda and his students were famous for influential use of footlocks[11] and the lineage still survives through Fadda's links with today's teams such as Nova União and Grappling Fight Team.
Hélio Gracie had competed in several submission-based competitions which mostly ended in him winning. One defeat (in Brazil in 1951) was by visiting Japanese
judoka Masahiko Kimura, whose surname the Gracies gave to the arm lock used to defeat Hélio. The Gracie family continued to develop the system throughout the
20th century, often fighting full-contact matches (precursors to modern MMA), during which it increased its focus on ground fighting and refined its techniques.
Today, the main differences between the BJJ styles is between traditional Gracie Jiu-Jitsu's emphasis on self-defense, and Sport Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu's orientation towards competition. There is a large commonality of techniques between the two. Also, there is a wide variety of ideals in training in different schools in terms of the utilization of pure or yielding technique versus skillful application of pressure to overcome an opponent.
Japanese jujutsu by an important difference that was passed on to BJJ: it is not solely a martial art: it is also a sport; a method for promoting physical
fitness and building character in young people; and, ultimately, a way (Do) of life.
Mitsuyo Maeda, a member of the Kodokan, was one of five of judo's top groundwork experts that judo's founder Kano Jigoro sent overseas to
demonstrate and spread his art to the world. Maeda had trained first in sumo as a teenager, and after the interest generated by stories about the success of
judo at contests between judo and jujutsu that were occurring at the time, he changed from sumo to judo, becoming a student of Kano's Kodokan judo.[5] Maeda
left Japan in 1904 and visited a number of countries[5] giving "jiu-do" demonstrations and accepting challenges from wrestlers, boxers, savate fighters
and various other martial artists before eventually arriving in Brazil on November 14, 1914.
Gastão Gracie was a business partner of the American Circus in Belém. In 1916, Italian Argentine circus Queirolo Brothers staged shows there and presented Mayeda. In 1917, Carlos Gracie, the eldest son of Gastão Gracie, watched a demonstration by Maeda at the Da Paz Theatre and decided to learn judo. Maeda accepted Carlos as a student and Carlos learned for a few years, eventually passing his knowledge on to his brothers.
At age fourteen, Hélio Gracie, the youngest of the brothers, moved in with his older brothers who lived and taught Jiu-Jitsu in a house in Botafogo. Following a doctor's recommendations, Hélio would spend the next few years being limited to watching his brothers teach as he was naturally frail. Over time, Hélio Gracie gradually developed Gracie Jiu Jitsu as an adaptation from Judo, as he was unable to perform many Judo moves.Hélio Gracie also held the rank of 6th dan in judo.
Although Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is largely identified with the Gracie family, there is also another prominent lineage from Mayeda via another Brazilian disciple, Luis França. This lineage had been represented particularly by Oswaldo Fadda. Fadda and his students were famous for influential use of footlocks[11] and the lineage still survives through Fadda's links with today's teams such as Nova União and Grappling Fight Team.
Hélio Gracie had competed in several submission-based competitions which mostly ended in him winning. One defeat (in Brazil in 1951) was by visiting Japanese
judoka Masahiko Kimura, whose surname the Gracies gave to the arm lock used to defeat Hélio. The Gracie family continued to develop the system throughout the
20th century, often fighting full-contact matches (precursors to modern MMA), during which it increased its focus on ground fighting and refined its techniques.
Today, the main differences between the BJJ styles is between traditional Gracie Jiu-Jitsu's emphasis on self-defense, and Sport Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu's orientation towards competition. There is a large commonality of techniques between the two. Also, there is a wide variety of ideals in training in different schools in terms of the utilization of pure or yielding technique versus skillful application of pressure to overcome an opponent.
Tournaments
Tournaments - Competitions are common place for BJJ and Grappling students.
Grappling
Grappling refers to techniques, maneuvers, and counters applied to an opponent in order to gain a physical advantage, such as improving relative position, escaping, submitting, or injury to the opponent. Grappling is a general term that covers techniques used in many disciplines, styles and martial arts that are practiced both as combat sports and for self defense. Grappling does not typically include striking or most commonly the use of weapons, however some grappling disciplines teach tactics that include strikes and weapons either alongside grappling or as part of it.
Types of grappling
There are many different regional styles of grappling around the world that are practiced within a limited geographic area
or country. Several grappling styles like Judo, Shoot wrestling, Catch wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Sambo and several types of wrestling including
Freestyle and Greco-Roman have gained global popularity. Judo, Freestyle Wrestling, and Greco-Roman Wrestling are Olympic Sports while Brazilian
Jiu-jitsu and Sambo have their own World Championship Competitions. Other known grappling-oriented systems are shuai jiao, malla-yuddha, aikido and
hapkido.
In these arts, the object is either to take down and pin the opponent, or to catch the adversary in a specialized chokehold or joint lock
which forces him or her to submit and admit defeat or be rendered helpless (unconscious or broken limbs). There are two forms of dress for grappling that
dictate pace and style of action: with a jacket, such as a gi[3] or kurtka, and without. The jacket, or "gi", form most often utilizes grips on the cloth to
control the opponent's body, while the "no-gi" form emphasizes body control of the torso and head using only the natural holds provided by the body. The use of
a jacket is compulsory in judo competition, sambo competition, and most Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition, as well as a variety of folk wrestling styles
around the world. Jackets are not used in many forms of wrestling, such as Olympic Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.
Grappling techniques are also used in mixed martial arts along with striking techniques. Strikes can be used to set up grappling techniques and vice-versa.
FILA
FILA Grappling is a competition format used by FILA. Also called "submission wrestling" or "submission grappling", this discipline and sport consists of controlling the opponent without using striking, in standing position or on the ground after a throw.
ADCC
The ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship is a prestigious full range (takedown, position, and submission inclusive) grappling tournament around the world.
Mundials
The World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, also commonly called the Mundials (Portuguese for "Worlds"), is the most prestigious jacketed full range (takedown, position, and submission inclusive) grappling tournament in the world. (IBJJF)
or country. Several grappling styles like Judo, Shoot wrestling, Catch wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Sambo and several types of wrestling including
Freestyle and Greco-Roman have gained global popularity. Judo, Freestyle Wrestling, and Greco-Roman Wrestling are Olympic Sports while Brazilian
Jiu-jitsu and Sambo have their own World Championship Competitions. Other known grappling-oriented systems are shuai jiao, malla-yuddha, aikido and
hapkido.
In these arts, the object is either to take down and pin the opponent, or to catch the adversary in a specialized chokehold or joint lock
which forces him or her to submit and admit defeat or be rendered helpless (unconscious or broken limbs). There are two forms of dress for grappling that
dictate pace and style of action: with a jacket, such as a gi[3] or kurtka, and without. The jacket, or "gi", form most often utilizes grips on the cloth to
control the opponent's body, while the "no-gi" form emphasizes body control of the torso and head using only the natural holds provided by the body. The use of
a jacket is compulsory in judo competition, sambo competition, and most Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition, as well as a variety of folk wrestling styles
around the world. Jackets are not used in many forms of wrestling, such as Olympic Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.
Grappling techniques are also used in mixed martial arts along with striking techniques. Strikes can be used to set up grappling techniques and vice-versa.
FILA
FILA Grappling is a competition format used by FILA. Also called "submission wrestling" or "submission grappling", this discipline and sport consists of controlling the opponent without using striking, in standing position or on the ground after a throw.
ADCC
The ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship is a prestigious full range (takedown, position, and submission inclusive) grappling tournament around the world.
Mundials
The World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, also commonly called the Mundials (Portuguese for "Worlds"), is the most prestigious jacketed full range (takedown, position, and submission inclusive) grappling tournament in the world. (IBJJF)