What Is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
A ground-based grappling martial art, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu utilizes levers, momentum, angles, pressure, speed, pacing and knowledge of how the human body moves in order to submit, control and ultimately defeat an opponent. Students will become comfortable in the most uncomfortable of situations, learning how not to panic and to turn seemingly bad positioning into their advantage. It does take many dedicated years of learning the endless techniques, all the guards, sweeps, submissions, joint manipulations, and attacks needed to grow in the great sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. However, the rewards from the “Gentle Art” include self discipline, confidence, self defense, incredible friendships and a love of learning.
History Of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Many people learn about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu through the UFC and Mixed Martial Arts. This is because BJJ is a major component of MMA and in fact the first champion of the UFC was Royce Gracie, son of the one of the founders of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. In fact, BJJ as a martial art has its routes in traditional Japanese Jiu Jitsu that goes back thousands of years. The way it came to us today was by Mitsuyo Maeda in 1917. Back then Maeda’s Jiu Jitsu had more Judo elements, still used today as BJJ starts standing, and when he started teaching Carlos Gracie this was a part of he learning. It was when Carlos younger, smaller brother Helio Gracie started tinkering and experimenting that in 1925 the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu we know today was born. As the Gracie Brothers and then eventual sons would develop and grow our martial art, the world would be fully introduced to BJJ in 1993 when Royce would go on to win all his UFC fights by submission.
Today there are thousands of gyms with tens of thousands of students all pushing the sport to new levels. Unlike other martial arts, BJJ is a earned skill set that doesn’t promote belts based on learned forms or performances. To even be promoted to Black Belt you must be at least 19 as our famous red bar belts are the most respected in all of martial arts. You must commit the time to learn the craft and ability to do Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and continually work on moves through drilling and live rounds. With that you will take away the confidence to defend yourself in the real world, you will be fit and ready for anything that comes your way, it is a great way to let off stress and know that you are doing something difficult to better yourself. And our favorite part is that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is for everyone. No matter your size, age, gender, BJJ was created so a smaller person could defend themselves against a larger opponent.