Wars of Wrestling

What Is BJJ?

What is bjj? It's both a martial art and a combat sport that targets on grappling control for you to submit your foe.

Many of the moves were adapted from judo and jiu-jitsu. Picking up how to perform the actual technique allows even a smaller and more frail person to subdue someone that is stronger which is why it's also used in self-defense classes.

BJJ appeared as recently as in the 1920’s. It only gained world renown recognition after Royce Gracie was victorious at the UFC tournament four times after it was established in 1993. As a result, several academies are now instructing this sport.

One can probably say that its significance as a sport is second to football.  There are tournaments held often such as the European Championships, the Mundials and the Pan Am Games

If you want to be successful in bjj, repetition is key and the sole way you can do that is via training and rolling. This signifies going against a live and resisting opponent under realistic conditions while at the same time being careful not to inflict any serious injuries.

During sparring and tournaments, wrestlers are mandated to don the kimono. It looks just like what you would have on when you train judo. The difference is that the uniform has tighter cuffs on both the jacket and pants.

Submissions in bjj are achieved either through chokes or joint locks. Choking as you know involves constricting the windpipe so the person is unable to breathe. Apart from that, there's also what is known as strangling which collapses the carotid artery. Choking is less efficient than strangles and can cause permanent damage or death which is why the latter is used more frequently during competition.

As for joint locks which are probably safer, what you are doing is creating a lever with the body position which forces the joint to move past its normal range of motion. This is otherwise known as hyperextension and since there is no escape out of it, the opponent has no other action but to surrender. 

Anyone can learn jiu-jitsu. As you grow, you get promoted to the next belt level. Noobs start with the white and move their way towards the red belt. For those who are under 15 years of age, you progress your way from white to green belt.

How fast you grow depends on the amount of time the person invests and how quickly they learn. To get to the elite class for example, it requires at least 10 years or even more.

With BJJ making its mark in the world scene, you won’t have a hard time finding a gymnasium that is offering classes. The only thing you have to do now is use your time wisely since this is done in a group and you're just one of several that are learning the ropes of this martial art. As a newbie, you do not have to get a kimono so just come in wearing a shirt and board shorts.  If you are trying to find a bjj blog that doesn't take it too seriously, you should check out doyoubjj.com.