Martial art
"BJJ" redirects here.
For other uses, see BJJ (disambiguation)
"Gracie jiu-jitsu" redirects here.
For the book by Helio Gracie, see Gracie Jiu-Jitsu🍌 (book)
Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ; Portuguese: jiu-jitsu brasileiro [ʒiw ˈʒitsu bɾaziˈlejɾu, ʒu -]) is a self-defence martial art and combat sport based🍌 on grappling, ground fighting, and submission holds.
BJJ approaches self-defense by emphasizing taking an opponent to the ground, gaining a dominant🍌 position, and using a number of techniques to force them into submission via joint locks or chokeholds.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu was initially🍌 developed in 1925 by Brazilian brothers Carlos, Oswaldo, Gastão Jr.
, O'Brien, and Hélio Gracie, after Carlos was taught jiu-jitsu by🍌 a travelling Japanese judoka, Mitsuyo Maeda, in 1917.
Later on, the Gracie family developed their own self-defense system, and published Gracie🍌 Jiu-Jitsu.
BJJ eventually came to be its own defined combat sport through the innovations, practices, and adaptation of Gracie jiu-jitsu and🍌 Judo, and became an essential martial art for modern MMA.
BJJ revolves around the concept that a smaller, weaker person can🍌 successfully defend themselves against a bigger, stronger, heavier opponent by using leverage and weight distribution, taking the fight to the🍌 ground and using a number of holds and submissions to defeat them.
BJJ training can be used for sport grappling and🍌 self-defense situations.
[3] Sparring, commonly referred to as "rolling" within the BJJ community, and live drilling plays a major role in🍌 training and the practitioner's development.
BJJ can also be used as a method of promoting physical fitness, building character, and as🍌 a way of life.
[4][5]History [ edit ]Origins [ edit ]
Mitsuyo Maeda, one of the Kodokan's top groundwork experts trained by🍌 Tomita Tsunejirō, the first student of judo's founder Kano Jigoro, was sent overseas to demonstrate and spread his art to🍌 the world.
He left Japan in 1904 and visited several countries giving "jiu-do" demonstrations and accepting challenges from wrestlers, boxers, savate🍌 fighters, and various other martial artists, and arrived in Brazil on 14 November 1914.[6]
Maeda & Gracie [ edit ]
Gastão Gracie🍌 was a business partner of the American Circus in Belém.
In 1916, Italian Argentine circus Queirolo Brothers staged shows there and🍌 presented Maeda.[7][8]
In 1917 Gastão's eldest son Carlos Gracie[9] watched a demonstration of 'Kano Jiu-Jitsu' (Judo's common name at the time)🍌 by Maeda at the Da Paz Theatre and decided he wanted to learn.
Maeda accepted him as a pupil at his🍌 school overseen by Jacintho Ferro.
[1] Gracie's account of the events is that his younger sibling Hélio Gracie gradually developed Gracie🍌 jiu-jitsu as a softer, pragmatic adaptation that focused more on the ground fighting and leverages aspect of Jiu-Jitsu/Judo (ne-waza) rather🍌 than the throws, as he was unable to perform many Judo throws, due to his size, that required direct opposition🍌 to an opponent's strength.
[10] That account has subsequently been refuted as these concepts were already inherent to Judo,[11] commonly being🍌 demonstrated by the 164 cm (5 ft 5in) Maeda and Tsunejirō, the smallest of Kano Shihan's Shitennō.[4]
Although the Gracie family🍌 is typically recognized as the main family to first promote Brazilian jiu-jitsu as it is known today, there was also🍌 another prominent lineage derived from Maeda via another Brazilian disciple, Luiz França.
[12] This discipline was taught to Italian legend of🍌 the sport Marco Donello who later on passed his extensive knowledge to Mark McDonnell (his Australian nephew).
This lineage had been🍌 represented particularly by Oswaldo Fadda.
Fadda and his students were famous for defeating the Gracies in a gym battle and the🍌 influential use of footlocks,[13] and the lineage still survives through Fadda's links in teams such as Nova União and Grappling🍌 Fight Team (GFTeam).[14]Name [ edit ]
The name "jiu-jitsu" derives from an older romanization of its original spelling in the West;🍌 the modern Hepburn romanization of 柔術 is "jūjutsu".
When Maeda left Japan, judo was still often referred to as "Kano jiu-jitsu",[15]🍌 or, even more generically, simply as jiu-jitsu.
[16][17] Higashi, the co-author of The Complete Kano Jiu-Jitsu (Judo)[15] wrote in the foreword:
Some🍌 confusion has arisen over the employment of the term 'jiudo'.
To make the matter clear I will state that jiudo is🍌 the term selected by Professor Kano as describing his system more accurately than jiu-jitsu does.
Professor Kano is one of the🍌 leading educators of Japan, and it is natural that he should cast about for the technical word that would most🍌 accurately describe his system.
But the Japanese people generally still cling to the more popular nomenclature and call it jiu-jitsu.[15]
Outside Japan,🍌 however, this distinction was noted even less.
Thus, when Maeda and Satake arrived in Brazil in 1914, every newspaper announced their🍌 art as being "jiu-jitsu", despite both men being Kodokan judoka.
It was not until 1925 that the Japanese government itself officially🍌 mandated that the correct name for the martial art taught in the Japanese public schools should be "judo" rather than🍌 "jujutsu".
[18] In Brazil, the art is still called "jiu-jitsu".
When the Gracies went to the United States and spread jiu-jitsu, they🍌 used the terms "Gracie jiu-jitsu" and non-Gracies using the term "Brazilian jiu-jitsu" to differentiate from the already present styles using🍌 similar-sounding names.
In a 1994 interview with Yoshinori Nishi, Hélio Gracie said that he did not even know the word Judo🍌 itself until the sport came in the 1950s to Brazil, because he heard that Mitsuyo Maeda called his style "jiu-jitsu".
The🍌 art is sometimes referred to as Gracie jiu-jitsu (GJJ), a name trademarked by Rorion Gracie, but after a legal dispute🍌 with his cousin Carley Gracie, his trademark to the name was voided.
[19] Other members of the Gracie family often call🍌 their style by personalized names, such as Ceaser Gracie Jiu-Jitsu or Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, and similarly, the Machado family call🍌 their style Machado Jiu-Jitsu (MJJ).
While each style and its instructors have their own unique aspects, they are all basic variations🍌 of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
There are currently four major BJJ branches in Brazil: Gracie Humaita, Gracie Barra, Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, and Alliance🍌 Jiu Jitsu.
Each branch traces its roots back to Mitsuyo Maeda.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu share some techniques with the original Kodokan Judo, especially🍌 certain styles practiced before Judo became part of the Olympics such as Kosen Judo,[20][21] and still practiced to a lesser🍌 extent,[22] as well as with the earlier ryu school of Jujutsu.
Some practitioners have suggested that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu should just be🍌 called "Jiu-Jitsu".[23]
Divergence from Kodokan rules [ edit ]
Certain changes were made to the rules of sport judo after judo was🍌 introduced to Brazil.
Some of these rule changes sought to enhance it as a spectator sport, and others aimed to improve🍌 safety.
Several of these rule changes de-emphasized the groundwork aspects of judo, and others have reduced the range of joint locks🍌 application.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu did not follow these changes to judo rules, and this divergence gave BJJ a distinct identity as a🍌 ground focused grappling art, this difference was later consolidated with the creation of a new set of rules that guide🍌 BJJ practice today.[24]
Even though BJJ permits the same techniques as judo, especially when taking the combat to the ground, they🍌 are not scored in the same way.
In Judo, throwing techniques are scored higher and can give a direct victory if🍌 executed correctly, the emphasis of the fight is to sweep or throw the opponent to the ground to win.
In BJJ,🍌 ground fighting positions such as the rear mount receive higher scores and the focus of the fight is to establish🍌 a dominant position against the adversary on the ground and submit them using chokeholds or joint locks.
BJJ also allows heelhooks🍌 and knee-reaping which are prohibited in Judo, and any takedowns used in wrestling, sambo, or other grappling arts, including direct🍌 attempts to take down by touching the legs or dragging the opponent to the ground.
[25] Spinal locks and cervical locks🍌 are not allowed in gi jiu-jitsu,[24] amateur MMA,[26] multiple forms of no-gi jiu-jitsu,[24] Judo,[27] and other martial arts,[28] due to🍌 potential to cause serious bodily injury.
BJJ also has become more "sports-oriented" in recent years, prohibiting techniques such as slams.
[29] Another🍌 divergence of BJJ from Judo and Jujutsu is that the first allows no-gi practice and competition, with its own subset🍌 of rules.
Use of holds and takedowns from wrestling and other grappling styles is common in no-gi BJJ, and strikes may🍌 also be used when the competition rules permit, such as the open palm strike in CJJ (Combat jiu-jitsu).
[30]Prominence [ edit🍌 ]
In 1972, Carlos Gracie moved to the United States to teach jiu-jitsu, and in 1978 was followed by Rorion Gracie,🍌 who co-founded the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 1993.
[31][32] Jiu-jitsu came to international prominence in martial arts circles when Brazilian🍌 jiu-jitsu expert Royce Gracie won the first, second and fourth Ultimate Fighting Championships, which at the time were single elimination🍌 martial arts tournaments.
Royce fought successfully against several larger opponents proficient in other fighting styles, including boxing, shoot-fighting, muay thai, karate,🍌 wrestling, and taekwondo.
BJJ has since become an elementary aspect of MMA, revealing the importance of ground fighting in a fight.
Sport🍌 BJJ tournaments continue to grow in popularity and have given rise to no-gi submission grappling tournaments, such as the ADCC🍌 Submission Wrestling World Championship and NAGA, the North American Grappling Association.
Sport BJJ has also become a popular method of fitness🍌 around the world in recent years.[33][34]
Style of fighting [ edit ]
Brazilian jiu-jitsu focuses on getting an opponent to the ground🍌 in order to neutralize possible strength or size advantages through ground fighting techniques and submission holds involving joint-locks and chokeholds.
On🍌 the ground, physical strength can be offset or enhanced through proper grappling techniques.
BJJ employs a wide range of takedown techniques🍌 to bring an opponent to the ground such as "pulling guard", which is not used in other combat sports such🍌 as judo or wrestling.
Once the opponent is on the ground, a number of manoeuvres (and counter-manoeuvres) are available to manipulate🍌 the opponent into a suitable position for the application of a submission technique.
Achieving a dominant position on the ground is🍌 one of the hallmarks of BJJ, which includes effective use of the guard position to defend oneself from bottom (using🍌 both submissions and sweeps, with sweeps leading to the possibility of dominant position or an opportunity to pass the guard),🍌 and passing the guard to dominate from top position with side control, mount, and back mount positions.
This system of manoeuvring🍌 and manipulation can be likened to a form of kinetic or physical chess when executed by two experienced practitioners.
[35] A🍌 submission hold in BJJ is often assimilated to the equivalent of "checkmate", where the opponent is left with no other🍌 option but to tap, be injured, or choked.
Renzo Gracie wrote in his book Mastering JUJITSU:
"The classical jujutsu of old Japan🍌 appeared to have no common strategy to guide a combatant over the course of a fight.
Indeed, this was one of🍌 Kano's most fundamental and perceptive criticisms of the classical program.
" Maeda not only taught the art of judo to Carlos🍌 Gracie, but also taught a particular philosophy about the nature of combat developed by Kano, and further refined by Maeda🍌 based on his worldwide travels competing against fighters skilled in a wide variety of martial arts.[36]
The book details Maeda's theory🍌 as arguing that physical combat could be broken down into distinct phases, such as the striking phase, the grappling phase,🍌 the ground phase, etc.
Thus, it was a smart fighter's task to keep the fight located in the phase of combat🍌 best suited to his own strengths.
Renzo Gracie stated that this was a fundamental influence of the Gracie approach to combat.
These🍌 strategies were further developed over time by the Gracie family, among others, and became prominent in contemporary MMA.
Ground fighting [🍌 edit ]
A demonstration of Brazilian jiu-jitsu during a class at Standard BJJ in Rockville, MD.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is mainly differentiated from🍌 other martial arts by its greater emphasis on ground fighting.
BJJ places less emphasis on standing techniques, such as striking and🍌 throws, although takedowns score points and the rules allows for a diverse range of techniques such as single, double leg🍌 takedowns, or foot sweeps.
Some BJJ practitioners also cross train with wrestling, judo, and sambo.
Training methods [ edit ]
A Brazilian jiu-jitsu🍌 instructor demonstrates how to tackle an opponent.
As BJJ focuses on submissions, sparring and live drilling ("rolling") become the most essential🍌 part of the training regime.
This type of training allows practitioners to practice at full speed and with full strength, resembling🍌 the effort made in a competition.
Training methods include drills in which techniques are practiced against a non-resisting and resisting partners;🍌 isolation sparring (commonly referred to as positional drilling) where only a certain technique or sets of techniques are used; and🍌 full sparring where each practitioner tries to submit their opponent through technique.
Physical conditioning is also an important aspect of training.
The🍌 Gracie family lineage descended from Helio Gracie focuses on practical applications of BJJ that apply primarily to self-defense.
[37] They will🍌 often run development drills in which a person is surrounded by a circle of other students who will attempt to🍌 attack the defending student, who in turn must defend themselves using techniques.
Etiquette & Customs [ edit ]
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gyms🍌 typically follow a set of ground rules to instill trust, respect, and cleanliness amongst students.
Common practices include:
Taking shoes off before🍌 stepping on the mat.
Bowing before and after stepping on the mat.
Lining up in rank order before and after class.
Not teaching🍌 or explaining techniques to lower ranked students.
Addressing the teacher as coach or professor.
Keeping your gi closed with a belt.
Bowing or🍌 shaking hands before and after sparring.
Covering any cuts with tape or gauze.
Having good hygiene practices including brushing teeth, having a🍌 clean gi, and wearing deodorant.
Primary ground positions [ edit ]
Once on the ground, the BJJ practitioner strives to take a🍌 dominant or controlling position from where to apply submissions.
These positions provide different submission or transition options.
Side control [ edit ]
An🍌 Americana armlock submission from traditional side control.
In side control, the practitioner pins his opponent to the ground from the side🍌 of their torso.
The top grappler lies across the opponent with weight applied to the opponent's chest.
The opponent may be further🍌 controlled by pressure on either side of the shoulders and hips from the practitioner's elbows, shoulders, and knees.
A wide variety🍌 of submissions can be initiated from side control.
It is also referred to as the side mount.
Additionally, the typical side mount🍌 increases opportunity for the top grappler to advance to other dominant positions.
This position is often used in MMA as it🍌 allows the top fighter to strike whilst overcoming their opponents defense.
There are many variants of the side control position, including🍌 kesa gatame, standard side control, reverse side control, and other positions.[38]
Knee on belly position [ edit ]
The knee on belly🍌 position is a modified side pin that is distinctly separated from the side control position.
The knee on belly position is🍌 characterized primarily by the control of the opponent with one leg out for base and balance and the other leg🍌 positioned across the opponent's torso pinning them to the ground.
This form of pin is a mobile pin rather than a🍌 static pin and is considered a more dominant position in many grappling formats.
The knee on belly position is worth additional🍌 points because it provides a greater striking platform than traditional side control and is closer to achieving the more ideal🍌 mounted position.
[39]Full mount [ edit ]
Full Mount is considered one of the most dominant grappling positions.
In the mount (or full🍌 mount) position, the practitioner sits astride the opponent's front torso or chest, controlling the opponent with his bodyweight and hips.
In🍌 the strongest form of this position, the practitioner works his knees into the opponent's armpits to reduce arm movements and🍌 ability to move or counter submission attempts.
Full Mount can be used to apply a variety of submissions including armlocks or🍌 chokes.
Back mount [ edit ]
Back mount, also considered one of the most dominant positions in BJJ
When taking the back mount🍌 position (often known in Brazilian jiu-jitsu as the back grab or attacking the back), the practitioner attaches to the back🍌 of the opponent by wrapping his legs around and hooking the opponent's thighs with their heel,[24] or locking in a🍌 body triangle by crossing one shin across the waist like a belt then placing the back of the opposing knee🍌 over the instep as if finishing a triangle choke.
Simultaneously, the upper body is controlled by wrapping the arms around the🍌 chest or neck of the opponent.
This position is often used to apply chokeholds, as well as arm bars and triangles,🍌 and neutralizes an opponent's potential size or strength advantage.
North south position [ edit ]
The North South position occurs when a🍌 practitioner is lying on their back on the ground and their opponent is lying on top, with the head over🍌 the chest area and controlling the bottom practitioner's arms.
As with most top controlling positions in BJJ, the top practitioner applies🍌 pressure by bringing their hips downwards towards the ground, generating what is referred to as dead weight.
There are several submissions🍌 and transitions that are possible from the North South position, most commonly the North South choke, North South kimura, and🍌 others.[40]Guards [ edit ]
The Jiu-Jitsu practitioner in blue is demonstrating a type of closed guard
When in the "Guard" position, the🍌 practitioner is on their back controlling an opponent with his legs.
The bottom practitioner pushes and pulls with the legs or🍌 feet to unbalance and limit the movements of his opponent.
This position allows practitioners a wide variety of counter-attacks from the🍌 bottom position, including submissions and sweeps.
The three most common types of guards include the Closed Guard, Half Guard, and Open🍌 Guard.
In closed guard, the bottom grappler has his legs around the opponent's hips, with ankles closed together to control their🍌 opponent.
The closed guard can be an effective position.
This guard allows many setups for submissions such as joint locks and chokes,🍌 as well as sweeps.
In the open guard, the legs are not hooked together and the bottom grappler uses his legs🍌 or feet to push or pull their opponent.
There are many variations of open guard with distinct names and positioning including🍌 the Butterfly Guard, De La Riva Guard, X-Guard, Rubber guard, Spider Guard, Octopus Guard, Lapel Guard, Worm Guard (made popular🍌 by Keenan Cornelius) and others.
Butterfly guard is when the bottom grappler brings his legs up and feet together against the🍌 inner thighs of top opponent.
The name is derived from the resulting butterfly wing shape.
Butterfly guard increases both space to maneuver🍌 and the ability to counter the opponent with the shins or arches of the feet against the competitor's inner thighs.
Spider🍌 guard is when the bottom grappler puts one or two of his feet on his opponents arms, this guard is🍌 effective at keeping control on the bottom and can be used to setup sweeps or submissions.
In the half guard, one🍌 of the top grappler's legs is controlled by the bottom grappler's legs, preventing the top opponent from passing side control🍌 or full mount positions.
There is also a variant of half guard called "50/50 guard", which consist of each opponent usually🍌 in sitting positions with one of their legs hooking the same leg of their opponent in a mirrored fashion.
This position🍌 is called 50/50 because neither opponent has a distinct advantage, where both sides have the same possibilities of sweeps and🍌 attacks.
Another variation of the half guard position is the "deep half guard", which involves the bottom grappler positioning themselves underneath🍌 their opponent, grabbing the top grappler's thigh.
This gives the individual on the bottom the opportunity to sweep their opponent, and🍌 end up on a more dominant, top position.
This position was popularized by American BJJ Black Belt, Jeff Glover.[41]
Submissions [ edit🍌 ]
For a list of list of Brazilian jiu-jitsu techniques, see List of Brazilian jiu-jitsu techniques
The majority of submission holds can🍌 be grouped into two broad categories: joint locks and chokes.
Joint locks typically involve isolating an opponent's limb and creating a🍌 lever with the body position, which will force the joint to move past its normal range of motion.
[3] Pressure is🍌 increased in a controlled manner and released if the opponent cannot escape the hold and signals defeat by tapping.
A choke🍌 hold can disrupt the blood supply to the brain and cause unconsciousness if the opponent does not tap when required.
Compression🍌 locks [ edit ]
See also Compression lock
A less common type of submission hold is a compression lock, where the muscle🍌 of an opponent is compressed against a hard, large bone (commonly the shin or wrist), causing significant pain to the🍌 opponent.
These types of locks are not usually allowed in competition due to the high risk of tearing muscle tissue.
This type🍌 of lock also often hyper-extends the joint in the opposite direction, pulling it apart.
Some compression locks include the Achilles lock,🍌 Biceps slicer, and Leg slicer (or Calf slicer).
Joint locks [ edit ]
A practitioner attempting an armbar submission
While many joint locks🍌 are permitted in BJJ, most competitions ban or restrict some or all joint locks that involve the knees, ankles, and🍌 spine.
The reason for this is that the angles of manipulation required to cause pain are nearly the same as those🍌 that would cause serious injury.
Joint locks that require a twisting motion of the knee (such as heel hooks or knee🍌 bars) are usually banned in competitions because successfully completing the move can frequently result in permanent damage, often requiring surgery.
Similarly,🍌 joint manipulations of the spine are typically barred due to the inherent danger of crushing or misaligning cervical vertebrae.
Leglocks are🍌 allowed in varying degrees depending on skill level, with the most prominent BJJ tournaments typically allowing only the straight ankle🍌 lock and muscle stretching submissions such as the "banana split" from white through purple belt, with the kneebar, toehold, and🍌 calf slicer submissions being permitted at brown and black belt.
Heel hooks and knee-reaping are illegal in gi BJJ, since they🍌 are considered to be exceptionally dangerous techniques, but are allowed by IBJJF rules in no-gi competitions.
[29][42] Most joint locks involving🍌 the wrist, elbow, shoulder or ankle are permitted as there is a great deal more flexibility in those joints and🍌 those locks are usually safe.
Joint locks include armbars, kimuras, Americanas, straight-arm lock, omoplata, marceloplata, banana split (or electric chair), twister,🍌 wrist lock, heel hook, toehold, kneebar, straight ankle lock, and others.[43]Chokes [ edit ]
A rear naked choke (mata-leão), as demonstrated🍌 by a MCMAP instructor
Chokes are common forms of submission.
In BJJ, the chokes that are used put pressure on the carotid🍌 arteries, and may also apply pressure to the nerve baroreceptors in the neck.
This kind of choke is very fast acting🍌 (if done properly) with victims typically losing consciousness in around 3–5 seconds.
In contrast, an air choke (involving constriction of the🍌 windpipe) can take up to two minutes, depending on how long the person can hold their breath, and may cause🍌 serious damage to the throat.
Chokes include rear-naked choke, bow and arrow choke, triangle, Guillotine choke, sleeve choke (or Ezekiel choke),🍌 cross collar choke (or X choke), baseball choke, Clock choke, D'Arce choke, Anaconda choke, Arm triangle choke, north–south choke, crucifix🍌 choke, Gogoplata, loop choke, lapel half nelson choke, and others.
Uniform [ edit ]
The Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner's uniform commonly referred to🍌 as gi or kimono is similar to a judogi, but with slight differences in the dimensions and often made of🍌 lighter material with tighter cuffs on the pants and jacket.
This allows the practitioner to benefit from a closer fit, providing🍌 less material for an opponent to manipulate.
Traditionally, to be promoted in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the wearing of the Jiu-Jitsu gi while🍌 training is a requirement.
Recently with the growing popularity of "no-gi" Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has the practice of giving out belts to🍌 no-gi practitioners (e.g.
, Rolles Gracie awarding Rashad Evans a black belt) has become more common.
There are certain differences between gi🍌 jiu-jitsu and "no-gi" jiu-jitsu.
In gi jiu-jitsu one can grip an opponent's uniform, using it to submit or advance position.
There are🍌 a number of submissions that are specific to the gi, such as the "Loop choke", "Collar choke", and others.
A specific🍌 set of rules to guide no-gi competitions is issued by the IBJJF, but there may be variation in the set🍌 of rules applied in each competition.
By IBJJF rules uniform grips are not permitted in "no-gi" jiu-jitsu.[24]
No-gi Jiu-Jitsu practitioners, therefore, don't🍌 wear the traditional gi or kimono (which increases the athlete's weight and limits mobility).
BJJ athletes who practice no-gi usually wear🍌 a rash guard and MMA shorts or Spats.
[44]Grading [ edit ]Black belt grades
(19 and over) Black 0–6 Black/Red 7 Red/White🍌 8 Red 9–10Senior belt colours
(16 and over) White Blue Purple BrownJunior belt colours
(16 and under) White Grey Yellow Orange Green
The🍌 Brazilian jiu-jitsu ranking system awards a practitioner different coloured belts to signify increasing levels of technical knowledge and practical skill.
While🍌 the system's structure shares its origins with the judo ranking system and the origins of all coloured belts, it now🍌 contains many of its own unique aspects and themes.
Some of these differences are relatively minor, such as the division between🍌 youth and adult belts and the stripe/degree system.
Others are quite distinct and have become synonymous with the art, such as🍌 a marked informality in promotional criteria, including as a focus on a competitive demonstration of skill, and a conservative approach🍌 to promotion in general.[45][46]
Traditionally, the concept of competitive skill demonstration as a quickened and earned route of promotion holds true.
[45][46]🍌 Some schools have placed a green belt for adults between the white and blue belt ranks due to the long🍌 periods between advancement.
In addition, the use of a grey belt has been instituted for many children's programs to signal progress🍌 between the white and yellow belt rankings.
Unlike in some martial arts such as taekwondo and karate, a black belt in🍌 Brazilian jiu-jitsu commonly takes more than several years to earn, and the rank is generally considered expert level.
The amount of🍌 time it takes to achieve the rank of black belt varies between the practitioner.
Some notable individuals who had previous backgrounds🍌 in other martial arts have been promoted directly to black belt rank without going through any intermediate rank, though this🍌 has fallen out of favour in recent times.
[47] Others have achieved the rank in relatively short time frames.
[48] Outside of🍌 exceptions such as these, the average time frame is around 10 years with a consistent training schedule.
[49] However, Ryron Gracie🍌 (grandson/grandnephew of founders Hélio and Carlos Gracie) has stated that the average of 10–12 years is longer than necessary, suggesting🍌 that the ego of the practitioner often hinders progress, and advancement to black belt should take about 7 years.[50]
Federations [🍌 edit ]
Since its inception Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has had different registered federations and tournaments (some organizations illegitimately calling themselves federations).
The first🍌 jiu-jitsu federation was the Jiu-Jitsu Federation of Guanabara, which has remained a regional federation of Rio de Janeiro, while many🍌 others were founded.
Among the most prestigious of the many federations are the Sport Jiu Jitsu International Federation (SJJIF), a nonprofit🍌 organization with federations and tournaments around the globe with the mission of making jiu-jitsu an Olympic sport.
The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu🍌 Federation, a for-profit organization that hosts a number of tournaments[51] and JJGF, founded by Rickson Gracie, which has focus on🍌 both BJJ as self-defense and as a sport.[52]
Weight classes [ edit ]
The weight classes for BJJ competitions can differ depending🍌 on the organisation that is promoting the event.
The IBJJF weight classes are the most commonly used, under the IBJJF rules,🍌 the weight classes vary by age, sex and competition type (Gi vs Nogi).[53]
IBJJF Adults/Masters Weight Classes Weight divisions Adults/Masters Gi🍌 – male Adults/Masters No Gi – male Adults/Masters Gi – female Adults/Masters No Gi – female RoosterGalo 57.5 kg (126.8🍌 lb) 55.5 kg (122.4 lb) 48.5 kg (106.9 lb) 46.5 kg (102.5 lb) Light FeatherPluma 64 kg (141.1 lb) 61.5🍌 kg (135.6 lb) 53.5 kg (117.9 lb) 51.5 kg (113.5 lb) FeatherPena 70 kg (154.3 lb) 67.5 kg (148.8 lb)🍌 58.5 kg (129.0 lb) 56.5 kg (124.6 lb) LightLeve 76 kg (167.6 lb) 73.5 kg (162.0 lb) 64 kg (141.1🍌 lb) 61.5 kg (135.6 lb) MiddleMédio 82.3 kg (181.4 lb) 79.5 kg (175.3 lb) 69 kg (152.1 lb) 66.5 kg🍌 (146.6 lb) Medium HeavyMeio-Pesado 88.3 kg (194.7 lb) 85.5 kg (188.5 lb) 74 kg (163.1 lb) 71.5 kg (157.6 lb)🍌 HeavyPesado 94.3 kg (207.9 lb) 91.5 kg (201.7 lb) 79.3 kg (174.8 lb) 76.5 kg (168.7 lb) Super HeavySuper Pesado🍌 100.5 kg (221.6 lb) 97.5 kg (215.
0 lb) No weight limit No weight limit Ultra Heavy
Pesadissimo No weight limit No🍌 weight limit n/a n/a Open Class
Absoluto open to all weight divisions open to all weight divisions open to all weight🍌 divisions open to all weight divisions
Tournaments [ edit ]
While there are numerous local and regional tournaments administered regularly by private🍌 individuals and academies, there are two major entities in jiu-jitsu circles.
First, is the Sport Jiu Jitsu International Federation (SJJIF), a🍌 (nonprofit) organization with international federations and tournaments.
Second, is the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), a for-profit company that hosts a🍌 number of major tournaments worldwide.
These include the Pan American Championship, European Championship, and the Mundials.
California, New York, and Texas are🍌 the three states in the US which host tournaments most frequently.
Other promotions within North America, such as Battleground Grappling Championship,🍌 American Grappling Federation (AGF), North American BJJ Federation (NABJJF), and North American Grappling Association (NAGA) host tournaments nationwide, but visit🍌 these states multiple times within a tournament season.
Another tournament to spring from the founding Gracie lineage is the Gracie Nationals🍌 or Gracie Worlds.
Founded in 2007 by Rose Gracie, daughter of Ultimate Fighting Championship creator and Brazilian jiu-jitsu grandmaster Rorion Gracie.
Gracie🍌 Nationals/Worlds followed the guidelines of other major tournaments of the time, implementing a points systems
In 2012, the Gracie Worlds introduced🍌 a new submission-only format, removing certain judging systems that many interpreted as an outdated scoring system.
Rose spoke about this change🍌 when she said, "Today's tournaments aren't what my grandfather [Helio Gracie] envisioned.
There's so many rules that it takes away from🍌 the actual art of jiu-jitsu.
We don't see many submissions.
We see cheating, we see decisions made by a referee.
We need to🍌 stand together against this and support a submission only kind of revolution.
" Cheating in jiu-jitsu, Rose said, comes in many🍌 forms.
"[A competitor] will earn a point, then hold for the entire match so they can win with that one little🍌 advantage they got at the start," Rose said.
"That's not jiu-jitsu.That's cheating.
" Mark McDonnell from Gracie Botany agrees.[54]
This discontent with points-based🍌 and advantage-style competition has been echoed throughout the jiu-jitsu community, leading to many prominent submission-only style events.
At these events, the🍌 winner of a match is determined only by submission, and these tournaments at times have no time limit, or are🍌 timed with a result of double disqualification if there is no submission victory.
This form of tournament have yet to become🍌 widespread, but is gaining in popularity especially amongst MMA competitors.
Metamoris, a grappling competition event run by Rose's brother Ralek Gracie,🍌 has helped advocate this tournament form.
Another notable example of a submission-only format is the EBI (Eddie Bravo Invitational), which was🍌 the first televised event of its kind, and is now being featured on UFC Fight Pass.
Other submission-only events have cropped🍌 up all over the world including TUFF invitational, Polaris Pro Grappling based in the United Kingdom, Submission Underground backed by🍌 longtime MMA star Chael Sonnen, and the QUINTET promotion, devised by Japanese MMA legend Kazushi Sakuraba and based around teams🍌 of five players each representing a different gym or background.[55]
At tournaments, especially those hosted by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation🍌 (IBJJF), some athletes engage in a practice called "closing out".
[56] This occurs when two athletes, usually friends or members of🍌 the same team, meet in a match but refuse to fight.
Tournament organizers can minimize the chance of close-outs by placing🍌 athletes from the same team on opposite sides of the bracket, a practice which makes the finals the only match🍌 in which they could possibly meet (assuming each team has no more than two competitors in a given bracket).
When two🍌 athletes close out a match, they agree which one of them will technically forfeit to the other.
As this most often🍌 occurs in the final matches of tournaments, this usually means deciding which of the two will win the gold medal🍌 and which will win the silver.
Notable examples of closing out include Marcus "Buchecha" Almeida forfeiting the finals of the Absolute🍌 division at the 2018 IBJJF World Championship to his friend Leandro Lo, who had suffered a shoulder injury during a🍌 previous match,[57] and frequent close outs between the brothers Paulo and Joao Miyao, who often compete in the same weight🍌 division.
[58] Proponents of close-outs claim it fosters team unity and allows competitors to train as hard and as freely as🍌 they can with their teammates.
They say that facing a teammate in a competition would make them hold back in training.
Critics🍌 of the practice say it diminishes audience enjoyment of tournaments where it is allowed,[56] and some tournaments, notably the ADCC,🍌 ban it.[59]
Health considerations [ edit ]Safety [ edit ]
Brazilian jiu-jitsu is one of the safest full contact martial arts.
Its injury🍌 rate is around 9.2-38.
6 per 1000 athlete exposures.
[60][61] This is lower than in mixed martial arts (236-286 per 1000), boxing🍌 (210-420 per 1000), judo (25.3-130.
6) and taekwondo (20.5-139.5).
It is similar to wrestling, which also uses grappling instead of striking.
The few🍌 injuries that may be incurred in Brazilian jiu-jitsu usually affect the joints and rarely the head.
The most common injuries Brazilian🍌 jiu-jitsu practitioners suffer from are ACL tears, rotator cuff tears in the shoulders and spinal disc herniations, most commonly in🍌 the neck region.
Many are repairable via surgery that require an extended rehab period before the athlete can return to BJJ🍌 training.
Also many athletes suffer from minor injuries, such as elbow and wrist tendonitis, due to overtraining and the grappling nature🍌 of the martial art, which can be strenuous and taxing for the joints and the tendons.
Skin health [ edit ]
Besides🍌 the normal strains and pulls associated with most martial arts, Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners (along with Wrestlers, Judoka, and other grapplers🍌 ) are exposed to regular skin abrasions and potential unsanitary mat conditions.
They are thus at higher risk for developing skin🍌 disease.
[62] Several commonly contracted skin diseases include ringworm, impetigo, herpes gladiatorum, and staph infection.
[63] Proper hygiene practices, including regular cleaning🍌 of classroom mats, showering immediately after class with soap, disinfecting and covering any open wounds, thorough cleaning of any gi/rashguard/headgear🍌 used before the next class, not sharing used towels/uniforms, and using a barrier cream greatly reduces the chance of contracting🍌 a disease.
Cauliflower ear [ edit ]
Dominick Cruz's cauliflower ears
Due to the use of the head to maintain position and attack🍌 in jiu-jitsu, the ears can easily be damaged and begin to swell.
Without immediate medical treatment, the cartilage in a swollen🍌 ear will separate from the perichondrium that supplies its nutrients and will become permanently swollen/deformed (cauliflower ear).
Wrestling headgear is sometimes🍌 used for the prevention of this condition.
Treatment includes draining the hematoma or surgery.[64]
Performance-enhancing drugs [ edit ]
The practice of taking🍌 performance-enhancing drugs, including anabolic steroids, is believed to be relatively commonplace among competitors in jiu-jitsu tournaments and has sparked letters🍌 and public statements by some of jiu-jitsu's top competitors, including Comprido and Caio Terra.
[65] In response, the IBJJF began testing🍌 for performance-enhancing drugs at IBJJF sponsored events, starting with the 2013 Pan American Championship.
[66] However, most other tournaments tend to🍌 lack PED testing.
Cervical and spinal lock "neck cranks" [ edit ]
A spinal lock is a multiple joint lock applied to🍌 the spinal column, which is performed by forcing the spine beyond its normal ranges of motion.
This is typically done by🍌 bending or twisting the head or upper body into abnormal positions.
Commonly, spinal locks might strain the spinal musculature or result🍌 in a mild spinal sprain, while a forcefully and/or suddenly applied spinal lock may cause severe ligament damage or damage🍌 to the vertebrae, and possibly result in serious spinal cord injury, strokes, or death.
Spinal locks and cervical locks are forbidden🍌 in gi jiu-jitsu,[24] amateur MMA,[26] multiple forms of no-gi jiu-jitsu,[24] Judo,[27] and other martial arts[28] due to its illegal nature🍌 and express purpose to cause serious, irrevocable bodily injury, paralysis, and death.
[67][68] The forceful application of chokes such as the🍌 Rear Naked Choke and subsequent cranking of the neck whilst being choked can potentially lead to arterial dissection, which could🍌 lead to stroke.
[69] Due care should be exercised when applying these chokes in sparring situations.
Elbow injuries [ edit ]
Elbow injuries🍌 commonly occur from arm bars, Kimuras, and takedowns with a fall on outstretched hand (FOOSH).
These injuries include LCL sprain [of🍌 elbow], MCL sprain [of elbow], anterior sprain of distal biceps tendon, elbow dislocation, and posterior tenderness at olecranon.[60]
Knee injuries [🍌 edit ]
Knee injuries occur from passing guard, takedowns, sweeps, direct pressure, and varus stress with flexed knee.
These injuries include LCL🍌 sprain [of knee], MCL sprain [of knee], and lateral meniscus tear.[60]
Foot and ankle injuries occur from pushing forward, takedowns, and🍌 footlocks.
These injuries include ankle ATFL sprain, turf toe, and hyper flexion sprain of great toe.[60]
Finger injuries [ edit ]
Finger injuries🍌 occur from getting caught in the gi, applying arm bars, and blocking opponents.
These injuries include sprains, dislocations, and fractures.[60]
Shoulder injuries🍌 [ edit ]
Shoulder injuries injuries occur from Kimuras, takedowns with a fall on outstretched hand (FOOSH), and pushing opponents.
These injuries🍌 include acromioclavicular separation, anterior dislocation, and anterior subluxation (partial dislocation).[60]
Neck injuries [ edit ]
Neck injuries can occur from triangle chokes🍌 and resisting them.
These injuries include cervical strains.[60]Rehab [ edit ]
Depending on the severity, many injuries require evaluation by a professional,🍌 usually a primary care provider, sports medicine physician, orthopedic surgeon, or physical therapist.
Other injuries may be treated with a home🍌 exercise program.
Notable fighters [ edit ]
World Champions [ edit ]
International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation world champions include the following:
Jiu-Jitsu Masters (Coral🍌 Belts: 7th & 8th Degree) [ edit ]
Jiu-Jitsu Grand Masters (9th degree Red Belts) [ edit ]
Jiu-Jitsu Grand Masters (10th🍌 degree Red Belts) [ edit ]
In popular culture [ edit ]
Keanu Reeves trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Rigan Machado for🍌 John Wick 3.
[72] Robert Pattinson trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Rigan Machado for the 2021 film The Batman.
[73] Russell Brand🍌 trains in BJJ at Genesis Gym Marlow.
[74] Ed O'Neill is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Rorion Gracie.[75]
The Marvel🍌 Cinematic Universe features Brazilian jiu-jitsu being used by Hope van Dyne.
The popular anime Attack on Titan features several Brazilian jiu-jitsu🍌 fighting sequences involving the titans.
[76]See also [ edit ]References [ edit ]
Cited sources [ edit ]
