FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT IS BRAZILIAN JIU JITSTU?

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art and combat sport based on ground fighting (ne-waza) and submission holds. It focuses on the skill of taking an opponent to the ground, controlling one's opponent, gaining a dominant position, and using a number of techniques to force them into submission (joint locks, strangles or chokeholds).

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was developed around 1920 by Brazilian brothers Carlos, Oswaldo, Gastão Jr., George, and Hélio Gracie, after Carlos was taught traditional Kodokan judo by a travelling Japanese judoka, Mitsuyo Maeda, in 1917. Later they developed their own self-defence system named Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

BJJ eventually became its own defined combat sport through the innovations, practices, and adaptation of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and judo, it is an essential martial art for MMA. Governing bodies such as the IBJJF work worldwide to set the rules and standards for BJJ competitions.

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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 is a fun martial art that can be trained for the use in sport grappling and self-defence situations. Sparring, commonly referred to as "rolling" within the BJJ community, and live drilling plays a major part in training and the practitioner's development. BJJ can also be used as a method of promoting physical fitness, health and wellbeing, building character, discipline and as a way of life.