Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Ok so obviously MMA and most notably the UFC has elevated the status of this martial art so that its a staple of all professional mixed martial artists, however I don't want this article to stray into another UFC debate; I want to discuss the pure martial art itself. Firstly all the highlights of competition BJJ that I've seen on youtube seems to take place almost exclusively on the ground!? Is this mandatory or is it just a very one sided representation? Training in a traditional Japanese martial art myself, with both standing and sitting (kneeling) Kata I find this slightly confusing, if the fighting is entirely ground based why don't the competitors just knee walk into the centre of the matt before fighting? Why start on the feet if the objective is to neutralise or make your opponent tap from the ground?

Secondly unless I'm mistaken BJJ is actually a hybrid of traditional JJ and Judo, but I haven't been able to find much evidence of the Judo influence?! What kind of ratio is JJ to Judo in the 'syllabus' of the BJJ grading system? What kind of changes and adaptations did BJJ make to traditional JJ? Does BJJ have a standing kata? Basically what are the main differences?

As a modern martial art and a combat sport BJJ intrigues me - the very fact that so much of MMA is now dependant on BJJ for its skill base and ground game as well as its connection to Japanese systems makes me curious to learn more. I would really love to take up a modern martial art after I have achieved my goals in Aiki-Jutsu, to have the balance between traditional and modern, especially with the emphasis on a combat sport. However the thing putting me off BJJ at the moment is the apparent focus on the ground element; it's important both in combat sport and self defence but I'd rather do Judo, which is more well rounded.

Does anyone actually practice BJJ? What are training sessions like? Do you enjoy it? Would you recommend it?

After the Kokamishin Ryu JuJutsu seminar I attended I decided to look into BJJ again. This demonstration has really inspired me, I definitely want to make BJJ my second martial art after I've achieved my black belt in Aiki JuJutsu. I've been doing some more research and it appears that the adult grading system is: white, blue, purple, brown and black. However, apparently it can take up to 3 years to go from white to blue and I've also read estimations that it takes between 9-12 years to become a black belt, depending on how regularly you train! Another curious thing about BJJ is that gradings are not systematised like they are in other MAs but rather happen when your instructor feels you're ready and is happy with your general progress and skill level.

I think that if I was to take it up in a few years time, hopefully already having achieved my black belt in Aiki JuJutsu then I'll make fairly rapid progress and it won't take me 12 years to achieve my black belt but at the end of the day there is no way I can predict that far into the future! Who knows what my life will be like down the road, my priorities may have changed!? What I do know is that I'd really like to train in BJJ at some point whether or not I actually manage to grade all the way to black belt.

With regards to your original post I think the reason they start standing is that in real life fights mostly start from a standing position, as does judo, before going to the ground. One of the quotes you always here is that 90% of fights end up on the ground so they developed ground fighting etc, & also to take away a bigger opponents size/weight advantage.

From what I have read, mostly from wiki, is that judo comes from jui jitsu, that JJ is an old fighting system that has branched out & evolved creating many other styles with close similarity's yours included. Apparently there are full fighting systems of JJ with throws, kicks & punches/strikes included, where as BJJ appears to be strictly grappling, locks & submission techniques on the ground. I think it takes only a part of JJ & possably has more judo techniques. I think it maybe considered more a combat sport rather than a martial art or at least in the traditional sense.

With the regards to grading systems I have always been under the impression that they have been a bit of a western thing as to being systemised as a result of the western mind/way of life & approach. Many forms of kung fu never had grading systems originally, in the west we need to see progress in anything that we learn or take up to learn that takes an indefinite amount of time, hence the belts/grades & how they are implimented. I think it was the rise in Karate's popularuty & its grading system that influenced modern kung fu's grading system.

I read your post on the other thread after your seminar, glad to hear it went well & you enjoyed it (will get back to you on it), & I agree you should make good progress in BJJ as regards to a black belt if you decide to take it up after completing your Black belt in Aiki JuJutsu.

Good video links that you did here & on the other thread, enjoyed them all. You say Aiki JuJutsu is a gentle system? Looked pretty nasty in parts to me & effective!

sohotnot wrote:
Good video links that you did here & on the other thread, enjoyed them all. You say Aiki JuJutsu is a gentle system? Looked pretty nasty in parts to me & effective!

I say gentle because typically MAs are divided into hard and soft styles - Jiu Jitsu (or Ju Jutsu) is traditionally known as a soft style as the locks and holds are designed to immobilise your attacker, negating their strength; whereas Karate is a hard style as it focuses more on blocks and strikes. The locks and holds themselves are very painful though and great care needs to be taken when practising them.

As regards the grading system - Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, was the first person to introduce the coloured belt grading system when he created Judo. I've heard it said that the reason the black belt was used to signify mastery of the art was because traditionally in Japan samurai would train with a white belt that got progressively dirtier over the years through wear and tear, eventually turning a blackish colour. While this makes sense I don't know if its a 100% accurate. I think the coloured belt system appeals to westerners; I certainly appreciate the clear differentiation in rank and skill level but I think it does have its roots in traditional Japanese arts. I've also read, interestingly, that in Aikido you don't receive coloured belts when you pass a grading, you stay a white belt until you earn your black! This may have something to do with this story I've heard about the samurai?!

I really respect anyone who has fully dedicated themselves to their martial art and become a high level practitioner/instructor. Some of my instructors have been doing Aiki-JuJutsu for decades and are 5th Dan + black belts. That's just incredible when you think about it. So although I want to eventually learn a second martial art, I wanted to find one that would compliment Aiki JuJutsu - some people might like contrast, but I would rather have a 'specialism' and as long as I continue to practice Aiki JuJutsu that specialism is Jiu-Jitsu, hence the interest in BJJ. What BJJ would also add to my experience aswell is the competition element. While I don't believe competition is vital for effective self defence it does help you to cope under pressure and learn how to channel your nerves positively. Anyway my priority is to carry on with Aiki JuJutsu, but yeah I'd definitely like to give BJJ a go in future .