FAQ

What Is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art and sport whose roots span hundreds of years. The art of Jiu-Jitsu was originally born in Japan and was created by the Samurai through centuries of warfare. This art later began to take many different forms including the Olympic Sport of Judo. At the turn of the century Japanese Jiu-Jitsu crossed the ocean and landed in Brazil where it was adopted by the Gracie family. The Gracie family used the tough streets of Rio and open challenge matches to create their own style of Jiu-Jitsu which we see today as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is different from other martial arts in its realistic, but sportive, training methods, use of unique strategy, and mastery of ground fighting. BJJ athletes regularly train using a unique type of wrestling where there are no pins and matches are won by submitting an opponent. During a fight, BJJ martial artists use their mastery of these grappling skills to survive and win on the ground, where their attackers usually lack skill. A BJJ athlete that cross trains in boxing or kick boxing enters into a fight knowing that he can use a strategy of taking the fight where ever his opponent is weakest. In the case of survival or self-defense a BJJ fighter can use their skills to escape the attack and retreat to safety.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu generally takes 3 forms; Sport Training, Vale Tudo or Mixed Martial Arts, and Self Defense.

Sport BJJ

This type of training is the most frequently found during Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction. This training is usually done with a GI, which is a uniform of jacket and pants that resemble that used in the Olympic sport of Judo. Many times training is done with out the GI as well. The training usually consists of warm ups, drills, practicing grappling techniques and free sparring. The free sparring or rolling, as it’s often called, is wrestling in which competitors use a variety of controlled joint locks, and chokes to force their opponent to give up. For athletes that wish to go beyond training there is the opportunity to compete in local, national, and international competition.

Vale Tudo / MMA

Vale Tudo is a Portuguese term that translates to “anything goes”. This form of competition was the original UFC; today in America the term Mixed Martial Arts or MMA is the most common way to categorize this type of training. This training involves not only the ground work that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is known for, but incorporates cross training from boxing, wrestling and kickboxing to make a more complete fighter. Most athletes that perform this type of training do not compete, but for those that do, they can find amateur and professional organizations all over the country.

Self Defense

This is the reason that most people train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. BJJ is strongly rooted in self defense and through the practice the BJJ fighter gains valuable skills. BJJ has a variety of self defense techniques that are taught. Sport BJJ training and MMA training easily lend them selves to a person’s self defense arsenal. BJJ training is often most beneficial to women. This is due to the fact that if attacked a women could likely find herself forced to the ground, where Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu dominates the fight.

I‘m looking for a martial art for my daughter/son: is BJJ suitable for children? ^

Yes, BJJ is suitable for children.

Be sure to take a look at the Bullshido FAQ on choosing a martial art – there’s a section there on children, which quote:

It must be understood that there is a significant psychological difference between striking and grappling for a young child. Striking implies far more violence and anger; and the immediate emotional response to being struck will vary greatly from child to child. Striking is something that a child learns to do out of anger long before they learn to walk or talk. Striking is a primal, animal reaction to a negative stimulus, and as such will require far more emotional maturity before it can be instructed properly. Getting hit pretty much always hurts, whereas grappling tends only to hurt when a mistake is made. Pain avoidance is the average American child’s primary subconscious drive. If something hurts, most children under 10 will avoid it at all costs.

Young children adjust to grappling long before they can adapt psychologically to striking. Children invariably begin wrestling without the guidance of adults as a recreational activity anyway, so providing technique and structure for it is a fairly natural progression. For very young children (under 10) grappling styles are learned most easily and create a solid base in the most prevalent ranges of combat.

 

What is training like?

Classes at Team Viper generally consist of a warm-up, technique practice, drills, and sparring or “rolling”. The warm-up is done as group but individuals are encouraged to take their time and ease in to training. The warm-up consists of stretching, sport specific exercises and agility drills. These drills are not only designed get the students body ready for class but to also increase their ability and overall fitness.

After the warm-up the students are taught a variety of techniques. Team Viper shows their students both advanced and basic techniques, but focuses on basic high percentage moves. By focusing on the basics Team Viper instructors are able to give their students an effective base from which they can explore their individual style of Jiu-Jitsu. These techniques then placed in to functional drills which help the students to master the moves while under pressure.

The last phase of our classes is sparring or “rolling”. This consists of grappling with out strikes where each student tries to submit one another through the use of joint locks and choke holds. The students experiment with the techniques in a non-comities environment where they are free submit or tap out at any time.

In addition to the above normal training format Team Viper also does several types of specialized training. These training sessions include, competition team training, special clinics, and MMA training. MMA training is reserved for students that have had approx. 2 months of training or prior experience in MMA style training. MMA training is done in a fast pace work out environment where athletes receive training in physical conditioning, striking, takedowns, and ground fighting.

 

Who can train?

Nearly any one can experience the amazing benefits of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gives you more confidence, self-defense skills, better health, and a great hobby. Adult men or women of any physical fitness level can begin training. Team Viper also welcomes teens 16 years and older to train with parental permission. Some of those that find the greatest benefits of BJJ are Law Enforcement Officers and women.

Police officers find that their time learning how to control a subject on the mat can translate in to controlling a subject on the street much easier. With an increased physical fitness level, greater flexibility, and a superior knowledge of positional control, officers have less likely hood of injury. Most police agencies spend very little in-service time training officers in ground fighting and this is a great way for an officer to build confidence in this subject.

Women will find that Jiu-Jitsu can give them 2 distinct advantages over other martial arts. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s reliance on leverage and technique over strength can help to over come a larger stronger opponent. During an assault a women could likely find herself forced to the ground. BJJ emphasizes a large amounts of escapes from bottom positions as well as the guard position. This position allows a subject trapped on the bottom during an assault, to control and incapacitate an attacker.

 

How should I approach class as a beginner? ^

Relax

The biggest mistake most new people make is treating every spar as life or death, clinging on desperately trying not to ‘lose’, or using as much muscle as possible so they can ‘win’. Save ‘winning’ or ‘losing’ for competition: in class, just concentrate on improving your technique,I t doesn’t matter if you get tapped along the way.

It also helps to avoid injury: if you’re so focused on ‘not losing’ that you don’t tap, you’re liable to hurt yourself. Relax, tap and start again, instead of holding out until something breaks, putting you out of training for weeks, months or even years.

Ask questions

Don’t be afraid to talk to people. If you’re confused by something in drilling, find the instructor and ask them to help you out: after all, you’re paying them to teach you. Similarly, after sparring, if you don’t understand what you did wrong, ask your partner. They’re in a great position to tell you.

Maintain good hygiene

I can’t emphasize this enough. Not only is it extremely skanky to train with an unwashed gi, it’s also dangerous. There are lots of nasty bacteria waiting to jump all over your skin in sweaty grappling sports, and infections can even be fatal (MRSA, staph etc).

Stay safe by taking a shower after training,  wash your gi once you get home. I would advise owning more than one gi, meaning that you can wash your gi after every session you train. No-one wants to train with the stinky guy/girl, and if you come in with infections, you’re quickly going to become very unpopular.

Also, be sure to keep your nails short. Otherwise, you’re liable to cut people, which again is not going to impress your training partners.

Keep training

BJJ is a difficult sport, and that means there is a high turnover of white belts. Lots of people start, get frustrated, then quit. Accept that the first few months are going to involve a lot of you getting squashed under somebody else. Stay consistent, and eventually you’ll get the hang of things.

 

I‘m a woman: is BJJ right for me?

BJJ is an excellent choice for women. In terms of self-defense, BJJ is perfect from a female perspective, as it deals with the unfortunately common self-defense situation of rape: BJJ features a lot of attacks and defenses when someone is in between your legs. It is also a martial art which was designed for a smaller person to overcome a larger one, which again has clear applications for women’s self defense.

If you’re training for self-defense, then it also makes sense to train with somebody whose body type is more likely to match your typical attacker: a large male. That option is open to you in a BJJ class, where training partners tend to be helpful and happy to give out advice.

I would love to see more women in the sport, so I hope you’ll decide to check it out.

 

I‘m out of shape: should I get fitter before starting?

While it certainly doesn’t hurt to get fitter beforehand, it isn’t necessary. I’d strongly advise you to dive right in and start BJJ, as your fitness and skill level will improve through attending class regularly. If you’re holding off because you think you could do with a bit of preparation first, you may never get round to actually training. BJJ is a brilliant way to get in shape, and indeed the fitness is one of the main attractions for many people.

 

What are the belt ranks in BJJ?

 

 

What protective equipment do I need for BJJ? ^

Brazilian jiu jitsu is a full contact sport. In the course of a roll, limbs are flailing, there are knees flying during swift transitions, and elbows go places they shouldn’t in eager attempts to secure a submission.

That means that while BJJ is supposed to be a grappling style, you’re still going to catch a few elbows and knees every now and then. Also, grappling tends to involve throwing, which is essentially being hit by the floor. It is therefore sensible to be prepared.

The most important piece of protective equipment is a gumshield. I would strongly recommend you invest in a mouthguard and wear it every time you roll: replacing teeth will put a serious strain on your wallet.

Mouthguards can be very cheap: the one I use cost me £1 from the university shop. This budget choice is referred to as a ‘boil and bite’: you put the plastic in hot water to melt it slightly, then put it in your mouth and bite down hard. That leaves an impression of your teeth, so once the gumshield cools down, it should be moulded to your specific dental configuration.

Alternately, there are more expensive options. You can get custom made mouthguards from your dentist, and there are also various companies that will also provide the same service (quite often for rather less money).

Aside from gumshields, there are also groin guards and headgear.
It isn’t simply a matter of cups being unnecessary: they’re also awkward in a grappling setting. It is possible to use a groin guard as a fulcrum for an armbar, and cups can catch elbows that might otherwise slip free of submission attempts. They can also be very uncomfortable if somebody has back mount, and is pressing that cup into your spine

That relates to the other essential point, from Article 6 of the IBJJF rules:

Wrestling shoes or any type of shoes, head gear, shirts under the gi (except for girls) and any kind of protectors that can alter the outcome of the match in any way are not allowed in competition.

Share on Facebook