Thursday, January 23, 2014

Defining The Many Styles Of Jiu-Jitsu

By Nolan Barias


There are several different types of Jiu-Jitsu styles out there, and you have probably heard words such Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu, Gi Jiu-Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Each of them is similar in many ways but each of them does have a few key differences.

As an overview, jiu-jitsu originated in Japan as Jujutsu, a combat art where an opponent could defeat an armed opponent without using any type of weapon. The "ju" translates roughly to flexible or yielding, while "jutsu" means art. While each form of the sport is slightly different, the idea of defeating a stronger opponent with a flexible fighting approach is universal in all forms of the sport.

Many mixed martial arts gyms offer Gi classes or perhaps just No-Gi classes, although some more comprehensive gyms will offer both classes. A Gi is the kimono-style, belted uniform that Jiu-Jitsu fighters will wear. A No-Gi class is basically a Jiu-Jitsu class where you do not wear the Gi. In a No-Gi class, one typically wears a t-shirt or a rash guard and a pair of board shorts or MMA shorts.

It is not just the look of the uniforms that is different. The uniforms themselves actually alter the fighting styles somewhat. While you have many of the same grappling techniques, in Gi bouts you can grab onto the Gi. For instance, grabbing the pant leg of the Gi might help you get a solid hold on your opponent. If you are in a No-Gi class or bout, then you cannot use the uniform to gain an advantage as this is not allowed. You must rely solely on your ability to grab hold of target points such as the neck, knees or elbows in order to gain submission.

It might seem like No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu training is less effective since you cannot hold onto the uniform. However, No-Gi is more transferable to mixed martial arts in general because you don't wear a Gi during an MMA bout. If possible, it is recommended that you take both types of classes as they focus on different types of skills. The more skills you acquire, the better your overall game plan will be, so there is a definite advantage in being proficient in both styles.

The difference between Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is subtle. Some say that the main difference lies in philosophy. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is considered more as a form of self-defense where as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu focuses more on sports and competition. That said, both styles include the same submission, controls and sweeps. So while you might not ever see a GJJ competition, an expert in GJJ has the same skill set as a fighter in BJJ.




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