What is Brazilian Jiu – Jitsu?

Written January 25

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a dynamic grappling martial art, distinguished by its focus on ground combat and submission techniques rather than striking. In BJJ, participants engage in ‘rolling’, a term for sparring, where the objective is to gain positional control over an opponent and ultimately secure a submission.

Submissions are achieved either through joint locks, applying controlled pressure to limbs, or through chokes and strangles. A fundamental aspect of BJJ etiquette is ‘tapping’, where a participant taps their hand or foot against their partner, the mat or verbally calls out ‘tap” to signal submission, thus conceding the match safely.

BJJ can be practiced in two distinct styles: Gi and No-Gi. In Gi BJJ, practitioners wear traditional kimonos, allowing the use of the garment in executing techniques. No-Gi BJJ, conversely, involves training in rash guards and shorts, focusing solely on grips on the body without the use of clothing.

At our academy, we offer comprehensive training in both Gi and No-Gi BJJ. Our class schedule clearly indicates the style of each session along with a detailed description. Typically, classes are structured into two segments: technique practice and rolling, providing a balanced approach to learning and application. The exceptions to this structure is our ‘drill class’, which focuses intensively on skill repetition and refinement and in the Fundamentals classes we have 10 minutes of warm ups.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a journey, where discipline, strategy, and physical prowess converge.