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Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

When people find out that I train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, typically I get one of two reactions:

Either I am some sort of dancing fruitcake (they are mistakenly associating Taekwondo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in this case,) or I am some sort of bloody MMA aspirant. Thankfully, neither is the case. But because Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has become such a big part of my life, I though it would be helpful to explain a bit about it for those otherwise unfamiliar. But first I'll offer a brief history.

A brief history:

Jiu-Jitsu is a Japanese word and a Japanese martial art. I'm not exactly sure who originally developed the art - or why - but those details exist beyond the scope of this discourse. Jiu-Jitsu was modified by Kano Jigoro and re-dubbed "Judo" in 1882. The sport of Judo then traveled to Brazil with Mitsuyo Maeda who taught Gastao Gracie's (a Brazilian of Scottish decent,) sons the sport in return for political assistance in the development of Japanese colonies in Brazil.

Among the sons of Gastao Gracie was Helio Gracie. Helio Gracie, the youngest and smallest of the brothers, modified the Japanese Jiu-Jitsu that he learned to account for his inferior stature and strength. The result was what is widely known today as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Addendum: There is some contention in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community as to the exact roles played by Helio Gracie and Carlos Gracie during Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu's formative years in Rio. For the sake of brevity I'll acknowledge Carlos Gracie as one of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu's founding father here - clearly much is owed to him.

More recently Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has found foothold in America. Starting with Rorion Gracie and the formation of the behemoth "Ultimate Fighting Championship," Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has proven itself as extremely effective martial art through mixed martial arts competition. Natuarlly, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has flourished stateside as a result.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the science of control leading to submission.

This is a definition developed by the luminary John Danaher. Danaher, senior instructor at Renzo Gracie's Manhattan academy, puts a very fine point on the heart and essence of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in that one sentence. The key principles contained therein are as follows:

1. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a science.
2. The inclusion of the word "leading" implies that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a stratagem, not just a collection of movements.
3. Although ultimately a submission trumps all, the fundamental goal of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is first and foremost positional control and only secondarily submission.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a science.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu represents the coming of the "Era of Enlightenment" to martial arts. Martial arts had been, up to the development of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, steeped in stoic reverence and tradition far longer than other artifices. As a result, the evolution of martial arts as an effective combative system tended to stagnate and become a self-defeating endeavor. Because Helio Gracie (and his brothers) had little attachement to the precedent of tradition naturally inherited by Japanese practitioners, he was free to treat Jiu-Jitsu as a science. Techniques which worked were kept, those that didn't were discarded. These determinations were the product of countless hours of full-strength sparring both on the street and in the academy. Through Helio Gracie, the scientific method had migrated to the domain of traditional martial arts.

Put simply Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu emphasizes what IS effective, not what is presumed to be effective. Many martial arts depend on a series of movements that are assumed to be "deadly strikes" or what not however, almost none of the pratitioners have ever executed said maneuver. As a result, a Brazilian Jiu-Jistu practitioner has spent countless hours honing and refining skills in a live sparring situation whereas other martial arts paractitioners have wasted a lot of time dancing having never effectively executed the "five fingers of death palm strike." Guess who is more prepared to fight.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a stratagem.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu differs from traditional forms of Japanese Jiu-Jitsu in many ways. Of the more notable differences is the idea that Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu contains a game-plan. Rather than being a colection of disassociated moves, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a lexicon of techniques with specific use within a greater schema. Generally, the schema is to improve positional control thereby decreasing the chances that an opponent will be able to successfully attack and increasing the chance of a successful attack on said opponent. Simple and effective.

Control leads to submission.

To quote Frank Herbert's Dune,

"He who can destroy a thing controls a thing."

Well, the opposite is also true (and I'll attribute it to myself thank you.)

"He who controls a thing can destroy a thing."

The ideas are synonymous. In practise however, the decision to employ a submission technique or to advance positional control is an optimization problem which must be solved intuitively and instantaneously. Typically however, it is safe to assume that conservative practioners defer to positional control until the attacks made avaiable to them have a good probability of being success being applied.

Not to be a bore, here are some videos which demonstrate some live Jiu-Jitsu competition. Keep in mind that both competitors are actively seeking to win at all times - it's not some silly staged "demonstration." We train at this intesity level every class: It's what grants Jiu-Jitsu it's vitality.

Royler Gracie (Brazil) vs. Eddie Bravo (USA), at Abu Dhabi Combat Club Championships, 2003

This is an example of "no-Gi" Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. A "Gi" is the traditional reinforced Japanese Kimono used in Judo and Jiu-Jitsu training. Eddie Bravo wins this fight with a "Triangle Choke" - a technique that cuts off all blood flow to the brain by compressing the carotid arteries on either side of an opponents neck using the back of ones knee and the opponents own shoulder. Note that this fight is historically important by virtue of Eddie Bravo's victory over Royler Gracie (considered to be among the best Jiu-Jitsu practioners in the world.) Eddie Bravo employs unconventional and self-invented techniques such as the "Rubber Guard." As a result Eddie Bravo's rubber guard system has gained quite a lot of popularity in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu circles.

Addendum: I wrote this article the very beginning of my training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. At the time I was intrigued by Eddie Bravo and his 10th Planet "system". I am no longer terribly interested in his system nor do I think his win over Royler Gracie merits any particular attention other than being an example of a major upset victory by a competitor favored to lose in most peoples minds. Great Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is consistent and effective - Look at the careers and highlights of Xande Ribiero, Roger Gracie, Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza and Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles for much better examples of excellence in the sport and art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Leo Viera (Brazil) vs Shinsuke Fukuzumi (Japan)

This is an example traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition match. Leo Viera finishes the fight with a collar choke from the "Mount" position - sitting on his opponents chest. Note that scoring of the match happens, but much like a Western Boxing match, no matter how many points are scored a submission determines the outcome.

Renzo Gracie (Brazil) vs. Phil Benedict (USA)

This is an example traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu used in a MMA or 'Vale Tudo' match. Many Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu positions can be used to strike effectively as demosntrated here: Renzo finishes his opponent with punches from the "Mount" position. Clearly it's technique over braun.

My Training

I train under a Renzo Gracie Black Belt named Aaron Milam. He has roughly 15 years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu experience. On top of that, he's just a great guy. Actually, to that point, one of the things that I love about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is that it is absolutely a meritocracy. Aaron is unquestionably the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner in our gym however he doesn't insist on being called Sensei or Professor. If he did, well, we'd be cool with that - but he doesn't. In fact, he is also a friend to many of his students and regularly holds Bar-B-Ques on his roof in Brooklyn. Aaron started his training with Ricardo Rey Diogo in Los Angeles (white through purple belts,) and has been in attendence at Renzo Gracie's Academy in Manhattan ever since (brown and black belts.)

Aaron Milam

I also train on a daily basis with a whole bunch of really great guys (and girls): Bob, Grant, Tom, Felix, Mark, Ryan, Gabe, John, Morgan, Matt, Oliver, Rick, Ed, Allister, Mike, Mark, Erik, Jay, Larry, Matteo, Mary Margaret, Shawn, Ernie and Merat among many others. I learn volumes from these guys (and girls) - I can't thank them enough. Take a look at the photo galleries for pictures of all of us rolling, training and having a great time together.