What's BJJ?
What's Brazilian jiu-jitsu? It is both art and a sport that targets on grappling control for you to submit your enemy.
Several of the techniques were adopted from judo and jiu-jitsu. Picking up how to perform the actual technique permits even a smaller and more frail person to beat a person that is stronger which is why it is also used in self-defense classes.
BJJ developed as recently as in the 20's. It only attained global recognition after Royce Gracie dominated the UFC tournament four times after it was founded in 1993. Due to the domination, several academies are now instructing this combat sport.
A person can say that the significance as a sport is second to football. There are tournaments held regularly like the European Championships, the Mundials and the Pan American Games
If you want to win in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, repetition is key and the only method you are able to do that is via training and sparring. This signifies going against a live and resisting partner under simulated conditions while at the same time being careful not to cause any serious injuries.
During training and competition, grapplers are mandated to don the kimono. It looks similar to what you would have on when you train judo. The difference is that the outfit has tighter cuffs on both the jacket and pants.
Submissions in bjj are done either through chokes or joint locks. Choking as you know involves constricting the windpipe so the opponent is not able to breathe. Apart from that, there is also what is known as strangling which collapses the carotid. A choke is less efficient than strangles and may cause permanent damage or death which is why the second is used more often during competition.
As for joint locks which are probably safer, what you are doing is making a fulcrum with the body position which will force the joint to move past its normal range of motion. This is otherwise known as hyperextension and since there is no escape out of it, the enemy has no other recourse but to submit.
Anyone can learn jiu-jitsu. As you get better, you are promoted to the next belt class. Beginners start with the white and move their way to the red belt. For those who are under 15 years old, you proceed your way from white to green belt.
How quickly you grow depends on the amount of time the person invests and how rapidly they learn. To get to the elite class for example, it requires at least 10 years or even more.
With BJJ making its mark on the global scene, you will not have a difficult time locating a gymnasium that is offering classes. The only thing you have to do now is use your time wisely since this is done in a group setting and you are just one of several that are learning the ropes of this martial art. As a noob, you do not have to get a gi so just come in wearing a shirt and grappling shorts. If you are trying to find a bjj blog that doesn't take it too seriously, you should check out doyoubjj.com.