Brazilian jiujitsu has been in the limelight in the recent years due to its ability to enable weaker fighters to defeat physically stronger ones.
Brazilian jiujitsu is a mix of Japanese martial arts and Kodokan judo and first gained recognition when the first,
second, and fourth Ultimate Fighting Champhionships in 1990 were won by Royce Gracie, a fighter who practices Brazilian jiujitsu. Soon enough, this success by Royce Gracie led more and more MMA fighters to start learning the martial art and make use of it in their own fights and matches.
It is normal to see submission holds, such as chokeholds and joint-locks in this type of martial art, considering that it focuses a lot on ground fighting techniques. It enables a physically weaker person to get hold of his opponent using leverage so that he/she can defend himself/herself and defeat his/her opponent. Due to this characteristic, this martial art has become a favorite self-defense technique of many.
There are two trainings involved: sparring and alive drilling play. Sparring is also known as rolling and it differs from alive drilling play in the fact that the opponents are bound by rules. These rules make sure there are lesser injuries. Alive drilling play is more spontaneous and dynamic, not really scripted or governed by rules.
This martial art normally ends up with fighters pinning their opponents to the ground in order to defeat them. The guard position (limiting the movement of the opponent by wrapping the legs around him) is the best position to try to maneuver some techniques of submission and thus defeat the opponent. In Brazilian jiujitsu, the fighting takes place on the ground and involves a lot of grappling. Since grappling can successfully subdue strength and power, weaker fighters have an even better chance of overpowering stronger opponents.
In Brazilian jiujitsu, belts are used to rank the practitioners of the martial art. They start with white belt as the lowest rank, slowly working their way up through blue, brown, all the way to the highest rank in the red belt. Reaching the red belt will take one lots of years, practice and a ton of discipline on the part of the martial art practitioner. For example, if someone started training this martial art at the age of 19, he/she can receive the red belt when they are 67 years old the earliest. And that is only after years and years of practicing. But that is the adults- ranking. Kids have different rankings, with white still being the lowest but with green being the highest.
Brazilian jiujitsu is not only a martial art but it is a sport as well. It is useful not only in improving one-s physical condition but also in building one-s character. You can rank Brazilian jiujitsu with other martial arts disciplines such as aikido, judo, kendo, and karate because it has now become a way of life or, as they call it, a Do.
Just like judo-s judogi, Brazilian jiujitsu makes use of a uniform called Gi. However, gi is tighter at the bottom of the trouser and jackets, so no extra fabric would obstruct any movement. Brazilians also call the uniform kimono.
