Sunday 14 October 2012

Defining The Many Styles Of Jiu-Jitsu

By Rod Bourgoine


There are many different styles of Jiu-Jitsu, and while they do have some notable differences, many of the skills are extremely similar. You might see a gym that offers Gi and No-Gi classes, or perhaps you have seen gyms advertising Gracie Jiu-Jitsu or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

In general, Jiu-Jitsu is a form of an ancient combat art known as Jujutsu. When interpreted, the word ju means to yield or to be flexible, while jutsu simply means art. Anyone who has utilized Jiu-Jitsu techniques can tell you that flexibility and learning to adapt to the other fighter is an important element of training. Jiu-Jitsu provides you with skills that will help you overcome your opponent, even a larger and heavier fighter.

Sometimes you will see an MMA gym that offers both Gi and No-Gi classes on their roster. There are a few key differences. One of the main differences between the two is the uniform. In Gi Jiu Jitsu, fighters wear a traditional belted uniform while in No-Gi, fighters might just wear shorts and a rash guard or a t-shirt.

The uniform is different and because of that, the fighting techniques are a bit different, as well. When you wear the Gi, you can grab onto to the opponent's uniform, which can be a helpful way to dominate the opponent while you are grappling. However, you are not allowed to grab onto clothing in a No-Gi contest, and instead must rely on skills that help you grab key areas such as elbows, the neck or the knees. In this way, Gi offers a bit more flexibility in fighting.

Keep in mind, though, in an MMA fight, the uniform is far more similar to the one used in No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu, so this translates better to the MMA arena. However, many people take both classes as there is much to be gained from both styles of fighting and you learn many solid technical skills from Gi Jiu-Jitsu.

Brazilian and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu are extremely similar and some argue that there really is no difference. Of course, the Gracie family was the founding family of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and while the techniques are the same, the philosophy is a bit different. The Gracie's focus lies more in the teaching of Jiu-Jitsu as a form of self defense and also a way of life. A regular Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class might focus more on the competitive aspects and less on using Jiu-Jitsu as self defense. Keeping that in mind, the skills taught are the same, so if you prefer the Gracie method, you can still be just as strong a fighter as a non-Gracie student.




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