Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art and combat sport system that focuses on grappling, and specifically ground fighting. BJJ is derived from the fundamentals of Kodokan Judo ground fighting, adapted and evolved by practitioners over the last century to emerge in its modern form today. BJJ promotes the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger, heavier assailant by using proper technique, leverage, and most notably taking the fight to the ground and applying submission holds such as joint locks and chokes to finish or subdue the opponent.
Sparring (commonly referred to as “rolling”) and live drilling play an important role in training, and a premium is placed on performance in relation to ascension through the ranking system. While its origins can be traced back to the late 1800’s, BJJ came to international prominence in the early 1990’s when Royce Gracie utilized the art to win the first, second, and fourth Ultimate Fighting Championships. It has since become a staple martial art for MMA fighters, and is largely credited for bringing widespread attention to the importance of ground fighting.
