Friday, January 20, 2012

Jiu Jitsu Evolution

Jiu Jitsu Evolution

Jiu Jitsu originated many years ago in Japan but it was only recognized on the martial art arena way back in 1990. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was popularized by Royce Gracie and his family and because of their efforts, MMA or mixed martial arts became very popular. This sport is a combination of ground fighting and brutal grappling. In fact, the US Army is still using Jiu Jitsu for conditioning.

Before the Gracie family introduced BJJ, they studied the various movements of boxers, wrestlers, and other forms of martial arts. By watching the various martial arts matches, Royce Gracie and his family were able to come up with the BJJ techniques and movements. During their time in Brazil, MMA was very popular and the games did follow strict rules during competitions. Local competitions were tough back then. Until the Gracie brothers were able to watch the Kano Jiu Jitsu or Judo. They witnessed how the fighters fought on the ground fights. The brothers learned the different Jiu Jitsu techniques after they had lessons with Mitsuyo Maeda, a Japanese Judo master.

To have a better understanding of BJJ, you must know about its origin. Many years ago, the Samurais used Jiu Jitsu during their fights but they also used weapons. Samurais knew how to perform the submission moves, choking, joint locks, throws, and strikes. You don’t have to rely on brute strength just to win a fight. With Jiu Jitsu, even a small individual can defeat a larger opponent by using the opponent’s energy and strength to his advantage. Jiu Jitsu is also similar to Judo which was created in 1892 in Japan.

The Gracie brothers wanted to learn different forms of martial arts for self defense but as time passed, Jiu Jitsu became a combat sport. The US Army and Marine Corps are presently utilizing Jiu Jitsu for their combat conditioning.  You see, this sport is very effective for fighting stronger enemies. Many children and teens are also involved in Jiu Jitsu because it not only teaches the students the different moves or techniques but it also teaches about the proper values and traits. Many Jiu Jitsu enthusiasts are now physically fit and healthy; they are more confident and strong.

Most of today’s people are interested in Jiu Jitsu primarily for self defense. The streets are not very safe because crime is everywhere. If you want to protect yourself from criminals, you can learn Jiu Jitsu through the local clubs. There are now lots of Jiu Jitsu clubs which hold trainings for individuals who want to learn the sport.

The reason why many people like Jiu Jitsu is because you don’t have to be violent or brutal. With joint locks, chokes, and throws, you can already defeat an opponent. Tournaments are also held for those who want to progress in Jiu Jitsu. As you progress, you also acquire higher belt ranks. With dedication and hard work, you can earn the highest belt rank. It takes many years before you can earn the highest belt rank but it’s worth it.

Jiu Jitsu has definitely changed since the first time it was introduced to the world. Despite some changes and modifications, the sport still followed the same principles and philosophy. These principles and philosophy are also taught to the students of Jiu Jitsu. This is why many players achieve a better life even if they leave the training grounds.

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