Laatst bijgewerkt: 18 november 2022
Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) is een op grappling-gebaseerde vechtsport uit Brazilië. Grappling staat voor worstelen en de kern van deze sport is een tegenstander controleren op de grond. Dit wordt gedaan met behulp van submissions (overgave technieken). Een paar voorbeelden hiervan zijn gewrichtsklemmen (arm- of beenklem), verwurgingen (rear naked choke), of spiercompressietechnieken (calf slicer). In de praktijk kan eigenlijk alles een submission zijn, zolang de ander zich aan jou overgeeft (submit). BJJ staat in het algemeen ook wel bekend als grondvechten.
Braziliaans jiu-jitsu is een vechtsport waarbij een kleiner persoon kan winnen van een grotere tegenstander. Het controleren van een tegenstander is meestal makkelijker op de grond dan in een staande positie. Hierom is BJJ erop gericht een persoon naar de grond te kunnen halen (takedown), en hier de tegenstander te controleren. Op de grond kan er gebruik worden gemaakt van zwaartekracht en hefboomtechnieken. Letterlijk vertaald uit het Japans staat jiu-jitsu voor ‘de zachte kunst’ of ‘de soepele kunst’, of ‘Arte Suave’ in het Portugees.
De geschiedenis van BJJ
BJJ heeft zijn oorsprong in het Japanse Judo. Aan het einde van de 19e eeuw emigreerden er verschillende Japanners naar Brazilië. Mitsuyo Maeda was er hier één van. Maéda (foto) was een judo-expert die leerde onder de grondlegger van het moderne judo: Jigoro Kano. Er wordt hedendaags veel gediscussieerd over hoe de verspreiding van wat tegenwoordig bekend staat als brazilian jiu-jitsu, nou precies tot stand is gekomen.
De bekendste theorie is als volgt. Maeda begon de Japanse vechtsport te verspreiden en gaf les aan de toen 15-jarige Carlos Gracies. De oudere broer van Hélio Gracie. Tien jaar later opende Carlos de eerste BJJ school in Rio. Deze staat bekend als “Academia Gracie de Jiu-Jitsu”. Carlos’ jongere broer, Hélio, innoveerde het grondvechten tot wat vandaag de dag bekend staat als ‘Gracie Jiu-Jitsu’.
Door historici wordt getwijfeld aan dit eenzijdige verhaal. Er wordt gezegd dat er naast de ‘Gracies’, nog andere belangrijke invloeden waren. Het lijkt dus allemaal niet zo zwart-wit te zijn. Volgens historici waren er nog andere personen die bij hebben gedragen aan de ontwikkeling van jiu-jitsu in Brazilië.
BJJ in Nederland
Wil jij BJJ of grappling beoefenen in Nederland? Bekijk hier alle sportscholen waar je in Nederland kunt trainen.
Gracie jiu-jitsu vs Brazilian jiu jitsu
Deze namen worden veel door elkaar gebruikt. Is er een duidelijk verschil?
De Gracie familie zien hunzelf als de grondleggers en noemt het daarom vaak Gracie jiu-jitsu. Internationaal gezien wordt er vaak verwezen naar brazilian jiu-jitsu om te verwijzen naar de sport uit Brazilië, en niet uit Japan. Hier komt ook nog eens bij dat er tegenwoordig een onderscheid is tussen sport en zelfverdediging. Zo wordt door velen de benaming Gracie jiu-jitsu gebruikt als er gesproken wordt over het zelfverdedigingaspect van de sport. BJJ wordt in vele gevallen gezien als de competitietak van de sport.
Zo wordt door velen Gracie jiu-jitsu gezien als het zelfverdedigingsaspect van de sport. BJJ wordt in vele gevallen gezien als het sportaspect.
Japanse jiu-jitsu vs Brazilian jiu jitsu
Wat is het verschil tussen Japanse jiu-jitsu en Braziliaanse jiu-jitsu?
Japanse jiu-jitsu is een zelfverdedigingskunst met oorsprong in de Japanse samoerai (Japanse krijgers). Tegenwoordig wordt deze vechtkunst nog steeds beoefend. Technieken die deel maken van deze kunst zijn trappen en stoten, maar ook worpen, klemmen en verwurgingen.
Het verschil tussen Japanse jiu-jitsu en Braziliaanse jiu-jitsu is dat BJJ er vooral op gericht is het vecht naar de grond te brengen. Bij Japanse jiu-jitsu wordt er ook op staande technieken gefocust zoals trappen en stoten.
Judo vs Brazilian jiu jitsu
De roots van BJJ liggen in het Japanse Judo. Wat is vandaag de dag het verschil tussen deze twee stijlen?
Als je oude trainingsvideo’s bekijkt van Judo in Japan lijkt dit verdacht veel op het hedendaagse Braziliaanse jiu-jitsu. Echter, hebben de sporten zich in de loop van de jaren ontwikkeld en is er nu een duidelijk verschil zichtbaar. Zo zijn de regels binnen wedstrijden ook erg verschillend. Simpel gezegd is Judo vooral gefocust op het staande aspect en is BJJ vooral gefocust op het aspect op de grond.
Het doel bij Judo is een perfecte worp uitvoeren, terwijl het doel van BJJ is iemand te submitten. Dit betekent echter niet dat je bij judo geen submissions kunt doen, of bij BJJ geen worpen kunt doen. Echter wordt er vanwege de regels van de sporten meer gefocust op het één dan de ander. Zo zijn er bij Judo bijvoorbeeld minder submissions toegestaan, en kun je er bij BJJ ook voor kiezen om direct naar de grond zonder iemand neer te halen (guard pull).
Samengevat, is Judo gespecialiseerd in worpen en hebben submissions minder prioriteit. BJJ is gespecialiseerd in submissions en het beoefenen worpen heeft minder prioriteit.
De groei van Brazilian jiu jitsu: UFC
BJJ is in de afgelopen 25 jaar enorm gegroeid in populariteit. De sport wordt tegenwoordig over de hele wereld beoefend. Dit komt voor een groot deel door de oprichting van de Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 1993. De UFC werd opgericht in de Verenigde Staten om te testen welke vechtsport het beste was. Zo namen verschillende atleten van de hele wereld het tegen elkaar op. Er werd getest welke discipline het meest effectief was. Worstelaren, boksers, karateka’s, jiujitsuka’s en kickboksers namen het tegen elkaar op.
Tussen de deelnemers zat ook een kleine jiujitsu beoefenaar uit Brazilië. Dit was Royce Gracie. Royce (foto) nam het op tegen verschillende vechters en won van al zijn tegenstanders. Dit deed hij niet één keer, maar in de eerste vier evenementen van de UFC. Dit waren UFC 1, 2, 3 en 4 tussen 1993 en 1994*. Deze partijen won hij niet zomaar, maar overtuigend. Hij wist iedereen te submitten (op te laten geven) door middel van armklemmen en verwurgingen.
Naast de overtuigende overwinningen, viel het de mensen op dat Royce geen grote of sterke atleet was. Hij was een kleine vechter die superieure techniek gebruikte. Na de eerste UFC-evenementen werd BJJ gezien als een soort van ‘super power’. Sindsdien wordt de sport internationaal beoefend.
*Voor de UFC-fans. Royce Gracie versloeg hier ook twee Nederlanders: karateka Gerard Gordeau (UFC 1) en judoka Remco Pardoel (UFC 2).
Het bandensysteem
BJJ heeft net als vele andere vechtsporten een bandensysteem ter aantoning van het niveau van de beoefenaar. Er wordt hier onderscheid gemaakt tussen kinderen en volwassenen (16+).
Volwassenen
Voor volwassenen bestaan er de volgende BJJ banden: wit, blauw, paars, bruin en zwart. Ook is het mogelijk strepen te krijgen op je band. Per band kun je maximaal 4 strepen krijgen. De strepen kunnen worden gebruikt om progressie bij te houden en onderscheid te maken tussen verschillende niveaus per band.
Alls zwarte bander kun je ook gepromoveerd worden. Dit wordt ook aangetoond met strepen. Zo volgt er na de zwarte band de ‘1e graads zwarte band’, vervolgens de 2e graads etc.
Kinderen
Voor kinderen bestaan er de volgende banden (op volgorde): wit, grijs, geel, oranje en groen. De groene band voor de kinderen kan gezien worden als de ‘zwarte band voor kinderen’. Sommige sportscholen gebruiken nog meer banden, namelijk: grijs-wit, grijs-zwart, geel-wit, geel-zwart, oranje-zwart, groen-wit en groen-zwart. Deze banden worden als tussenbanden gebruikt. Als kinderen 16 jaar oud worden gaan ze verder met een blauwe band bij de volwassenen.
BJJ zonder pak: no gi BJJ
In tegenstelling tot bijvoorbeeld judo, wordt BJJ ook zonder judopak (BJJ gi) beoefend. Dit wordt no gi brazilian jiu-jitsu genoemd, of kort: no gi. BJJ zonder pak wordt ook wel grappling genoemd.
Het beoefenen van de sport zonder een pak verandert de dynamiek van de sport enorm. Er is bijvoorbeeld minder frictie en er is geen kleding om vast te pakken. Hiernaast kun je ook geen kleding gebruiken voor submissions zoals verwurgingen. No gi wordt meestal beoefend in een korte sportbroek (grappling shorts) en een compressieshirt (rashguard).
De volgende termen worden nog wel eens door elkaar gebruikt, maar betekenen nagenoeg hetzelfde: no-gi brazilian jiu-jitsu, no-gi jiu-jitsu, no-gi, submission grappling of grappling.
Competities
Er zijn verschillende competities in BJJ. Zo heb je competities met gi, en competities zonder. Competities met punten, en competities zonder (submission-only). Competities met een single knock-out systeem (verliezen en je ligt er uit), en competities met round-robin (tegen iedereen in je poule). Ook variëren de punten en welke technieken toegestaan zijn binnen de competities.
Puntensysteem
Een BJJ-wedstrijd win je met overtuiging als je je tegenstander af laat kloppen (submission). Gebeurt dit niet, wint de persoon met het meest aantal punten. De volgende acties scoren allemaal punten in BJJ:
- Takedown: 2 punten
- Sweep: 2 punten
- Knee on belly: 2 punten
- Guard pass: 3 punten
- Mount positie: 4 punten
- Back positie: 4 punten
FAQs
Is there a difference between jiu jitsu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? ›
In comparison to BJJ, Japanese jujutsu has a broader variety of techniques that are taught to students with the purpose of taking down the opponent, either by using strikes, takedowns, or by placing chokes and joint locks. BJJ is all about getting the opponent to the ground without causing them harm.
What does BJJ stand for in jiu jitsu? ›On the surface, BJJ simply stands for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. However, that is just the definition of the acronym. If you peel back the layers, you will find that in a world of armbars, triangle chokes, and kimuras, BJJ takes on a deeper meaning to the athletes who practice “the gentle art.”
What is jiu jitsu Brazilian vs Gracie? ›Generally, one of the differences between Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is that a GJJ school may focus more on self-defense. So, a BJJ school may focus on both sport and self-defense. Furthermore, some schools do not teach any self-defense at all.
What is the difference between BJJ and no GI BJJ? ›So to put simply, Gi BJJ is training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with a Gi on. No-Gi BJJ, on the other hand, means to grapple without the use of the traditional uniform. Most people use rash guards when training No-Gi as it is non-intrusive when grappling on the mats. However, some people do train using compression shirts.
Can you punch in BJJ? ›BJJ competitions do not allow striking so it is also not allowed in casual training as well. Striking is banned in BJJ because it leads to heat up the fight and as a result, both the fighter and opponent can get hurt. There is no future for a fighter in BJJ with striking behavior.
Will BJJ help me in a street fight? ›It teaches you to get the opponent down to the ground and apply chokeholds, joint locks and submission holds. Brazilian jiu-jitsu can be effective when faced with a single assailant in a street battle but it is rarely effective when faced with many attackers.
Is Jim Carrey a brown belt in BJJ? ›Jim Carrey
Earning a brown belt in Jiu-Jitsu is no small task. This belt represents the final stage before black belt mastery. (There is actually one level higher than a black belt; a red/coral belt is the highest honor in BJJ and has been awarded to fewer than 100 people.)
The reason for the steep learning curve is that BJJ training requires a balance between mental and physical strength. Employing submissions, holds, chokeholds, and takedowns will only work if your mind and body are well coordinated. Keep in mind that it takes time to master such coordination.
What BJJ belt is Keanu Reeves? ›Keanu Reeves
Keanu reports that it was the intense training for the role of John Wick that got him to engage in BJJ more frequently. Belt rank: White.
Although Keanu Reeves is currently a White Belt in BJJ, he is proficient in several martial arts like Judo, Karate, Krav Maga and Jiu Jitsu.
Is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for girls? ›
BJJ can be used by any individual regardless of weight and height. This is the main reason why a lot of women can practice the art and become excellent at it. You do not need to be fast, strong, or explosive to perform BJJ techniques.
Who is the best Gracie at BJJ? ›Rickson Gracie is widely regarded as the greatest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) practitioner of all time. The 9th-degree red belt (the highest level attainable) is simply the epitome of the word icon.
Can you get a black belt in BJJ without a GI? ›Ultimately, the decision to use belts in No-Gi BJJ is up to the policies of BJJ institutions. The only significance that belts hold in No-Gi BJJ is to denote the rank of the practitioner.
Why do people prefer No-Gi? ›However, other people prefer to fight without wearing a gi since No-Gi style of grappling is a lot like street fighting. No-Gi BJJ is livelier when compared to fighting while wearing a traditional gi. Additionally, the rules of No-Gi BJJ are more flexible compared to the more traditional Gi BJJ.
Does the color of your GI matter in BJJ? ›The color of your Gi doesn't matter in any way. The only restriction on the colors of the BJJ Gi is that the IBJJF and many other BJJ competition federations only allow white, blue, and black. White, blue, or black color is suitable for competitions and training, but any other colored GI is only used for BJJ training.
Can you break arm in BJJ? ›Armbar. Though the armbar is known to be one of the basic moves in grappling sports such as BJJ and Judo, it is also a deadly one. This armlock can result in dislocation of the elbow or broken arm in the case of failure to tap out timely.
Can you grab fingers in BJJ? ›5) Mistake: Grabbing fingers to avoid choke
But grabbing the fingers and twisting is against bjj rules (small joint manipulation) and is very likely to cause a sprained or even broken finger. A painfully broken digit could cause you to miss work and not able to make your living.
BJJ changes the shape of your body to make you thinner and increase your muscles, primarily on your shoulders, back, neck and legs. You should see Abs soon. It is possible to get bruises on your skin when training bjj, but it is able to toughen up quickly to adapt to new conditions.
Does BJJ make you mentally tougher? ›Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) will make you not just more physically resilient, but more mentally and emotionally resilient too. At its simplest, BJJ does this because it's hard.
Are there any illegal moves in BJJ? ›According to the rule list of the IBJJF, all types of slams are illegal in all BJJ Gi and No-Gi competitions. All forms of slam, whether from the closed guard, from the back, or from the armbar, are illegal. You are not allowed to pick your opponent's up and slam them to the ground.
Does Mark Zuckerberg train BJJ? ›
Very quickly, Zuckerberg said, he fell in love with Brazilian jiu-jitsu. "The crazy thing is it really is the best sport," Zuckerberg said. "From the very first session that I did, like five minutes in, I was like, 'Where has this been my whole life?' "
What belt is Ashton Kutcher? ›Most notably, Ashton Kutcher of 'That 70s Show' and 'Two and a Half Men' fame, is the proud owner of a BJJ brown belt after taking up the sport 10 years ago.
Is Keanu Reeves a black belt? ›Keanu, a black belt in Judo, has been intermittently training Jiu Jisu under Rigan Machado for the past decade. Keanu reports that it was the intense training for the role of John Wick that got him to engage in BJJ more frequently. Belt rank: White. Status: Intermittently training.
What are BJJ weaknesses? ›As mentioned, BJJ does not teach striking. So, as a fighter, if you are trained only in BJJ and go up against a more proficient striker, you may face difficulty striking back as it lacks stand-up training for punches and kicks.
How many years does it take to be good at BJJ? ›On average it takes someone anywhere from 10 to 15 years to earn a black belt in BJJ. Of course, there are always exceptions to this rule. Famously, MMA fighter BJ Penn earned his black belt in just 3 years and 4 months, making him one of the fastest men ever to achieve the rank of black belt.
Does BJJ change your life? ›You learn to embrace being comfortable in uncomfortable situations by keeping calm and patient. You will improve as a person by learning how to use patience to react better in bad situations. BJJ teaches you to persevere no matter what, even when you're not feeling like you're getting anywhere.
Does Jim Carrey do BJJ? ›Jim Carrey BJJ Footage on Social Media
Unfortunately, Jim Carrey declared to leave all social media for good in 2022. Since there has been no footage of Jim Carrey training or competing in BJJ on the Internet up to this point, the probability of training footage making its way to us is rather low.
Nicolas Cage is a Black belt in jiu-jitsu and studied martial arts for years under the guidance of the jiu-jitsu royalty, Royce Gracie.
Is Al Bundy really a black belt? ›But did you know he is also a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt? The American actor and comedian best known for playing Al Bundy on the Fox sitcom Married with Children is a long-time Brazilian jiu jitsu practitioner and earned his black belt status back in 2007.
Does John Wick do jiu-jitsu? ›John Wick Changes the Game
He spent four months learning Judo and Jiu-Jitsu for the first film. For the sequels, he embarked on a grueling boot camp with BJJ experts and mixed-martial artists the Machado brothers.
Is Tom Hardy a black belt in jiu-jitsu? ›
Tom Hardy is only a BJJ Blue Belt but he has a grappling experience of 11 years. He competed in 2022 after becoming a Blue Belt in 2021.
What I wish I knew before starting BJJ? ›- It's addicting. Jiu Jitsu is a little bit like a cult. ...
- Sometimes you'll be the only girl on the mat. BJJ is great for women, however there can be very few at some gyms. ...
- It may take a few times to find a gym you love. ...
- Everyone Plateaus. ...
- There will be days you want to quit.
Thankfully, that's not correct. BJJ academies around the world have practitioners who began training in their 40s, 50s and even 60s. Famed chef Anthony Bourdain, for instance, started at the age of 58. So no, broadly speaking, you're not too old to start training.
Is it too old to start Jiu Jitsu? ›Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can and has been adapted for people from all walks of life at every age. People from 3 years to 90 years and from total beginners to elite athletes, Jiu Jitsu can be adapted for you.
Which Gracie has a red belt? ›The Jiu-Jitsu Red Belts around the world have helped to popularize the sport. Helio Gracie, Rickson Gracie, and Carlos Gracie are just a few of the most famous athletes who have attained this rank.
How many red belts are there in Jiu-Jitsu? ›The black belt degrees move up to the 6th degree, and at the 7th degree level, one earns a red and black belt. The red belt, presented at the 9th and 10th degrees, has been earned by a very limited number of BJJ experts. In fact, only five men have possessed a red belt at the 10th-degree level.
How much is the Gracie family worth? ›Gracie's family is one of the wealthiest in the US, with a net worth of $2 billion. Her grandfather, Lamar Hunt, founded the American Football League (AFL) and the Major League Soccer (MLS).
Why is it so hard to get a black belt in BJJ? ›The main reason why it is so difficult to achieve a black belt in BJJ is that the art is constantly evolving. There are always new techniques being developed and old ones being refined. This means that there is always something new to learn, which can take years to master.
Can you wear pants in No-Gi BJJ? ›It is allowed to wear Gi pants in No-Gi BJJ competitions but this will favor your opponent to take you down easily by grabbing.
How many stripes does a BJJ black belt have? ›A black belt receives a stripe at 3, 6, 9, 14, 19, and 24 years of service as a professor. According to IBJJF standards, an academy owner must have 3 stripes on their black belt in order to award other black belts, meaning they have been a black belt themselves for at least 9 years.
Does BJJ make you better in bed? ›
Higher levels of endorphins have been known to lead to higher sex drives. Jiujitsu can give you better control over your body: muscles, breath, etc. Having better control can lead to more stamina in males or being able to hold interesting positions longer.
How many years does it take to get a black belt in BJJ? ›Here's the short of it: You can expect to get your black belt after a minimum of 10 years of training, but it will almost certainly take longer than that.
What do girls wear to no gi? ›If you are a woman it is pretty standard to wear leggings to no-gi classes. If you have a tight-fitting rashguard designed for running or surfing you can wear that, but any normal shirt you might wear to the gym will also suffice for your first class.
Do you wear anything under a BJJ gi? ›Under the Gi
We recommend your shirt be made of sweat wicking material and to avoid heavy/thick cotton materials that will trap sweat and heat. BJJ specific training shirts are commonly called “rashguards” and can be purchased at our front desk or from online retailers like Amazon.
Whether you train with or without a gi, you will need to have a good rash guard. Your rash guard goes under your gi, and it helps protect your skin from scrapes and skin burns. A rash guard also keeps your body warm and helps your muscles stay supple while grappling.
Is white belt or blue belt better in BJJ? ›White belt is the first belt within Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The rank is held by any practitioner new to the art and has no prerequisite. Blue belt -The blue belt is the second adult rank in the Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Should I do BJJ or Krav Maga? ›BJJ allows you to regularly train effective self-defense techniques that work against a resisting opponent. Krav Maga uses techniques that can't be trained regularly like eye-gouging and crotch strikes, so training is more conceptual and you're less likely to deal with stressful situations effectively.
What is the difference between jujitsu and judo? ›Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu emphasizes grappling and a focus on ground fighting. Judo, by contrast, emphasizes throwing techniques with less emphasis on fighting on the ground. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can be more dynamic than Judo because it requires constant movement. Judo, however, can be less physically demanding.
What is the easiest black belt to get? ›A student can earn a black belt in Tae Kwon Do faster than in any other form of the martial arts. Black belts in Tae Kwon Do are achieved in degrees, with the practitioner able to earn the first-degree black belt within three to five years.
How many years does it take to get a blue belt in BJJ? ›On average, 25 classes per stripe, 18-24 months of training with a minimum of 125-150 classes.
How many years does it take to get a red belt in BJJ? ›
The 9th and final stripe (Red Belt) is awarded after an additional 10 years. In total, reaching the 9th degree black belt (or Red Belt) in BJJ will take a minimum of 48 years after being granted a black belt. Keep in mind that this is 48 years of qualifying BJJ activity under IBJJF rules.
Can a Navy SEAL beat a MMA fighter? ›Conclusion – Could a Navy Seal Beat an Experienced MMA Fighter In a Street Fight? In a street fight, Navy Seal would win against experienced MMA fighter, because they are trained for exact that life or death situations.
Is Krav Maga offensive or defensive? ›Krav Maga has a philosophy emphasizing aggression, and simultaneous defensive and offensive maneuvers. Krav Maga has been used by the Israel Defense Forces' special forces units, the security apparatus, and by regular infantry units.
Which is harder to learn Judo or BJJ? ›After the above discussion, we can say, without any doubt, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is easier to learn as compared to Judo and Wrestling. The following reasons can help you to understand why BJJ is easy and beneficial to learn: Real-life Fighting System.
What martial arts does John Wick use? ›The director of John Wick, Chad Stahelski, states that John uses and is proficient in Japanese jiu-jitsu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, tactical 3-gun, and Standing Judo. It is pretty much a made up art that has been labeled Gun fu. It's a mixture of all the nuances of the best martial arts mixed with artful gun handling.
Are there takedowns in BJJ? ›Takedowns are not as crucial in BJJ as in other grappling arts like wrestling and Judo, but they are still taught and used. To be a complete martial artist or even a grappler, you need to learn how to take someone to the ground and defend against the most common takedowns and throws.