The Problem With Brazilian
Jiu Jitsu Techniques

by Commander Nitro

I am often asked if Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques are really superior to all other styles of martial arts. Of course, the people who ask this question usually have absolutely no experience in the martial arts, and are only relying on what they see on TV and read on the internet. And the people who believe it to be true ALSO have no experience in the martial arts.

The Problem With Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques is that those who practice Brazilian Jiu Jitsu have bought the hype created by UFC promoters and other so-called Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) competitions. These poor misguided people actually believe that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques which work in competition (sometimes) can be reliable in a street-fight or other realistic no-holds-barred situation. The fact is, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques NEVER hold up outside the confines of the competitive format.

But you don't have to take my word for it. Just take notice that no one in the UFC or other MMA competition claims to only practice Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Everyone has figured out that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques are severely lacking when it comes to striking techniques. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has had to adapt in order to meet the evolution of mixed martial arts. And the lack of effective striking is only one of the many holes in the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu system

[Side Note: Click on this link for more information on the history and evolution of Mixed Martial Arts.]

I am going to explain exactly why Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques just won't cut it when it comes to the real test, and that is in a NO RULES street-fight. In order to fully grasp the full picture that makes Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques ineffective in a street fight, one must understand some of the background of the development of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Is it Jiu Jitsu or Judo?

The Brazilians proudly point to a man named Mitsuyo Maeda as the source of all Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques. Mitsuyo Maeda was a Japanese born Judo master and showman. He toured Europe, North and South America extensively, making money teaching Judo and displaying his prowess as a fighter in staged events pitting Eastern fighting styles against Western styles, in so-called "take-on-all-comers" matches.

Maeda eventually ended up settling in Brazil. It is Maeda who they say was responsible for teaching the Gracie brothers back in the 1920‘s, thereby making him fundamental to the development of "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu".

Only trouble is, Maeda didn't know Jiu-Jitsu! Maeda trained exclusively at Jigoro Kano's Kodokan Judo Academy.

Since its inception Judo was separated from Jiu-Jitsu in its goals, philosophy and training regime. It was the purpose of Judo's founder Jigoro Kano to clearly individualize his art. Kano stripped out all lethal techniques, and even most of the risky moves that may result in injury. Judo wasn't a martial art anymore, it was a combative sport.

It is not known why Maeda chose to call his style of judo "Jiu Jitsu". Especially since there was a great rivalry between judo and jiu jitsu schools of that time. One explanation is that Judo wasn't as famous in the 1920's as it is today, and that the traditional term for similar Japanese arts was Jiu-Jitsu. But that doesn't change the fact that it wasn't Jiu Jitsu, it was Judo.

To make matters worse, the Brazilians didn't even use all of Maeda's Judo in the development of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques. You see, a form of competition called Catch Wrestling was much more popular in Brazil at the time than was boxing or other combative sports. Therefore, the Brazilians took from the Japanese Judo only the elements that best suited their national pastime. That is why Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Techniques consist mainly of ground-fighting, not standup fighting.

The elimination of the most important aspect of Japanese Judo (and Jiu Jitsu), the highly mobile standup techniques, I feel cheapens Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques as a whole. Practice that does not include realistic scenarios does not improve one's fighting skills. And it has been proven time and time again that going to the ground in a real street fight can be a death trap! In a REAL fight, the ground is the last place you want to be.

There is no doubt that to have an effective martial art for self-defense, one MUST learn how to fight on the ground. But, ground-fighting should be a "last resort". You should never go to the ground on purpose!

If you think rolling around on the ground with someone who has a knife is a good idea, then you are an idiot!

The Misconception that a Sport is an Effective Form of Self-Defense

The most common translation of the Japanese term Jiu Jitsu (actually jujutsu, or jujitsu) means the "gentle art" - Jiu meaning gentle, and jitsu meaning art. It is explained by the "Brazilians" that the name refers to the fact that jiu jitsu was generally practiced without causing death or dismemberment, unlike the Samurai's more general approach to combat. But that is a false assumption. This misunderstanding of both the meaning of the word and the true practice of the art, have led to the false conclusion that the sport and the martial art are the same thing.

[Side Note: Jiu Jitsu is the Portuguese translation and spelling of the Japanese word Jujutsu (Portuguese is the language of Brazil).]

In one sense this may be true, since jiu jitsu masters can generally end a combat without causing serious harm to their opponents. For example when Royce Gracie won the first two UFCs, he did so without injuring any of his opponents. He drew no blood, broke no bones and yet he was able to subdue his opponents using only Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques specifically designed for that format of competition. Compare this to full contact Muay Thai contests that frequently ends with blood shed, broken bones and concussions.

But that doesn't mean that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques even remotely resemble the true Japanese jiu jitsu. With Japanese jiu jitsu the ability to cause severe damage is there, but it is an option to be used in extreme cases of self-defense. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques do not include such options because inflicting serious damage would result in their format of competition being banned.

The REAL Japanese Jiu Jitsu

Without exception, every jiu jitsu technique devised by the Samurai was specifically designed to break a bone, dislocate a joint, or to kill. The practitioner learns to use these skills carefully and in a way so as not to actually cause damage to his training partner. He then begins to learn to take the technique gradually to the point of painful submission and no farther, by the use of extreme mental and physical control. Finally, the practitioner begins to understand how the application of only slightly more force applied to the technique will result in the ultimate goal, and the original intent of the technique, that is to cause severe injury, or even death, to the opponent.

Japanese jiu jitsu consists of throws, all designed to cause concussions, as well as neck, shoulder and spine breakage upon impact with the ground. With a broken skull, neck or shoulder, the fight is over! Unfortunately, the throws taught in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques are only designed to get the opponent to the ground in order to continue fighting!

Another misunderstanding of the difference between sport and a true combat martial art, is in the use of the term joint locks in jiu jitsu. Locking a joint means taking it to the maximum extent of movement, and no farther. That is not the intent in Japanese jiu jitsu. The intent in Japanese jiu jitsu is to go beyond the point of maximum natural movement to the point of hyper-extension, or hyper-rotation, where the joint actually separates, causing severe injury and loss of function to the joint. That would be illegal in sport competition.

Likewise, strangles, chokes, strikes, and all the other miscellaneous techniques of Japanese jiu jitsu, are designed to cause maximum destruction, even death. When it was really practiced by the Samurai, jiu jitsu was brutal. Those who romanticize the Samurai as being "gentle" are more than likely ignorant of the true history and the vicious nature of the Samurai fighting system.

The Explanation of the "Counter-Offensive" Strategy

Japanese jiu jitsu is also sometimes considered a "soft" martial art because of it's reactive nature; meaning: Japanese jiu jitsu artists allow attackers to come to them; and then utilize what an attacker has given. That is what makes Japanese jiu jitsu the best martial art for self defense. While most unarmed martial arts are inherently defensive in nature, Japanese jiu jitsu is completely different because it utilizes a strategy known as "counter-offensive" techniques.

The most commonly recognized forms of unarmed martial arts, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, the various forms of Kung Fu, and even Kickboxing, are purely defensive in nature. The whole point is to keep the opponent at arm’s length through blocks, punches and kicks, until he is eventually worn down to the point he cannot continue to attack. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques also employ this defensive strategy, but by the use of "the guard", locks, pins and escapes to accomplish this purpose once the fight goes to the ground.

Japanese jiu jitsu is different in that it's effectiveness lies in its deceptiveness!

As previously stated, the term Jiu Jitsu means the gentle, or yielding art. The translation of "yielding" is actually more correct. You see, the concept of yielding states that you do not meet force with force. Such a strategy only leads to a stalemate. By yielding to the force, you may counter-attack when the opponent has expended his force, and must recover in order to attack again. That way, you are attacking from a position of strength just when the opponent is between attacks. This is a fundamental element of Japanese Jiu Jitsu that is lost in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques.

Therefore, the dynamics of Japanese jiu jitsu are closer to the dynamics of a real combat situation. It is rare, if ever, you will be approached by someone who is going to strike the pose of the Crane and challenge you to battle. There is no bell to start the fight, or a referee to enforce the rules. Rarely will you get any warning. Most people who need to defend themselves don't even know they are going to be in a fight until the fight begins. At this point, a trained reactive counter-attack could make the difference between surviving or dying.

The Fatal Flaw in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Techniques

No matter how good your ground game is, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques have a huge weakness in real fights, and it comes from their greatest strength in the ring; the Guard. Heralded as the end all and be all of grappling techniques since Royce Gracie won the second UFC, the Guard is credited with changing the grappling world. In a sense this is true since under the rules of many grappling sports going to your back meant you lost. Also few NHB or street fighters would adopt this posture since you are too vulnerable to strikes and knees (especially to the groin). Also in the street it is the last place you want to be if your foe has a friend.

The Guard is a defensive position. You need never get beaten by the guard if you don't want to be. Then again, you can't win from the guard either. The second Shamrock - Gracie fight proved just that. By doing nothing (guarding), Shamrock was able to keep Gracie from doing, or even attempting anything. The fight degraded to a waiting match with Gracie unable, and Shamrock unwilling, to make a move.

If I had a new fighter and we wanted to go into a match and our only concern was to make the fight last or get a draw, I'd train him in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques. Almost any BJJ player can make you look bad, but I feel it lacks the ability to create mistakes, or to keep the pressure on an opponent. And if anyone has noticed recent UFC and other "MMA" fights, the one using the guard is getting his face pounded to a pulp, but he still maintains the guard. This is the most absurd thing I have ever seen!

The "Street" Effectiveness of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Techniques

Outside the competitive format, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques fail miserably. Why? Exposure! Virtually every takedown of BJJ requires going for the legs. Granted, a highly skilled BJJ player can do it quickly and effectively. Unfortunately, not everyone is as skilled as Royce Gracie, even though they think they are. Anytime you go for the opponent’s legs, you have no choice but to expose your head, neck and spine. Even the novice Japanese Jiu Jitsu player knows how to counter-attack with devastating results when the opponents makes such a glaring mistake. But since UFC and other competitive formats don't allow striking to the back of the head or spine, BJJ players can get away with it.

Let's face it. When the rules of the competition are stacked in your favor, it is easy to win. Go ahead; check the rules for UFC. It lists 31 fouls. Sorry, but you can't call a foul in a street fight! However, people train for these competitions according to the rules of the game.

Unfortunately, most people forget about this when outside the ring. If required to use their skills to defend themselves, they tend to forget where they are and resort to what they have trained for. This is proof enough that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques are not practical for street situations.

But again, I don't expect you to take my word for it. Just ask any reputable BJJ instructor how effective Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques are on the street, and how effective are Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques against multiple attackers. If they are truthful, they will immediately let you know that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques are for competitive formats ONLY and are NOT effective self-defense techniques.

Anyone who tries to tell you otherwise is either a liar, an idiot, or both!

A False Sense of Security

Brazilian jiu jitsu's popularity has lead to the springing up of thousands of schools run by those who don't know anything about grappling.

It now seems that every Karate, Judo, Jeet Kune Do and Kung Fu instructor is now also claiming to be an expert in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques, and saying it can be used for self defense. I see it painted in huge letters on their school windows, but most of those schools are entirely clueless about grappling, much less effective Japanese jiu jitsu. They have no idea what to do on the mat or how to employ their techniques against a live opponent.

I consider what they do to be nothing short of fraudulent. If someone claims they can teach you jiu jitsu - but they can't get on the mat and walk the walk so to speak - then flee out that door - immediately. Same goes for anyone who tells you BJJ is a valid method of self-defense.

There is no doubt that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is at the forefront of the martial arts community. The last 10 years the Brazilians have had amazing success on the mat in a variety of formats. Unfortunately, many have tried to exploit that success claiming that all the credit belongs to the Gracies and Brazilian ingenuity. This is simply not the case. When BJJ is pitted against strikers, brawlers and the unskilled; BJJ wins every time. But when faced with another good grappler with submission skills, BJJ is no better than any other style. In fact, they typically LOSE! It also bothers me that they cling to a false sense of superiority without giving due credit to the long grappling history of Japanese Judo and Jiu Jitsu that has helped shape their art.

CONCLUSION

Of course, BJJ players like Jean Machado, Walid Ismial and the Gracies are great players who are an immediate threat in the ring. But I feel it is their mat experience, athletic gifts and mental agility that make them great. Some claim that it is BJJ and BJJ alone; but that reasoning is simply flawed and is proven wrong time and time again as BJJ falls before fighters from different disciplines. This is not to put BJJ down; but it is silly to believe that it is the end all and be all to grappling, much less an effective form of self-defense.

Years ago when Judo players hopped on the pro circuit with the shooters, wrestlers and boxers they faired no better then anyone else. The Brazilians did not invent grappling and do not have a special hold on the grappling world. They have a style, a good style that is cheapened when they claim it to be more than it is.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques are neither Brazilian nor Jiu Jitsu. They are a stylize form of Japanese Judo, and they may be highly effective under the rules of a competitive format designed for it, but it is NOT an effective form of self-defense in a street fight!

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Techniques - Find out more about the development of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Techniques and the evolution of Mixed Martial Arts with the rise in popularity of fighting competitions such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Pride Fighting Championships.

Combat Jujitsu - Combat Jujitsu is used by US Military Special Operations Forces! It is the deadliest martial art known to man, and would certainly be considered among the Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts.

The Most Effective Martial Art - The Japanese Samurai developed the world's most effective martial art. Consider the popularity of jujutsu, judo, karate, and so forth, and you can appreciate the influence of ancient Japanese methods of combat.