|
What is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
Jiu-Jitsu began with Mitsuyo Maeda, a Japanese Jiu-Jitsu
master and member of the Kodokan. Maeda emigrated to Brazil in
the 1910s where an influential businessman named Gastão Gracie
helped him get established. In return for his aid, Maeda taught
the fighting art to Gastão's son Carlos Gracie, who then taught
the art to his brothers and sons. When Maeda taught the art to
the Gracies he called it Jiu-jitsu. The Gracie family refined
this art form into what is now known as Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
What makes BJJ different from other martial arts?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu differs from other martial arts in that it
provides solutions for all possible stages of combat. Other
disciplines like Tae Kwon Do or Karate focus on striking and
rely on a person's strength and speed to deliver damage, but
speed and strength doesn't matter when you're on your back.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu differs from other martial arts
fundamentally. While other martial arts rely heavily on strength
and speed, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu relies on superior technique and
leverage.
What's a Gi?
A Gi (sometimes referred to as Kimono) is the uniform that is
typically worn when training Jiu-Jitsu. It consists of 3 pieces:
a jacket (or top), pants, and a belt. The material in which the
three pieces are made is specially reinforced to withstand the
rigors of daily practice. Many Jiu-Jitsu players regard their Gi
in the same way a knight would their armor. Most practitioners
of Jiu-Jitsu who advocate the usage of the Gi cite the more
technical aspect of grappling with a Gi.
What are the Belt Rankings in Jiu-Jitsu?
As with other martial arts, the progress of a student is marked
with a series of colored belts. Unlike other martial arts where
Black Belt marks a person’s proficiency in a style, in Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu the rank of Black Belt is conferred to individuals who
have
mastered the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
The belts in order are: White, Blue, Purple, Brown and Black.
Often schools award four stripes for White through Brown belts.
Black Belts are typically awarded one stripe every three years
up to ten stripes. There are special classifications for Black
Belts fighter and instructors. Instructors have Black Belts with
Red bands and Black Belt fighters have White Bands. Typically,
Black Belt instructors are not allowed to promote others up to
Black Belt rank until they receive their first stripe. The ranks
for children are different. Blue belt and higher ranks have age
requirements so children have the following ranks beginning with
White, Yellow, Orange and Green. Each belt has 4 stripes. These
belts are utilized until age 16.
How long until I get my Black Belt?
Typically, it takes anywhere from 8 to 15 years to attain the
rank of Black Belt in Jiu-Jitsu. Each belt (with the exception
of Blue) takes about 2-5 years of dedicated practice; Blue Belt
can often be attained in about a year of dedicated study.
Is Jiu-Jitsu safe?
At the Renzo Gracie Academy safety is paramount. Accidents may
happen, however, lack of seriousness during training and the
resultant careless application of technique or counters
contribute greatly to injury. Careless practice is disrespectful
to the spirit of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
Who can learn Jiu-Jitsu?
Practically anyone can utilize the techniques created by Carlos
Gracie. Carlos Gracie, when he created his revolutionary system,
weighed no more than 135 lbs. The core principle of Gracie
Jiu-jitsu is to provide a method for smaller, weaker individuals
to protect themselves from bigger, stronger attackers.
Is BJJ good exercise?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can provide you with far more extensive
results than typical aerobic exercise. The resistance
encountered while rolling provides you with a good base to
improve your core strength through intense abdominal workout,
increase your muscle tone, and reduce you body fat while
improving your balance, bodily coordination, cardio vascular
capacity, and muscular endurance.
What do I wear my first time (Intro Class) to class?
The best thing to wear to a first class is a shirt and shorts. A
mouthpiece is also recommended and although it's not required it
is recommended that guys wear an athletic support.
What's a typical class like?
We begin class with some light calisthenics and stretching.
Following our warm-up we then begin drilling technique. These
drills when done over and over help form muscle memory and help
our students retain technique. After our drilling is completed
then we begin to spar (or roll). Rolling is when students are
able to put their techniques to the test with training partners
who can resist and counter just as they would in an actual
fight, providing valuable real-world experience should the
techniques ever need to be applied in an actual fight. |
