08-16-2009
A New Focus in Jiu-Jitsu

I personally believe that Jiu-Jitsu is for self defense first and competition second. I'm starting to see a lot of schools focus more on the competitive side of Jiu-Jitsu and completely forget about the self defense. I don't like it. Why is this a big deal? We are forgetting the lessons Helio Gracie taught us about how we need to always assume our opponent is bigger and stronger then us. That way we will focus on technique rather then brute strength. More and More young American wrestlers are getting into the sport. In wrestling it's always go go go! Use your strength, give it your all, force them into submission. They tend to be young men who sign up for tournaments, fighting someone in their own weight class. Sure you can muscle someone your size around but at what cost. Most of these young men are out of the sport after two knee operations or a separated shoulder. They think that winning is the only thing and if they lose in class they get mad and storm off the mat in disgust. They have no problems hurting others and most of them don't last long or their training partners. Have you ever seen a couple guys in their late twenties start a collegiate wrestling club for fun? No, because it's really rough and not a lot of fun, plus they get hurt. They start a jiu jitsu club and they think its like wrestling but you can be on your back, but don't comprehend what Jiu-Jitsu is really all about. Jiu-Jitsu is the "gentle" art. It's full of astounding moves and technique that requires practice for sure but is amazing for the practitioner once they have attained the master levels. Without effort they can control and dominate other human beings without too much force and muscle. Why because of the practice. These wrestler guys wont be around to get to that level, sadly.
- Category(s)
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu



Love this post. My instructor is constantly drilling us on this same topic. He says competitions are a great way to test your skill level against other people who have been training for the same amount of time, but competitions are not the focus on training BJJ. If you train only to win at competitions, eventually, you'll lose and then you'll get frustrated and quit. You train for self defense, for fitness and for the love of the art.
Keith, what do you suggest when your rolling partner is muscling it, but you don't want to? Will pure technique win over strength? I find that I try to roll with the focus on technique, but alot of guys tend to use more strength than technique.