What's Brazilian jiu-jitsu? It is both a martial art and a combat sport that targets on grappling in order for you to subdue your enemy.

Many of the techniques were adopted from judo and jiu-jitsu. Picking up how to perform the actual technique enables even a smaller and weaker person to beat a person that is stronger which is why it is also used in self-defense classes.

BJJ developed as recently as in the 1920’s. It recently attained global recognition after Royce Gracie was victorious at the UFC tournament four times after it was founded in 1993. Due to the domination, thousands of academies are now instructing this art.

One can most likely say that its significance as a sport is second after football.  There are tournaments held regularly like the European Championships, the Mundials and the Pan American Games

If you desire to excel in bjj, practice makes perfect and the sole way you are able to do that is via training and sparring. This means sparring against a live and resisting partner under simulated conditions while at the same time being careful not to inflict any serious injuries.

During training and tournaments, grapplers are required to wear the gi. It looks just like what you would have on when you train judo. The only difference is that the uniform has more restrictive cuffs on both the jacket and pants.

Submissions in Brazilian jiu-jitsu are performed either through chokes or joint locks. Choking as you know involves constricting the windpipe so the enemy is not able to breathe. Apart from that, there's also what is known as strangling which cuts off the carotid artery. Choking is less efficient than a strangle and can cause permanent damage or death which is why the latter is used more frequently during tournaments.

As for joint locks which are more likely safer, what you are doing is making a lever with the body position which will force the joint to move past its normal range of motion. This is better known as hyperextension and since there is no escape out of it, the foe has no other recourse but to submit. 

Everybody can be taught jiu-jitsu. As you grow, you are promoted to the next belt level. Beginners start with the white and move their way towards the red belt. For those who are below 15 years old, you progress your way from white to green belt.

How quickly you grow depends on the amount of time the person invests and how quickly they learn. To obtain the elite class for example, it requires at least ten years or even more.

With Brazilian jiu-jitsu leaving its mark on the world scene, you won’t have a difficult time discovering a gymnasium that's offering classes. The only thing you have to do now is manage your time properly since this is done in a group setting and you are just one of many that are learning the ropes of this art. As a newbie, you don’t have to get a gi so just come in wearing a t-shirt and shorts.  If you are trying to find a bjj blog that doesn't take it too seriously, you should check out doyoubjj.com.