IBrazilian Jiu Jitsu was born thanks to the Gracie family and the dedication of brothers Carlos and Helio. After learning the Japanese fighting style from Mitsuyo Maeda, a student of Jigoro Kano, they adapted it to Helio’s smaller physique—thus making it accessible to everyone—by placing greater emphasis on ground fighting. They solidified their technical development through “Vale Tudo” no-rules competitions in Brazil to prove BJJ’s effectiveness against all other martial arts and combat sports. This effort was continued by Rorion Gracie, Helio’s eldest son, who created the UFC in the United States for this very purpose, ultimately convincing the whole world.
The strategy of BJJ can be summarized in a four-phase approach:
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Establish a clinch to control the opponent. Consider the early, unstoppable Mike Tyson: even the least skilled boxer he faced was able, at least a couple of times, to halt his onslaught by clinching until the referee separated them. For us, it’s enough just to make contact.
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Once strikes (kicks and punches) are minimized by a tight clinch, bring the opponent to the ground with specific takedown techniques. This forces them to move while restricted by the floor and in a horizontal position, allowing a physically smaller person to handle the situation with greater ease.
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Pass the “barrier” of the legs to place the opponent in a control position. There are four possible variations of this control, during which you can “negotiate” a peaceful submission or proceed to phase four. The ability to hold an opponent in a controlled position without continuously striking them makes BJJ an excellent tool for law enforcement or self-defense.
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As a last resort, submit the opponent using joint locks or chokes. The human body is not designed to strike with maximum force repeatedly, which is why boxers and kickboxers protect their hands and feet to reduce the risk of fractures—something that still happens frequently in sporting events. The ability to grapple is much more in tune with the human body, allowing physically smaller individuals to overcome opponents who are more athletic or larger.
