bjj

Acronym for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: A grappling martial art developed in Brazil based on Japanese Jiu-Jitsu. The general idea in BJJ is to first secure the best possible position on the ground, and then to choke or lock-out the joint of an opponent, forcing the opponent to submit, pass out, or suffer serious bodily harm. True to its intent, BJJ was made popular in America by an a Brazilian named Royce Gracie who, at only 175#, succeeded in submitting much larger opponents in the eary days of full-contact limited rules competition. Today, BJJ is generally recognized as the most effective form of ground-fighting. BJJ employs no striking techniques, it is practiced wearing a gi, and it employs a belt system (white, blue, purple, brown, and black). BJJ techniques are often employed to some extent by MMA competitors and by wrestlers, judo players, and other grapplers seeking to add submission techniques to their arsenal.