Jiu-jitsu is a martial art originating in 19th century Japan. It emphasizes self-defense with a philosophy of adaptability. The art was brought by traveling teachers to Brazil, where it took on characteristics distinct from the original jiu-jitsu. While the two martial arts share common fundamentals and philosophies, there are distinctions.
History
Traditional jiu-jitsu had been practiced for centuries in Japan before Jigoro Kano reformed the art in 1882. Kano took ancient jiu-jitsu practices and forms and modernized them, making the art more practical against opponents. He called his new art judo. A student of judo named Mitsuyo Maeda became so proficient, he went his entire martial arts career undefeated in sparring competition. Maeda eventually moved to Brazil in the early 20th century and established Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Carlos Gracie, a student of Maeda's, dedicated himself to Maeda's form of jiu-jitsu and reinforced the Brazilian variant of the martial art with his own line of schools.
Classical Jiu-Jitsu
Jiu-jitsu's name means "flexible" or "yielding" in Japanese. Classical jiu-jitsu began as a striking martial art focused on disarming or incapacitating larger or armored opponents through precision and transfer of balance. "Yielding" in this sense refers more to avoiding an opponent's strengths, rather than directly opposing them, or literally giving into them. Jiu-jitsu teaches joint locks, pins and throws as a means of countering stronger opponents.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Descending from classic jiujitsu, Brazilian jiu-jitsu retains much of the striking moves, joint locks and throws. The Brazilian art, however, has developed a heavy emphasis on ground fighting, including pins, grappling and submission. Brazilian jiu-jitsu prides itself on a comparatively easy learning curve, which allows newcomers to practice at a competitive level with minimal experience.
Making the Distinction
While the two martial arts share much in common, Brazilian jiu-jitsu's defining aspect is its emphasis on ground fighting. In classical jiu-jitsu competition, an opponent is defeated after being pinned for more than 25 seconds. Ground fights in the Brazilian art are considered an effective battle space. Classical and Brazilian styles also stem from two different philosophies. Classical jiu-jitsu was formed as a means of continuing combat while unarmed on a battlefield. A combatant in this situation would be wary of committing to a grappling fight on the ground, even if to defeat an opponent, as this would make him vulnerable to additional opponents. Brazilian jiu-jitsu emphasizes one-on-one competition, irrespective of strategic position.
References
- Shen Wu: History of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation: The History of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Grapple Arts; Submission Grappling vs. Classical Ju-Jutsu; When Cultures and Concepts Collide"; Stephan Kesting and Alexander Kask; 2005
- Jiu-Jitsu: Jiu-Jitsu History
- Jiu-Jitsu Techniques: Japanese Versus Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
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