Mastering Jiu Jitsu Moves
Getting down Jiu Jitsu Moves
The art of Jiu Jitsu is known for its amazing amount of moves. The sheer variety of all these Jiu Jitsu moves is among the prime reasons why so many are attracted to this martial art. Once you see all the amazing sweeps, submissions, reversals, and escapes, you just have to take the initiative to try the art out. 
There is certainly nothing wrong with drawing any inspiration from what you see on the mat. Many of the absolute greatest talents in the art started out in such a way.
However, there needs to be an understanding how to approach Jiu Jitsu moves. First and foremost, you must be aware of the back that skill in the moves does not come from merely memorizing them. The memorization approach has to be among the worst ones you could ever take. The reason is simply learning the moves in a cursory manner and amassing a tremendous amount of submissions, sweeps, and the like does not make for an effective translation to skill. The truth here is probably you will not develop any skill whatsoever since this is not the means in which skill is gained.
You also need to avoid the desire to learn a lot of flashy moves. Sure, it can be a lot of fun to learn a whole host of different flashy moves. However, very few of these moves actually work when it really comes down to it. Consider them to be more for fun and coordination as opposed to the moves you would be more seriously interested in learning to enhance your potential to become a much better Jiu Jitsu fighter.
Jiu Jitsu Moves, Making them Work
What do you really need in order to make Jiu Jitsu moves work? Basically, you will want to stick with basic moves that fit your body type and your athletic ability. You will not have a tough time trying to figure out the best moves for you because you will pick them up in your training travels. You could say the moves pick you a bit more than you opt to pick your moves.
You also need to invest quite a bit of time in building up the attributes required for your moves to be successful. This means you must take time out to enhance your conditioning, your strength, and your flexibility. Taking the steps to enhance your conditioning in such a way would work wonders as far as helping make your Jiu Jitsu moves work for you. And that really is what you want when all is said and done.
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The Basics of Grappling Submissions
Grappling Submissions, What’s Up?
Grappling submissions are found in many different styles of the martial arts. You will find them in mixed martial arts, traditional arts. self-defense programs, and, of course, submission wrestling. 
On the surface, there may seem to be a great many different submissions which make up the totality of concession moves. This might be the perceptions but there really are not as many core submissions as you would think.
Generally, you have chokes and joint locks. Chokes are done through using apparel such as a Gi (Judo/Jiu Jitsu uniform) or naked when the arms or the legs are employed to deliver the choke. Joint locks entail a hyperextension, a twisting motion, and, in some instances, a compression. These attacks can be performed on the upper or lower body joints.
Here is a look at the different grappling submissions which can be performed on the elbow. The well known straight armbar is a form of a hyperextension. A kimura is an example of a twisting lock which can affect the elbow (and the shoulder) in a different manner. A bicep crusher would be among the most common form of a compression lock which causes pain on the elbow but the true damage which is being caused is the implosion of the elbow which can cause a major injury.
This does lead to another point about the concept of grappling submissions. Many who are not very familiar with how submission fighting works might assume there is no real chance of injury because they are watching the holds performed in a controlled manner with the intention of getting a concession from another athlete. These are not seen as a means of breaking a joint or trying to intentionally injure another person. What can be missed here is the obvious fact that someone quits a match when caught in a submission hold is due to the fact that something is about to be broken which is why someone quits.
Similarly, someone will quit a choke because of the fact they may be put to sleep. In some instances, a person caught in a choke will go to sleep trying to fight the choke to the bitter end. Very, very few fighters would be willing to have an arm or leg broken for no reason so they will begrudgingly tap out when caught in a joint lock. As the saying goes, you must live to fight another day. In this case, you will be able to fight another day because you have not suffered a severe injury as a result of a joint lock destroying your ligaments.
Grappling Submissions Bottom Line
In terms of the variety of different grappling submissions, the truth here is there are not all that many different submissions as much as there are scores of different entries to the submissions. So, you are not seeing all that many different finishing submissions but you are seeing quite a number of different setups and entries which can run into the thousands. You might never be able to document them all and you do not have to. All you need is to have a few high percentage ones in your toolbox.
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What is a Jiu Jitsu Fighter?
Portland Jiu Jitsu Fighter
Do you want to be a Jiu Jitsu fighter? If so you are chasing a noble goal and you can attain great success. The first step would be to define what exactly a fighter of Jiu Jitsu actually would be.
A Jiu Jitsu fighter is a practitioner of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu who moves out of the club and competes either in Gi or No Gi grappling events, MMA, or combinations of the three. 
To compete in such an event are given a higher level of respect because they reflect a commitment to performing and putting their skills and reputation on the line.
Some might not know this but there is actually a belt ranking for someone who is a Jiu Jitsu fighter. This belt is a black belt with a white bar. The white bar represents a black belt’s status as high level fighter. This is not to so those without a white bar and, for that matter, those who have not yet been promoted to the level of a black belt are not fighters. You can be a fighter in the world of Jiu Jitsu without having reached a high level of belt ranking. Those who have reached the promotion of a black belt and can fight with a high level of skill are honored with a special ranking.
Jiu Jitsu Fighter, Understanding the Basics
One thing you do need to understand about being a Jiu Jitsu fighter, you do not have to be a stellar athlete or even someone who wins all the time. The mere fact that the person is willing to compete and put in the required effort to train for events and step on the mat is someone who is fighting. And this would be true even on the white belt level. And you do not even need to compete in many matches. Even doing one or two events a year is acceptable.
Another item to mention here is that those wishing to learn the art of BJJ will find taking part in tournaments and other such events prove to be a great extension of the classroom. To say you will learn a lot training for and competing in an event would be the understatement of a significant degree.
Developing the skills of a top Jiu Jitsu fighter is not easy but those willing to put the time and effort into the process will find it well worth the effort. Once you develop such skills, you can then move onto you the next great phase which would be becoming a talented trainer, teacher, and coach.
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Traditional Jiu Jitsu vs Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Compare the Different Jiu Jitsu’s
The topic of Jiu Jitsu vs Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one that never seems to go away. There is a bit of confusion among those who might be new to the martial arts as to what is the difference between traditional Japanese Jiu Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. 
The difference between the two is quite pronounced although it is true that the modern version of BJJ traces its origins back through Judo to the Jiu Jitsu styles which would evolve into Judo.
The prime difference between the two is that traditional Jiu Jitsu is more of a standup art with an emphasis on standing joint locks and throws while Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is known for its ground grappling approach which involves a more wrestling oriented system with a greater emphasis on leverage. The Jiu Jitsu vs Brazilian Jiu Jitsu discussion will often be rooted in the notion of strength vs. leverage as traditional Jiu Jitsu did emphasize strength more.
Traditional Japanese Jiu Jitsu will have varying degrees of effectiveness in terms of the way it is taught. The art was originally born from the days of the samurai where joint locks and throws were most commonly employed because it was not as if you could feasibly strike someone wearing armor. The joints on the armor – the wrists and elbow joints in particular – were susceptible to manipulation. Throws an groundwork were part of the mix with Japanese Jiu Jitsu. However, they would become more pronounced in later years when the era of the samurai ended. Since people were no longer wearing armor and instead were wearing the traditional martial arts Gi, the art was modified to incorporate the jacket wrestling style. Some stayed within the traditional standing joint lock approach and others opted to stick with the more combative throwing and ground grappling aspect. Judo would eventually be born from this and the original more expansive ground grappling techniques would be preserved and built upon. So, you could say the argument of Jiu Jitsu vs Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one rooted in traditional training vs. modern training although there are definitely TJJ systems which are much more modern in their approach to learning and skill development.
Actually, that would be somewhat of an understatement as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu truly did completely revolutionize the martial arts by reintroducing not just ground grappling but a leverage based one which opens the door to being more accessible to a wider range of different people from various different backgrounds.
Now, a common misconception about Japanese Jiu Jitsu is that it lacks effectiveness. The truth is those who train it within a realistic, combative method and integrate BJJ and Judo training into the mix. Such a comprehensive approach helps enhance a traditional art and bring more into the modern era via more effective training methods that keep the original core techniques allowing them to work.
The Jiu Jitsu Conclusion
Ultimately, the concept of Jiu Jitsu vs Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one that should not be considered a “for or against” argument since both arts can complement each other. Learning both is not necessarily a bad idea.
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The Simple Jiu Jitsu Tips to Follow
Jiu Jitsu Tips, for All
A comprehensive listing of Jiu Jitsu tips would be a little difficult to provide. The reason is that people have different body structures, strengths/weaknesses, and approaches to their training. 
There are, however, quite a number of common tips for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu which can greatly help your ability to get the most out of the game.
However, there are some pointers which many will consider BJJ common sense. Here is a look at some of those more common tips:
Probably the most helpful Jiu Jitsu tips you will hear in BJJ is that you should stress position over submission. There is good reason why this advice is given so frequently – it makes sense. When you are able to dominate the position, you increase your chances of finishing with a submission. Rushing errantly into submissions is rarely a strategy for success.
Work on escapes early in your game. Actually, you want to work on escapes all throughout your BJJ career but you definitely need to put a lot of emphasis on them early in the game since you will find yourself in inferior positions more often when you are a beginner. Clearly, you need to work on getting out of them.
Follow the 80/20 rule of BJJ – examine where you spend 80% of your time in sparring and then invest 80% of your training on building up these areas. The remaining 20% can mimic whatever your wish it to but 80% of your time should be spent covering your strengths and weaknesses in relation to the time you spend on the mat rolling. This will do a great deal to help ensure your skills improve in the correct areas. Often dismissed, the 80/20 rule is among the most vital of all Jiu Jitsu tips.
You should look for being a precise mechanically as possible when learning new (and reviewing old) moves. The reason this is so important is that even if you are only slightly off with your precision, the move you try to execute just might fail. This can lead to a lot of frustration or worse, muscle. That brings us to the next point – do not muscle any techniques! Doing so implies you are trying to use brute force to finish a move. A strategy such as that rarely works when you deal with a bigger or more athletic opponent.
When you roll (grappling sparring) with a training partner, go slow and work more on technique and skill in performance. Never make a rolling session one that is overly competitive or too fast and uncontrolled. Not only do you undermine the ability to learn, you also greatly increase the potential for injury.
Straight Forward Jiu Jitsu Tips
As you can see, there is no magic or mystery with Jiu Jitsu tips. Rather, there are straight forward points of advice and insight which can definitely help your game. As long as you adhere to these very basic tips and insights, you will discover your game improves somewhat dramatically….and that is no exaggeration!
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The Main Jiu Jitsu Positions
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Positions
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu remains an interesting martial art because it is primarily a ground fighting system. Now, BJJ is not the only ground fighting/grappling art in existence but it is rather unique in the sense that it promotes position over submission and attacks. 
What does this mean? The art seeks to establish and dominate with certain positions in order to put the BJJ fighter into the best position to submit or strike an opponent. Similarly, the practitioner will also invest a great deal of time learning to escape from Jiu Jitsu positions so as not to fall victim to them. The escapes are more leverage based as opposed to bridging type escapes which require most power, speed, and explosion.
The main Jiu Jitsu positions are the mount, the guard, the knee on stomach, the back mount, and side control. Each one serves similar purposes but all of the positions have their own unique nuances as well..
The mount is sometimes called the saddle position and it basically entails straddling on top of an opponent who is on his back. The mount requires very precise moves to escape from and those who do not know how to escape will open themselves up for submissions and strikes. Commonly, this is because they will overextend their arms of roll to their back. In a sense, the mere fact you mount and opponent takes a lot of work off your hands since you opponent will be prone to making many numerous mistakes.
The rear mount entails taking an opponent’s back and using the feet as hooks into the thighs. This is a terrible position to be in since you really cannot defend yourself very well when having an opponent on your back that can strike or choke at will.
The side control is basically a lateral pin although BJJ practitioners do not really look at pins as an end so much as a means to an end. Commonly, the side control will be the position you see the most in BJJ matches. Mounting or taking an opponent’s back is difficult so often the side control is the best the fractioned can get. That is not to dismiss the value of the side control position as it is an excellent source of offensive moves.
The Knee on Stomach is primarily a transitional position since it does not have effective pinning or holding capabilities. However, it can make an excellent striking position. Frequently, the knee on stomach is taken when an opponent is escaping your pin or you are trying to pin an opponent but cannot and accept the openings for the knee on stomach.
Probably the most popular of the Jiu Jitsu positions is the guard. The guard is really not a singular term. There are many different variations on the guard – various open, closed, and half versions — which can be employed. No matter what type of guard you are using, the purpose remains the same: it is a defensive position with a tremendous number of offensive and defensive maneuvers.
Jiu Jitsu Positions + Wrestling
There are other positions which you will see but they are really not Jiu Jitsu positions as they are more judo or wrestling oriented. These would be the scarf hold, headlocks, north/south position, and the reverse scarf hold. While most Jiu Jitsu players do not use these positions, many use them and use them to great success.
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Women’s Jiu Jitsu for Fitness and Conditioning
Listing all the benefits of women’s jiu Jitsu would take a multi-volume encyclopedia. Of the many benefits that it offers, the art remains one of the best ways for women to get into great physical condition. At this point, some might be wondering how women’s jiu Jitsu can be an improvement over cardio kickboxing which is commonly the preferred martial fitness program for most women.
Cardio kickboxing does have value but many cardio kickboxing programs are great for burning calories but they are lacking in much practical martial arts training. Women’s jiu Jitsu is not a derivative of the martial arts. It is a martial art and easily in the top three of the most popular martial arts in the world. That means what you learn in a women’s Jiu Jitsu class will work in self defense scenarios. The same cannot be said of a lot of cardio kickboxing programs out there.
A partner conditioning drill used in our women’s Jiu Jitsu classes in Portland:
Yet, this brings us back to the topic of BJJ for fitness. A common concern arises whether or not jiu Jitsu delivers on fitness goals as well as martial ability. Many women look towards physical fitness programs for their ability to burn fat, tone muscle, and enhance conditioning. Can women’s Jiu Jitsu do that? The answer is yes. While many may look on the internet and see technique instruction, this may give them somewhat of a false impression of how the art is taught. Technique instruction is designed for learning and demonstration. It really is not intended to promote weight loss. However, there are two other very important components to women’s jiu Jitsu that are connected to learning the technique. These would be drilling and rolling.
Drilling entails performing the techniques in a repetitive (albeit never boring) manner for several minutes and repetitions. The prime goal here is to ingrain the movements so that you become more familiar with them. Also, cardio conditioning and muscular endurance – i.e. physical fitness — is improved through doing so.
Rolling is a nice way of saying “free sparring” and there is no striking or injurious moves involved. This reduces your potential for getting hurt while at the same time boosting your fitness levels.
How does all this contribute to fitness?
On the most basic of levels, a lot of physical movement is required to drill and roll. When you are moving for a half hour to an hour straight at a low to moderate intensity, you will be burning calories – a lot of calories! You could burn 500 – 750 calories in a moderate intensity class. A higher intensity class could burn far more than that.
Drilling and rolling in women’s Jiu Jitsu also entails using every muscle in the human body. That alone contributes immensely to the ability to tone the body. Better yet, it tones the body without adding an unnecessary amount of mass to the body. For most women, this would be the perfect results to seek from a workout program which is why women’s Jiu Jitsu remains the perfect are for the fitness minded.
Learn about Jiu Jitsu tournaments in Portland
Try a women’s Jiu Jitsu class in Portland