Jiu-jitsu emerged in Japan over 3,600 years ago. It is speculated that it has the same origins as wushu, or kung fu, created in China. In jiu-jitsu, the body is used as leverage to knock down or neutralize larger enemies without traumatic blows. Strategy was fundamental, between the 11th and 19th centuries, for samurai to face opponents with heavy armor, even without a sword. With the large wave of immigration to Europe and the Americas, at the beginning of the 20th century, the “gentle art” gained the world. Before that, it was a crime punishable by death to teach jiu-jitsu – a military secret – to non-Japanese. Away from the roots, the new masters created styles such as judo and aikido (find out in future editions). Around here, the Gracie family developed “Brazilian jiu-jitsu”, the most practiced in the world. :-O
• This is the 3rd chapter of the series about the main martial arts in the world
FIGHT WITH INTELLIGENCE
In jiu-jitsu, exploiting the opponent’s mistakes counts more than using strength and speed.
NO ATTACK
In addition to taking down, it is important to immobilize the opponent
FLYING ARMB KEY
Ideal for a fighter smaller and weaker than the opponent. Allows you to use your opponent’s strength to immobilize him, locking his arms
SCISSORS
The kanibasami is known in gyms, but banned in competitions due to the risk of seriously injuring the opponent’s knee.
KILL LION
Originally from Japanese jiu-jitsu, but heavily used in the Brazilian style. When applied correctly, it can decide a fight.
IN DEFENSE
Escaping a pin is crucial. See how to do it:
EXHAUST
The first step in escaping a pin is to rotate your hips to lift your back off the ground and onto your side.
DOMINATE
The arms are used to move the opponent and try to dominate him. The legs lock the torso and one of the opponent’s legs
END
That’s it: now it’s the opponent who is immobilized with a rear naked choke. To work, the sequence needs to be light
MITSUYO MAEDA
(1878 – 1941)
He won over 2,000 fights and was dubbed the «strongest man who ever lived». In 1915, a year after arriving in Brazil, he created a school in Belém do Pará and taught jiu-jitsu to Gastão Gracie and his son Carlos. At the age of 19, Carlos went to Rio de Janeiro and founded the Gracie Academy in 1925.
IT’S FROM BRAZIL!
The biggest tournament in the world, with up to 3,000 athletes, takes place every July at Ginásio do Ibirapuera, in São Paulo
THE RULE IS CLEAR
The fight is conducted by a single judge, who is inside the platform, following the fighters at a safe distance. He is assisted by a timekeeper, who is positioned at a table in the background, and by a pollster, who updates the scoreboard.
GAME OVER
The fight can even be won by whoever is behind on the scoreboard. A painful blow is enough to make the fighter hit the mat or opponent’s body three times. “The purpose of jiu-jitsu is to make the opponent surrender”, says Moisés Muradi, president of the Brazilian Sports Jiu-Jitsu Confederation
RUNNING TIME
The fight has no rounds and, depending on the category, lasts from five to ten minutes. Categories are established by age. Those over 18 are divided by weight and belt
RIGHT POINT
Projection strikes – which throw the opponent to the ground – are worth 2 points, but there are also strikes worth 3 or 4 points. Whoever adds the most at the end of time is the winner. In cases of a tie, uncompleted strokes may decide the outcome.