What is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art focusing largely on grappling and ground fighting. It utilizes natural body leverage and proper technique to obtain dominant control on the ground and, as a result, provides greater position for striking or submission holds.
BJJ has been proven, when used properly, to be an effective method for dealing with bigger and stronger opponents and has become increasingly popular due in part to its great success in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It can be trained for self defense, sport grappling (gi and no-gi) and mixed martial arts competition and has found its way into the training regiment of nearly every successful martial artist worldwide.
Translated as “the gentle art,” Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu focuses on using strength and technique in the most efficient way possible to control and overcome opponents of greater size, strength and aggression. With its roots in the Japanese Jiu-Jitsu of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the art found its way to Brazil in 1910, when Mitsuyo Maeda, a Japanese Jiu-Jitsu and Judo expert, emigrated to the country. There he became friends with Gastao Gracie, an influential businessman who helped Maeda get established. In return, Maeda taught Jiu-Jitsu to Gracie’s sons, who became very proficient in the art, eventually passing on Maeda’s teaching in their own schools. The many additions, modifications, and refinements to the art made by the Gracie family were tested against other styles with great success, propelling Gracie Jiu-Jitsu into the martial arts world and creating a tradition that lives on today.
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Professor Marcello Monteiro & Master Ricardo De La Riva
Copyrights 2012. Michael Proctor Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. All rights reserved.
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The ranking system in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is done through a series of colored belts. Each belt represents a level of proficiency. Each belt generally takes between 2 and 5 years of consistent practice to obtain with the exception of Blue belt, which can be obtained within a year of diligent practice.
These are the Belt Ranks typically worn in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:
Note: There are different federations and associations of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. These are the belt ranks that are commonly worn.
The order of belts is as follows: White, Blue, Purple, Brown and Black. Some schools give four (white) stripes on White through Brown Belts. Black Belts will have up to 5 stripes (degrees), usually given every three years, then at sixth and seventh (degree) a Red and Black Belt is worn. At ninth and tenth degree (considered Grand Master), a Red Belt is worn. The highest rank awarded by the IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation is a 9th Degree Red Belt. The 10th degree Red Belt is limited to the pioneers of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Carlos, Helio, Oswaldo, Jorge, and Gastao Gracie, also known as the Gracie Brothers.
