What do Keanu Reeves, Mark Zuckerberg, series actor Ed O'Neill and Imagine Dragons singer Dan Reynolds have in common? Their passion for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ). What exactly is it and why is the sport becoming increasingly popular in this country?
Oss! A man in a kimono can be heard shouting. He is standing in a large room lined with mats. Shortly afterwards, his students try to bring each other to the ground using a variety of methods. Once they have succeeded, the next task is to keep the opponent down. This sounds relatively simple, but it is definitely a challenge.
BJJ is one of the gentler sports in the field of mixed martial arts (MMA). This includes karate, taekwondo and Muay Thai, also known as Thai boxing. The roots of BJJ lie in Japanese Kodokan Judo, which was brought to Brazil by immigrants. There it was modified and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was born.
The variant used in Brazil is about surviving street fights. Kicks and punches from opponents must be fended off. The situation is different at most BJJ schools around the world, where a competition-oriented method is taught. It is less about punches and more about grappling, a technique reminiscent of wrestling.
The advantages of BJJ
As well as strengthening the cardiovascular system, the sport also has a positive impact on mental health. "There are countless examples of how BJJ helps people with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and other problems. I myself used to suffer from panic attacks," says trainer Neale Hoerle. Jiu Jitsu helped him to "ground" himself. "I honestly don't know what would have happened to my life without this sport," says the Las Vegas black belt (2nd degree) holder.
Here you can watch the owner of the black belt practicing the sport over his shoulder.
The aim of BJJ is to make the opponent "tap".
The process of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can be summarized in a few steps: In competition and also in normal training(sparring), the opponent must be taken to the mat(takedowns). He must not get into a good fighting position(guard pull & guard pass, sweeps). The opponent should give up and hit the ground with the flat of his hand (tap).
To achieve this, various techniques(chokes and leverage techniques) are used. It is also important not to forget your own defense(recovery and defense). A good BJJ athlete is very flexible and always adapts his tactics to the opponent's strategy.
BJJ not only requires physical coordination, you also have to have your head in the game.
When you take part in a jiu-jitsu competition, you want to win. To do this, you need enough points. You can get them, for example, by making your opponent "tap". If your opponent is tougher than expected, you can also score points through good technical execution - and thus win.
"Our goal in BJJ is to dominate the person on the ground, to make them give up. That's what makes this sport different from judo. There you mainly fight standing up and less on the ground," explains Lucas Kastinger, trainer at BJJ Studio Fight4Fun.
BJJ is also suitable for children.
The opponent is forced to give up through chokes and leverage techniques. That sounds brutal. Nevertheless, this sport is also suitable for young children. "It can lead to a better sense of balance, dexterity and hand-eye coordination can be improved," explains Hoerle. Discipline and respect would also be taught in class. "And remember ... the children are in a protected environment."
The ex-BJJ coach of Imagine Dragons singer Dan Reynolds is convinced of the benefits of the sport for children. "We teach them very early on the importance of "tapping" to protect their training partner from potential harm. In addition to the physical benefits, which include weight loss, Hoerle sees another positive aspect: "For me, the main advantage is that children learn how to lose. Dealing with disappointment is also part of the training program, so to speak.
Safety is the top priority
As with all sports, there is also a risk of injury in BJJ. If an athlete gives up due to the "tap", the fight ends immediately. The safety of the training partner is the top priority. "Compared to other contact sports such as basketball or boxing, injuries such as concussion, joint problems and the like occur much less frequently," says Hoerle, who ran his own studio for many years.
Winning the competition = next belt?
As in judo and other sports, experience and ability are indicated by different belt colors. colors of the belt expressed by the color of the belt. Beginners start with a white belt and can then progress to a red belt.
However, winning a tournament does not immediately lead to a higher belt. Only the coach decides who is worthy of advancing to the next higher rank. "Age, motivation, attendance at training and how they behave there are all taken into account.
But the discipline and morale of the candidate also play a major role," says the 23-year-old Brazilian-born Kastinger. This ensures the high quality of BJJ. According to the IBJJF (the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Foundation), as of the end of September 2024, there are only five people registered there who have achieved the red belt (highest grade). It should be noted that this can only be achieved after 48 years as a black belt holder.
It takes decades to achieve a black or even red belt. Is it worth the effort? Hoerle gives a clear answer: "Is what we do easy? Absolutely not - but as we know, nothing in life is worth getting easily. Is the journey worth it? Definitely."
You can find a more detailed interview with Neale Hoerle here: Interview with BJJ coach Neale Hoerle
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Fancy giving BJJ a try? Here is the link to one of the many studios...
Sources:
SOJJ Academy(https://sojj.at ' bjj)
Gracie University(https://www.gracieuniversity.com/)
International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Foundation(https://ibjjf.com/)
Interviews with Neale Hoerle and Lucas Kastinger
Photocredits:
Cover picture: Pixels.com (Stockimage)
Portrait photo of Mr. Kastinger: Ingrid Müller
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