BRAZILIAN
JIU JITSU (BJJ)
What is Brazilian
Jiu Jitsu?
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
for those not aware is a form of Jiu Jitsu that as the name
implies was formulated in Brazil (of all places) and specializes
in ground fighting. Its techniques were refined in open street
fights or challenges and the sport form came later.
SDT's Connection
to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
We train under
John Will who is one of the few black belts in the Machado
form of BJJ. John makes several trips around Australia each
year giving our students the opportunity to train directly
with him when he comes to Adelaide. Additionally we go and
train with John in his gym in Geelong Victoria.
Why Do We Train in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?
We train in BJJ as standup and ground grappling are essential
parts of any defensive tactics system. We seek to develop
the skills to extricate ourselves from a grapple and escape
or to go into it deliberately for the purposes of control.
BJJ complements the ground work of our core system, Krav Maga
which in principle is 'BJJ-like' in its ground techniques.
But rather than training amongst ourselves we very deliberately
train with people who are grappling and ground specialists
to accelerate our learning. To be the best you must train
with the best.
John's teaching is compatible with SDT's objectives as John
has a strong background in the standup striking arts and teaches
a form of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu that is more compatible with
use on the street than other more sport orientated forms.
We are not interested in the sport form of BJJ which is quite
prevalent.
Having said that however, we do take account of the dangers.
Being on the ground in the 'street ' (read that to mean anywhere
outside the training hall) can be a dangerous proposition
because of the threat of weapons, multiple opponents and the
potential for injury inherent in the ground surface (glass,
rocks etc.). Even standup grappling can be dangerous if weapons
or multiple opponents are involved. And in both forms there
is the constant danger of being hit while you are preoccupied
with grappling with your opponent. So grappling training MUST
be street orientated, not sport or mat orientated and that's
what John teaches us.
Our Reasons in Detail
Escape from Positions of Disadvantage
The core essence for training in grappling for the average
SDT student is to escape from positions of disadvantage on
the ground, where the opponent is on top and positionally
dominating you. To do this requires a whole new understanding
of ground balance and body levers. In such positions of disadvantage
you must also develop the skills to protect yourself from
strikes while seeking an escape.
Opponent Control on the Ground
Secondly grappling teaches an ability to control the situation
(on the ground or standup) so you can get up and away quickly
if that is your choice. At a more advanced level we use it
as a mechanism for controlling the opponent on the ground
or standing both to set up for a strike or to control and
restrain if that is appropriate.
Conditioning
Thirdly the physical nature of grappling and the body to body
contact is a key component in psychological and physical conditioning
for street defence. Not many street confrontations have opponents
stay a 'sanitary' arm's length from each other.
It is our experience that many striking-only specialists
'come apart' when grappled because of grappling's very physical
and (to them) disorientating nature. Such people can be overwhelmed
both by the many kinesthetic signals (pain, pressure, inability
to freely move) generated in the body to body contact and
the loss of ability to clearly see the opponent. Grappling
is far more tactile than striking combat and hence places
greater emphasis on the kinesthetic (touch) sense than the
visual. Being vision dominant creatures, we humans are very
prone to mental confusion when our predominant sense (sight)
is impaired (because my opponent is literally in my face)
and has to be replaced by a less developed one (touch).
Threat Response Options
Fourthly grappling provides us with a wider range of threat
response options than just striking. Circumstances may require
us not to strike an opponent or use restraint and control
as a means to an end. Additionally it provides training in
striking under circumstances that most striking specialists
find uncomfortable if not difficult. That is when on the ground
or standing body-to-body. Conversely this training teaches
us how not to be struck at such close range if we do choose
a control response option.
It's Closer to Reality (And it's fun)
Finally, one of the unique characteristics of grappling is
that is closer to reality than practicing the striking arts.
In these arts there is always some restriction - where you're
allowed to hit, how hard you can hit and/or having to wear
protective gear so you and your training partner are protected.
It is always several steps removed from what it would feel
like on the street.
In grappling a choke is a choke, a lock is a lock. You do
it exactly as you would do it 'out there', which makes going
body on body fun (or at least we think so).
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