The difference between Japanese Jiu Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? The Gracie Jiu Jitsu vs Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Jiu Jitsu or Ju Jitsu

If you look into Japanese history, Jiu Jitsu could be traced back into thousands of years. Chen Yuan Ping created Jiu Jitsu in the 17^th century. Jiu Jitsu originated in Japan, and it is one of the oldest martial arts. Ping didn’t have a master or lord as his guide. He created the martial art with three other samurais so it could be used in unarmed combat. Most martial arts involved weapons, so Jiu Jitsu was created to defend themselves, with the use of weapons. The main weapons Japanese Jiu Jitsu uses is the Tanto (sword), Kubotan (Keychain), Yawara (stick) and Wakizashi (bladed sword). The primary goal in Japanese Jiu Jitsu is to disarm their attacker using minimum effort with effective technique.

In Jiu Jitsu, the martial artist’s main goal is to block the attacker using their body for self-defence. Jiu Jitsu, is similar to Judo and Aikido in the sense it uses throws, blocks, twists, tackles, strikes, locks, especially joint locks to submit their opponent.

How Judo was formed

Dr. Jigoro Kano created Judo, in 1882, at the ripe old age of 18. The idea came about when he was ‘free rolling’ at the Jiu Jitsu academies he was training Japanese Jiu Jitsu at. He noted the academies strengths and weaknesses. Kano was constantly getting injured due to his size and small physique. Along with injuries, students at both dojos, were arrogant, argumentative and aggressive with the newer students. The students were taught to exhibit dominance towards each other, injuring each other physically and attacking the younger weaker opponents emotionally. When Kano created Judo, he wanted to create a martial art that didn’t involve injuring his opponent, where aggression was not involved during training. This is when Kano decided he wanted to create a gentler martial art that was successful in submitting his opponent, but didn’t have the stigma attached to Japanese Jiu Jitsu. Kano began altering his Jiu Jitsu techniques this is when Judo was born. He created, what is known today as Judo. Kano didn’t want to be associated with Jiu Jitsu which is why he called it something completely different.

How a judo developed into Jiu Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

A man named Mitsuyo Maeda, who trained in Jiu Jitsu. He trained under Kano, and he became a master in Judo. Under the instructions of Kano, Mitsuyo travelled to Brazil in the early 1900’s to teach the martial art, Judo. He also competed in 1904 and won in the East Coast, he continued travelling around the world and won all competitions except two. In those times, in America, racism was at an all-time high. As an Asian, Maeda, knew America wasn’t where he wanted to reside permanently. Maeda, continued travelling, and ended up in Brazil before World War 1, due to Japanese colonisation. Mitsuyo met a man named Gastao Gracie Filho (Junior), he was the father of the Gracie family where Brazilian Jiu Jitsu originated. Gastao Gracie, became a personal friend to Maeda, he helped him settle in Brazil, they found common ground as Gracie immigrated to Brazil too, but he was a Scotsman. Both men had a curiosity for martial arts. Maeda offered to teach Gastao’s son’s jiu jitsu, to show appreciation for supporting him win his fights in Brazil, he’d become rich as a result.

Gastao Gracie, encouraged his son, Carlos Gracie to start training under Mitsuyo. Carlos Gracie, was one of Mitsuyo’s only students, when he trained in Brazil. Gastao, helped Mitsuyo set up Judo demonstrations to teach their student’s self-defence. When Mitsuyo set up his first Judo academy, the Gracie family moved to Rio De Janeiro. Carlos, Gastao son, and the middle brother in the Gracie family, became the first-generation fighter in the Gracie family and had trained under Mitsuyo between 2 to 4 years.

Carlos, introduced Judo to his younger frailer and weaker brother, Helio Gracie. Helio Gracie was unable to do the self-defence moves, due to his size and frailty, he was long and lanky,  Helio’s brothers were short and stocky. Helio he didn’t have the strength to perform the Jiu Jitsu moves, which were taught by Mitsuyo. Carlos decided to alter the jiu jitsu techniques taught by Mitsuyo, to assist his brother be able to defend himself and submit his attacker. This was when Gracie Jiu Jitsu (known as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) was born. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was created in Rio De Janeiro. Both martial arts, Jiu Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, involves wrestling, within close proximity to your opponent. Both are like a game of chess. You use your opponents positioning and moves to their disadvantage. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is all ground work, there is no striking and it all boils down to attacking, positioning and grappling all leading to a submission.

Lineage: Jigoro Kano  >  Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie  > Heilo Gracie

What is the difference between Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Gracie Jiu Jitsu?

There isn’t a difference between Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Gracie Jiu Jitsu. It’s the same. Translating self-defence techniques into real life situations was Gracie Jiu Jitsu’s primary goal. With Jiu Jitsu, they grill techniques until they are perfected. However, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is also considered a sport.  Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is less formal, and more relaxed. However, Japanese Jiu jitsu self-defence is more aggressive. The training environment for Japanese Jiu jitsu is dictatorship. Students are forced to respect, and learn etiquette. If you think of the movie

Royce Gracie used Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in UFC 1 (Ultimate Fighting Champion) in the early 1990s and that is when the sport gained popularity. Royce Gracie used an armbar and gi choke to win this tournament. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was developed to stay in control when on the ground.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu isn’t only popular because of their techniques. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu becomes a holistic lifestyle. It changes students from the inside out. Where there is pride and arrogance, through submissions, a practitioner learns humility. Where a practitioner is a constantly loses to the more technical opponent, they learn to get better, at not always being first. This does turn around, when new students come into an academy. People who are usually alone, learn to work with their team mates to become more skilled at their Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. People they train alongside, become their biggest supporter and friends.  Our club is family friendly and welcoming, we’re their to train and not injure each other. Egos are left at the door. Your family will have a quiet confidence to defend themselves. When you join C2 Martial Arts, you join a bigger family.