Bushido Notebook

There's been lots of controversy in the Brazilian jiujitsu community over Rorion Gracie and his sons' Gracie University, which enables people to learn and earn rank, primarily online. Many of the purest out there are outraged because of the far harder road they've had to take to get a belt. Here are some opinions of my own in posts to online communities about it: It's both and a great business strategy. But here's my thing: I practice both judo and GJJ.....which in my opinion is a subset of judo. Judo kata or GU simulated combat: What's the difference? I think there are many issues at play here, two of which are knowing the techniques for promotion and two, being able to apply them to an unwilling person. Up to blue belt I can understand just knowing the techniques, but beyond that in my opinion the point is to be able to apply them to an unwilling opponent. Another thing is that I don't get the 600 techniques that the Gracie Academy is talking about. I m

I am admittedly a judo novice. Though I have practiced judo on and off for many years to supplement my self-defense training and more specifically my MCMAP and jiujitsu , I have only been a judo player for about a year, since I began preparing for and received my blue belt from Sensei Maurice Allan. I have noted, however, that within judo there are many styles, based on the backgrounds of the players involved and the teaching styles of their masters. Some of these styles include Greco -Roman and other types of wrestling, Sombo (a Russian derivation of judo), and Brazilian Jiujitsu ( BJJ ) (a Brazilian derivation of judo). Playing with other judoka I've noticed that BJJ players tend to be uncomfortable in the standing phase of the fight but very comfortable on the ground, particularly in the guard, though unfortunately sometimes to their own detriment. BJJ players tend to fall naturally into the guard when taken down and lose matches that way in judo tournaments. I

In the previous Judo vs. Jiujitsu article I discussed some of the similarities and differences between Judo and Brazillian Jiujitsu (BJJ). I continue to ponder what makes them two separate, distinct arts, despite the similarities and history. What makes them different? In trying to discover this I thought about why it is that I study both and what it is that I enjoy and get out of them. I often see and growing distinction between BJJ and Gracie Jiujitsu, the Gracie brand of BJJ. Grand-Master Helio Gracie in particular distinguishes his jiujitsu as a means of self-defense and not a sport. BJJ has become more and more a sport, and more techniques are integrated regularly that have very little practicl self-defense applications, but are great for sport competition. I began the study of Gracie Jiujitsu for this reason, the emphasis on self-defense. I recall using, unsuccessfully, a sport jiuijtsu technique in training once, and promising myself to not go down that path again. S