Bushido Notebook

I got a question the other day from one of the Academy's white belt students. He said that it seems like I am the only instructor that teaches throws and asked why I taught throws.  There are a lot of ways that I could answer the question, but the sake of time I just said that I teach the Academy curriculum first and that I also teach related judo throws from which the curriculum originated.  I went on to say that if they watched videos of Master Helio Gracie from several decades ago he is doing throws.  Judo throws.  He was listed at a 7th dan with the Kodokan and was even asked to teach there.  I have seen video of Royce Gracie competing in judo tournaments.  I have seen jiujitsu competitions with Royler Gracie doing judo takedowns.  So many people either don't know or refuse to admit that the Gracie style of jiujitsu has its origins in old school judo, which itself is a style or offshoot of Japanese jujitsu.  Japanese jujitsu didn't skip jud...

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...

Since the very inception of judo it has had to defend itself from the skeptics of whether or not it could hold its own against jujitsu. Judo, created by Dr. Jigoro Kano in 1882, was conceived from jujitsu originally, but with many of the more dangerous techniques removed and with an emphasis on sportsmanship and personal development rather than purely a combative art. Among judo's first tests again jujitsu was with the Tokyo Police in 1886. The police department was searching for a fighting method for its officers. 15 judo players versus 15 jujitsu players from a rival school. Judo won 13 of the 15 matches. The rivalry moved forward when years later in 1951 Brazilian jiujitsu (note spelling), founded by the Gracie family of Brazil, took on Japans judo masters in competition. Brazilian jiujitsu ( BJJ ), however, is not the jujitsu of old from Japan. BJJ is a derivative of the original form of judo brought to Brazil by a judo master. At that time judo was often calle...

I remember watching the first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and watching Royce Gracie submit all challengers with his chokes and arm-bars.....it was like magic at the time. Years later when I first started Brazilian Jiujitsu (BJJ) I just wanted to put on the chokes that I'd learned in the Marine Corps and the arm-bars I was learning in class but I was finding that they were far easier to execute on a static partner than during sparring (rolling, randori). I found myself getting lucky here and there, but more and more often not even going for arm-bars because I'd end up getting reversed and submitted myself, or getting frustrated that I wasn't even getting a chance to try out my techniques because I was busy defending myself from them, especially from the more advanced students. It was like being a rag doll for months on end. That's no fun at all, and if it isn't fun, then why go to practice? The submissions are one of the more exciting things about practic...