BJJ Questions.

[GrendelX]

Hi guys,
I am considering taking bjj.. I hear its one of the best but what are the diffrences between regular jujutsu gracie jujutsu and bjj?? I appreciate any help you could give on deciding what would be best.

[Penance]

It's kind of just marketing.

Japanese Jiu Jitsu (there are quite a few styles) spawned Judo and Karate, and Judo spawned Brazillian Jiu Jitsu. Brazillian Jiu Jitsu morphed into Gracie Jiu Jitsu.

Essentially, Mitsuyo "Count Koma" Maeda was an amazing Judoka who immigrated to Brazil around 1915. In thanks for financial help, he taught Judo to Carlos and Helio, the sons of Gastao Gracie.

From there Carlos opened his own school in 1925 and the style Maeda taught the Gracies became refined through open challenge matches.

Brazillian Jiu Jitsu and Gracie Jiu Jitsu are basically the same thing. They both come from the Gracies', but Gracie Jiu Jitsu is their interpretation of the style, as opposed to Brazillian Jiu Jitsu, which is what everyone else teaches.

It's kind of like the difference between Tylenol and acetaminophen. They're the same thing. Tylenol is just a brand name that has become synonymous with the chemical name.


Edit: But to answer your question, just sign up with a reputable school. Where are you located? Take a demo class and see if you like the teacher and how he runs the class.

[GrendelX]

Thanks for the help penance. There are several gracie academy's near my area but they are all two hours or more away. There is a place not at all far from where I am that teaches regular bjj so I was just trying to decide if the loooong drive to one of the gracie schools would be worth it.

Edit I am in NC

[sapatiero]

Hi guys,
I am considering taking bjj.. I hear its one of the best but what are the diffrences between regular jujutsu gracie jujutsu and bjj?? I appreciate any help you could give on deciding what would be best.

Hi GrendelX,

Even though they're from the same source, there are differences between GJJ & BJJ. Generally,

GJJ

- more focus on, and better at, the basics. Most subs are armbars or chokes.
- includes self defense handed down from Helio.
- is more relaxed, with longer rolling sessions.
- is more passive, capitalising on the opponents mistakes.

BJJ

- often geared towards sport tournament
- includes more esoteric moves/positions - omoplata/spiderguard etc.
- is more proactive, forcing the action within shorter time limits.

(Both styles do some MMA preparation - it depends on the academy)

To confuse things a little more (sorry!) the Gracie family has travelled the globe & now has different styles & influences. For the sake of clarity, I would generally say

Rorion Gracie & his sons - GJJ
Royce Gracie - GJJ
Royler Gracie - GJJ, with plenty of sport BJJ thrown in
Carlos Gracie jr. - BJJ
Renzo Gracie - BJJ.

I'd say try both academies & weigh up your options - both styles have their merit, but a good instructor is very important.

Either way, good luck.

[Penance]

Also check out the teacher lineages on bjj.org

Gracie academies are reputable. Who teaches at the school that's close to you?

[>:)]

A little freaky that I came on here to start a thread asking this exact question and was just about to before I read this. seriously

Brazillian Jiu Jitsu and Gracie Jiu Jitsu are basically the same thing. They both come from the Gracies', but Gracie Jiu Jitsu is their interpretation of the style, as opposed to Brazillian Jiu Jitsu, which is what everyone else teaches.

Is there a story behind this? If they are both styles originating from the Gracie family, why did they split into two ways? Was it two members of the family that disagreed on certain things and went their seperate ways?

[JkD187]

A little freaky that I came on here to start a thread asking this exact question and was just about to before I read this. seriously



Is there a story behind this? If they are both styles originating from the Gracie family, why did they split into two ways? Was it two members of the family that disagreed on certain things and went their seperate ways?

Well Carlson Gracie SR(R.I.P) had disagreements with Rorion Royce and a few other Gracies about them lying about their records and championships and the lot...broke away from them and basically the rest of the family and started his own team...one of his best students Wallid Ishamel even chocked Royce out cold in a BJJ tourney...so im guessing this lead to an evolution in bjj because most of his students went on to make the Brazilian Top Team.

[lei_kung]

Is there a story behind this? If they are both styles originating from the Gracie family, why did they split into two ways? Was it two members of the family that disagreed on certain things and went their seperate ways?

Don't quote me on this, but I believe the name split from Gracie to Brazilian started because of legal issues. I don't know the details but I believe that GJJ is a copy-written name, therefore others not given permission to use or unwilling to pay, started using the BJJ name. Or so my understanding goes.

Lei Kung

[GrendelX]

Also check out the teacher lineages on bjj.org

Gracie academies are reputable. Who teaches at the school that's close to you?

Peter Iacavazzi
Greg thompson
José Luís "Sucuri" Togno
Paulino "Mushu" Elssimani
Joe Hurst

All of these are in NC but are hours away.. The place that teaches bjj is run by a man named steve snyder.

[sapatiero]

If it helps...

Another discussion about this club -

http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?t=338779

[sapatiero]

A little freaky that I came on here to start a thread asking this exact question and was just about to before I read this. seriously



Is there a story behind this? If they are both styles originating from the Gracie family, why did they split into two ways? Was it two members of the family that disagreed on certain things and went their seperate ways?

It was enevitable that there were going to be different styles evolving from different parts of the family. After all, if you had loads of uncles that had spread all over the world, surely your cousins would have different styles of teaching/competing. Some would enjoy teaching self defense more, some sport BJJ, some MMA. Big families spread across the globe don't meet up on a regular basis to ensure they're adhering to the same 'standards policy'

Much as made of the supposed rifts in the Gracie family, but it's probably the same as any other family. Rorion & his sons went to Barra & trained at Carlos Gracie Jr.'s academy, and Rickson phoned Rorion to invite him to his 'Budo Challenge' last year. Royce did his fight prep with Royler for the UFC match. I met Ricksons son training at Roylers academy, and have met Royce training at Rorions academy.

I'm sure it's less about family fueds, and more a case of 'personal tastes'.

[>:)]

I see.

I'm not too knowledgable on the Gracie family tree and how the members are spaced out around the world. Ya learn a new thing every day. There's a GJJ academy close to me that merges with an MMA class I've been thinking of taking which is why I wanted to know.

Thanx for the info

[Penance]

Peter Iacavazzi
Greg thompson
José Luís "Sucuri" Togno
Paulino "Mushu" Elssimani
Joe Hurst

All of these are in NC but are hours away.. The place that teaches bjj is run by a man named steve snyder.

Those are all good teachers and they are listed on bjj.org.

It might be worth your while to take the time to train at those places at least once in awhile when you have the free time.

Thompson has the "shortest" lineage and was trained under Royce, directly; if that is something you are looking for in a teacher.

Snyder isn't listed and I don't know anything about him, but when you're just beginning, as long as he keeps things safe and teaches you the basics, all you really need is a lot of time on the mat practicing.

[danfaggella]

Grendel is a great character in anglo-saxon literature.

Have you read the book "Grendel"? It is a very good book that looks at the tale through the eyes of the monster and not man, great philosophical content.

[GrendelX]

Grendel is a great character in anglo-saxon literature.

Have you read the book "Grendel"? It is a very good book that looks at the tale through the eyes of the monster and not man, great philosophical content.

Yes actually it is one of my favorite books.. It is the name I try and use on all the forums I frequent