Brazilian Jiu Jitsu vs American Jiu Jitsu. Thoughts?

Anthony Jones · 2021-07-07T21:03:16+00:00

I don't have a specific opinion on the subject as I'm just a purple belt still finding his way. However the more and more I study the art and move up through the ranks, I find this argument/debate coming up. Interested to hear/read the opinions of my fellow Jiu Jitsu players. Especially upper belts who've been at this game for awhile. Thanks for the knowledge ahead of time -AJ

Vince Choo

Black belt 3rd degreeVerified

1126 forum posts21195/1000

5 year(s) ago

Well, there are different rulesets. But here's a video of a ne waza tournament here in the Neth, a few years ago. They start on the knees, one foot up. Then grip fight and get busy. https://www.youtube.com/w[...]wIK3wYEyeU But believe the majority of judo ne waza tournaments nowadays are quite similar to BJJ. They start standing up.

you learn something new everyday!

Deepu

Black beltVerified

547 forum posts6410/1000

5 year(s) ago

This other post you quoted, is kind of like the judo newaza tournaments here in europe, where competitors have to start on their knees (one foot up). It looks incredibly silly. It's almost as bad as Eddie Bravo's overtime tournament. I'd like BJJ to move back to full spectrum fighting in all ranges. But I fear we're headed to increased specialization.

Just looking at our own school, back in the day we always had a few mma fighters and mma was part of the program. Takedowns, clinches, strikes, the works. Fast-forward to today, we're a pure bjj school with way more students than we ever had. Bottom line is that bjj sells better, less painful, fewer injuries. I'm not complaining as hell my knees are shot and I pull guard now. Bjj turning back to an all around game days is done imo. MMA specialization took over that role.

James Jones

Black beltVerified

1310 forum posts6475/1000

5 year(s) ago

Developed better stand up and takedowns, yes. But do a quick search for BJJ instructional videos and take a look at how many of those are about guard work. Answer: almost all of them. No one here is watching videos of cool takedowns or guard passes because the current model of success in BJJ competition is guard pull, back take or guard pull, leg lock. The best schools right now are ones that don't do ANY standup game at all.

I like guard pull straight into sweep or ankle pick depending upon their weight distribution and foot positioning. I don't want to go for the back or a foot lock. I want to finish on top the same as if I had gotten a takedown.

I also got to where I really like to guard pull then get a grip and stand up with that grip instead of getting the grip from standing at the start. It is much safer and then if I go back into a guard pull I can do what I want much easier.

As dumb as it sounds:
- Shitty Guard Pull with plenty of distance > Get Good Grip > Stand Up with Grip > Good Guard Pull > Sweep/Ankle Pick or
- Shitty Guard Pull with plenty of distance > Get Good Grip > Stand Up with Grip > Attack Takedown

At least in competition the above 2 options are much less risky then going straight into a normal guard pull or normal takedown. The most dangerous part of the match normally is the guard pull for a guard puller. If they are really young and athletic I might even basically be like tag your it and just sit down with an almost like oops I lost my grips and I have fallen oh no sorta thing and make them engage and then ill get my grips and stand back up. lol Trying to get the grips straight away from standing is way riskier...but if I think they want to pull guard then I will engage like I am going for a takedown as I want them to pull guard...I love passing guard, makes my life easier. I just don't want to take someone down to start the process and waste all my energy. lol

Edited 5 year(s) ago