Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art that focuses
on grappling and controlling your opponents in ways that force them to
submit. Because control is generally easier on the ground than in a standing
position, BJJ is all about taking your opponent down to the ground and
wrestling for dominant control positions.
BJJ promotes the principle that a smaller, weaker person can successfully
defend themselves against a bigger and stronger opponent using leverage,
grip, and proper technique. Most of the BJJ skills involve applying
joint-locks and chokeholds to defeat opponents.
Students of BJJ gain a deep understanding of the workings and limits of the
human body. Although the path to this knowledge is both physically and
mentally demanding, practitioners benefit from greatly increased physical
fitness along with problem-solving ability and self-knowledge of their body
and mind.
