Brazilian jiu-jitsu facts for kids

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self-defense system. It focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting.

BJJ promotes the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger, heavier assailant by using proper technique, leverage, and most notably, taking the fight to the ground, and then applying joint-locks and chokeholds to defeat the opponent. BJJ training can be used for sport grappling tournaments and in self-defense situations. Sparring (commonly referred to as rolling) and live drilling play a major role in training, and a premium is placed on performance, especially in competition, in relation to progress and ascension through its ranking system.

Since its inception in 1882, its parent art of judo was separated from older systems of Japanese jujutsu by an important difference that was passed on to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: it is not solely a martial art, but it is also a sport; a method for promoting physical fitness and building character in young people; and, ultimately, a way (Do) of life.

Images for kids

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  A Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor demonstrates how to tackle an opponent.

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  An "americana" or "paintbrush" submission from traditional side control

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  Full Mount is considered one of the most dominant grappling positions.

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  Back mount, also considered one of the most dominant positions in BJJ

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  The Jiu-Jitsu practitioner in blue is demonstrating a type of closed guard

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  A practitioner attempting an armbar submission

See also

In Spanish: Jiu-jitsu brasileño para niños