brazilian jiu jitsu

for those interested in another physical activity besides basketball or working out at the gym (i used to play competitive basketball for about 10 years, starting at the age of 12 and finishing at 22 after i broke my ankle playing. i also went to the gym and lifted for about 7 years while attending uni). i grew tired of the gym and the social aspect of it disappeared as most of my uni mates moved on, but i hung around, even though i finished my degree but liked the cheap fees as well as the new intake of 1st year hotties each year.

anyway, a few friends of mine had been doing brazilian jiu jitsu for a long time, and i was always a fan of pride fighting championships and the ufc. i had done some karate when i was younger, maybe 12, but didnt hang around with it.
they said come along and try it. i can only describe it as a mixture of judo and wrestling with submissions (these being chokes, joint locks of the arms and legs and pins). for newbies, it looks kind of gay, all u see is sweaty men rolling on the ground. but as a self defence, it is arguable the most effective. the majority of fights and altercations often end up with people scuffling on the ground, with brazilian jiu jitsu (bjj), this martial art aims to exploit its strength of ground fighting with the use of controls and positioning.
look at these highlights, this is no gi, meaning they dont use the gi, marcelo garia is one of the top guys at his weight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_8O-fq-NI4&search=marcelo garcia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gxaw7HE1-LM&search=marcelo garcia

because it is a grappling art, there is no striking involved, so often a lot of guys couple it with boxing, kickboxing or muay thai to become a complete mixed martial artist, like the guys in pride and ufc.
i currently train at gracie barra sydney www.graciebarra.com.au located at manly fight gym in manly just off the beach.
the most amazing thing with this is that it is quite humbling to be tapped out by a guy that weighs 20kg lighter than u, or to be dominated by a girl that weighs a lot less than you, and this often occurs when new guys come in and they roll/ wrestle with smaller guys or the mroe experienced girls.
another thing is, unlike the majority of traditional martial arts, there is less formality and rigidity that often comes with the traditional arts, no bowing, no "yes sensei" crap, its laid back, much like the brazilian people and culture.
i went to brazil last year in march and im going again in july to compete, it has certainly changed my life and i often wonder what would have happened if i didnt waste all my years playing basketball, that would be my only regret

so ask away. here is another clip of roger gracie, the current top guy for all weights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iRaaAL4lUU&search=roger gracie

also, we call them rotties, becasue in brazilian portugese, R is pronouced like H, so hottie is rottie.

Yes I'm interested in it.. I've always admired how these small guys can beat huge guys into submissions..

Royce Gracie was it? I used to watch UFC. I wanna learn how to grapple so I can defend myself.

You need heaps of upper body strength too yeh? Look at Ken Shamrock, HES HUGE!

yes, royce was the pioneer, he is actually fighting matt hughes at ufc 60 coming up later this month.
as far as needing upper body strength, no u dont really, u need good core strength, abs, but strength isnt really a big part of it, leverage and technique is what its all about.
and shamrock isnt bjj, he is a leglock man. the game has moved on from him, he was good when nobody knew submissions.

I dont get it, they look like the college/olympic style wrestling. Is it just about holds/submission? How do they get pinned?

I like watching UFC, but when they just roll around like that, it shits me, get up and belt one another...

freestyle, folkstyle, greco, etc wrestling, like what they do at college and olympic level is basically about pins and takedowns, with bjj, submission wrestling, points are awarded for takedowns and certain positions, also, matches r stopped when an opponent taps out through a submission.
as i said, to an outsider, it can look kinda weird, but when ur actually doing it and u feel ur arm stretch out and the pain on ur elbow coming from nowhere, then u know how effective it is.
the problem with the ufc today is that its become a toughman contest, where the redneck fans just want to see guys bang it out, the real skill comes when the fight hits the ground, nothing beats watching 2 technical submission guys attempting and countering submissions.

Fair enuff. I understand now, but still looks pretty boring.

Think I'll stick to my GKR.

go kan ryu, ok, whatever works for u bro.