Some people seem curious to know about the key differences between Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and American jiu jitsu. So, to make it clear to everyone, let’s discuss the history and the differences between both martial arts.
Brazilian jiu jitsu originates from judo which has traces in Japan. However, judo originated in Japan, but still, BJJ’s roots are undoubtedly set in Brazil. The earliest BJJ pioneers were a Brazilian family named as Gracie family. Then, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu underwent a number of evolutionary stages.
The BJJ gi we practice is a modified version of jiu jitsu’s original style. Over time, BJJ gained popularity around the globe, especially in the US. After wrestling in the US, BJJ is now one of the most popular grappling disciplines. Many Americans became well-known in BJJ and started their own BJJ schools.
They developed BJJ in accordance with their rules and regulations, giving rise to the new moniker American Jiu Jitsu. Here, we thoroughly explain the connections between AJJ and BJJ, as well as the differences between the two grappling disciplines.
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What Is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one of the most well-known grappling martial arts, which has its roots in Japanese combat sports. It began in the early 1900s as Gracie Jiu Jitsu. BJJ is solely referred to as Jiu Jitsu in Brazil. Jiu Jitsu evolved into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to set itself apart from other conventional Jiu Jitsu forms and Japanese Jiu Jitsu.
BJJ definitely differs from Traditional Jiu Jitsu as a martial art. Although wrestling gave rise to judo, the two sports have different regulations. Even someone with little experience in martial arts can quickly identify the differences between Judo and Wrestling, even though both sports have their roots in wrestling.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu History
Getting information about the history and origin is necessary to understand the relevant context.
Japanese Jiu Jitsu’s Origins
According to one narrative, Jiu Jitsu’s beginnings were laid during the time of Indian Buddhist monks in the year 356 BC. The bandits who used to assault and injure Indian Buddhist monks regularly forced them to travel frequently around their nation.
Buddhists sought to develop a kind of self defense that took advantage of physical flaws and created methods for defeating adversaries. They didn’t want to murder their rivals. However, it is true that Jiu Jitsu has ties to Indian monks; the modern style of Jiu Jitsu originated in Japan. Samurai warriors usually rode horses and wore armor when they entered combat.
Japanese jiu jitsu started after Samurai Warriors learned to fight on the ground. The samurai soldiers faced restrictions in their movements by their battle equipment. As a result, the Japanese devised a form of combat that included joint locks, chokes, and strangulations.
The History Of Judo
Jiu Jitsu gave rise to several combat techniques in the middle of the 1800s. Every combat technique has its methods, such as grappling, conflicts using weapons, hitting, etc. Ryu is one of these methods. A teenage Jiu Jitsuka named Kano Jigoro developed Ryu into Judo in the 1880s. Judo was the most popular and widely practiced sport at the time.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – A Transition From Judo
A Japanese man named Mitsuyo Maeda went to Brazil in 1914 to establish a Japanese colony. He was one of Jigoro Kano’s best pupils. Maeda met Gastao Gracie in Brazil, a businessman with political aspirations there.
Maeda requested Gasdtao for assistance. As a result, Gastao asked him to instruct his kid in Judo/Jiu Jitsu methods. Carlos Gracie, Gastao’s son, started taking judo lessons from Maeda. Carlos studied Judo/Jiu Jitsu with Master Maeda from the age of 15 to 21.
Carlos and his brother Helio Gracie became skilled in Judo/Jiu Jitsu after Maeda left for Japan. Then these two brothers laid the foundation of “Gracie Jiu Jitsu Academy” BJJ gym in 1925. They did not set any specific rules for years. However, Rolls Gracie modified the combat method and added several regulations in 1970. He brought BJJ to several international tournaments. Compared to other martial arts like judo, wrestling, and so on, he sought to demonstrate the efficacy of BJJ.
The Advanced Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu started gaining more popularity as a sport than a defensive art. There are thousands of open BJJ academies across the globe. The International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), the body that oversees BJJ, also holds contests all around the world. Numerous fighting philosophies, associations, and institutions, including ADCC, descended from BJJ and still do, including American Jiu Jitsu (AJJ).
BJJ maneuvers and techniques keep on changing. BJJ gi has also reached the USA by this time. Numerous American grapplers are among world class competitors. BJJ is one of the most popular combat sports, comparable to Eddie Bravo’s Eddie Bravo Invitationals (EBI) Submission only Jiu Jitsu.
What Is American Jiu Jitsu?
It is perhaps best to think of American Jiu Jitsu as a cross between Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and American wrestling. World class grappler Jake Shields is famous for starting an AJJ match.
It’s also true that neither BJJ nor wrestling originated in the United States, but Americans have embraced combat sports enthusiastically. Many Americans began their jiu jitsu training either in high school or college.
They combined BJJ gi with wrestling and called the resulting style American Jiu Jitsu gi. Numerous American grapplers use the American Jiu Jitsu method, which is more similar to the wrestling strategy.
American Jiu Jitsu’s Origin And History
When the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) began teaching Jiu Jitsu to its students in 1994, the history of American Jiu Jitsu officially began. They introduced a combat sport similar to BJJ in their institute/culture for the first time by using the phrase American Jiu Jitsu. Their website effectively described the numerous approaches covered in the course. It includes Joint locks, attacks, submission grips, throws, and the usage of weapons.
Jake Shields, a world class Jiu Jitsu practitioner and UFC champion won many important BJJ competitions in 2000, including the ADCC and Pan American. He made his MMA debut at this moment and joined the UFC’s rivalry. In MMA competitions, Jake Shields used his wrestling techniques, which emphasized high pressure strikes from the top position.
Jake Shields had an eagle symbol tattooed on his forearm after the successful adoption of American Jiu Jitsu. Jake Shields used a combination of American wrestling and Brazilian jiu jitsu in his fights.
Keenan Cornelius, a well known BJJ competitor, also made his mark on American Jiu Jitsu history. He established his school, Legion AJJ gym, the first ever academy of American Jiu Jitsu, and provides American Jiu Jitsu classes.
The Top Five American Grapplers
Brazilians dominated the BJJ circuit in the early years of the sport’s development because of their innovative techniques and fighting methods. As BJJ gained popularity across the globe over time, Americans eventually took to the sport more fervently than any other country.
American grapplers are now outperforming Brazilian grapplers because of their superior grappling abilities. Gordon Ryan, Jake Shields, Keenan Cornelius, Mackenzie Dern, Robert Drysdale, BJ Penn, and Gianni Grippo are just a few of the elite American grapplers.
After developing his notorious twister rubber and guard method and 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu, Eddie Bravo became a founder of a new style of jiu jitsu.
Geo and Richie Martinez, BJ Barch, Ben Eddy, and Nathan Orchid are a few of them. Several grapplers, including Jordan Holy, Adrian Madrid, Ethan Crelinsten, Damien Anderson, Kieran Kichuk, and Keith Krikorian, have also mastered his unique Jiu Jitsu technique.
Which country Has The Best jiu jitsu Grapplers?
We must look at the IBJJF champions list while determining which country has the most BJJ champions and grapplers. Right now, Brazilian champions are more significant in number. However, we expect a change in Brazilian dominance in the coming years.
Without any doubt, the number of grapplers is increasing in America day by day.
It took the Americans a few years to defeat the Brazilians on No Gi grounds, but ultimately they succeeded. The top No Gi wrestlers in the world are several Americans. An example of an unchallenged American BJJ No Gi King is Gordon Ryan.
Brazil is where Brazilian Jiu jitsu originated. Thus it is not surprising that Brazilians are dominating the medal count. What matters is that Americans enter the race and push themselves to a certain level quickly.
Jiu Jitsu Assimilation Into American Culture
Both American Jiu Jitsu and BJJ similarities and contrasts are present in the styles, methods, and techniques used. American Jiu Jitsu is famous for its unique combat technique throughout time. MIT and Jake Shield undoubtedly coined the phrase “American Jiu Jitsu” first.
However, Keenan Cornelius is now functioning as the renowned figure who is making audacious moves to promote American Jiu Jitsu. The opening of his school, “Legion AJJ,” was Cornelius’ main effort to encourage American Jiu Jitsu.
Due to the lapels and worm guard systems, Cornelius is well known for cruising in Gi. Nevertheless, he also excels in No Gi BJJ and has several No Gi specific specialties. After all of this debate, it is essential to note that although Keenan and Shield are paying tribute to BJJ. However, Keenan has removed the word bjj from the name of their school.
Principal Differences Between American Jiu Jitsu And Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Brazilian and American jiu jitsu is quite similar to one another. Carlos and Helio Gracie developed the classic Jiu Jitsu style known as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was first developed as a self-defense method by its creators.
With time, this defensive technique underwent modifications and transformed into a sport, giving rise to the current BJJ. The grips which BJJ competitors use enable them to pass the guard, administer chokes and joint locks, and perform a variety of sweeps. BJJ competitors wear uniforms (BJJ Gi). Brazilian jiu jitsu is a rapidly expanding sport with many outstanding competitors across the globe.
On the other hand, American Jiu Jitsu is a modified variation of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu that uses many of the same techniques as BJJ. Since Americans are well known across the globe for their wrestling, American Jiu Jitsu likewise leans on American wrestling methods.
American Jiu Jitsu practitioners effectively adapted their wrestling techniques to martial art. Their fighters now showcase the American Jiu Jitsu style to the world by winning events like the ADCC, UFC, and IBJJF, particularly in No Gi.
Final Words
Although American Jiu Jitsu has BJJ roots, it is increasingly gaining popularity. American jiu jitsu is a combination of American wrestling and BJJ. Jake Shields’ definition states that AJJ is developing as a distinct combat sport. Overall, American and Brazilian jiu jitsu are regarded as forms of grappling. No matter how much they vary from one another, they all have a mutual bud in their core.
