What is Jiu Jitsu (BJJ)

 It's a human grappling sport. I'm not going to talk about its history or why I prefer not to use the B (brazilian) word.

Let's talk about what it encompass as a grappling sport, but let's start with this 2 premises:

"The science and art of control that leads to submission". 

- John Danaher

"Immobilization as it leads to breaking and strangling"

- Greg Souders

This is a good start. 

Two definitions that conveys pretty much the same. Let's break it down.

If we pay attention and we pick the first word of each definition, we will find something. We can analyse the original meaning (etymology) of these two words: Control and Immobilization

- Control: contra (against) + rotulus (rolls) = contrarotulus, a latin word which means checking against a list or verifying information. With time, this evolve into a sense of directing or having power over something or someone.

- Immobilization: In (not) + mobilis (movable) = the act of making something not movable. 

After contrasting these two words, I think the word Immobilization is way more pertinent and precise to describe the main thing about our sport.

This seems to be the main requirement before unfolding all of the crazy moves that we know of.

Since we are immobilizing a human being, it will be helpful to understand where in the body to apply this control.

The first thing that comes to my mind is chest to chest or chest to back contact, if we want to pin and prevent someone to move. 

This center mass is where all the limbs are attach to, so it makes sense to get most of our immobilization via torso control.

I think this is a good start. We can talk about the other parts of the definitions in another post.

Till then,