Elizabethtown Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Judo

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo are close cousins. Both incorporate the same principles of leverage and training. The rules of Olympic Judo have forced the art to evolve into a safe and dynamic sport. Judo features throwing, pinning and submissions as ways to win or dominate your adversary or opponent. Jiu-Jitsu emphasizes strong ground grappling that includes armlocks, leglocks, chokes, and positional dominance. Jiu-Jitsu can be broken into 3 categories, sport grappling with or without a gi (grappling uniform), self-defense techniques, and vale tudo or free fighting techniques as shown on the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Here at E-town BJJ and Judo we practice all phases of Jiu-Jitsu and Judo. We routinely host

Professor Luiz Palhares for Jiu-Jitsu seminars. We also work closely with Sensei Eberhard Kieslich (6th degree Judoka) from Brandenburg, Ky and Sensei Fred Barnett (4th degree Judoka) from Bowling Green, KY.

MMA class

MMA or Mixed Martial Arts is a sport that requires the application of a previously mastered set of skills. MMA is not for beginners. At E-town BJJ and Judo we believe that grappling develops the necessary tools we need to win in MMA competition. Our students spend many hours in regular grappling classes developing the technical and tactical skills necessary to win with positional dominance and submissions. After a certain degree of skill is developed, the students are then invited to apply these skills in the MMA environment. In the MMA classes we are not teaching "how to" we are doing it! The techniques remain constant whether is is a grappling tournament or MMA match. What changes are the tactics that employ these techniques and a broader strategy. In our MMA class we focus on the details of clinching safely and taking the fight to the ground. We practice a variety of range drills, combinations to clinch, defending attacks and clinching, and of course grappling with strikes added.

Requirement: 5 months of regular BJJ and Judo training

Did you Know........
Traditionally a Jiu-Jitsu practitioner did not practice "Vale Tudo" (Anything Goes) training until they achieved a rank of purple belt. However, with the emergence of many amateur MMA competitions in the United States thinking has evolved to include less experienced grapplers.

History of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: The Judo Link
by Josh Johnson

At the turn of the 20th century people from all over the world were immigrating to Brazil. Brazil`s rich soil and vast natural resources made it a desirable place. Included in these immigrates were notable Judoka from Japan. Famous Judoka such as Mitsuyo Maeda, Satake, and Hashine Isogai were very instrumental in spreading “The Gentle Art” in Brazil. Even today most fighters can trace their lineage back to Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, through Maeda or Satake. It is widely thought that the Gracies were solely responsible for spreading “Jiu-Jitsu” throughout Brazil. However, other Brazilians also learned to grapple from Maeda.

Two major technical divisions exist with “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu” today. Many of the practitioners in the north of Brazil in Manaus can trace their lineage through Oswaldo Fadda and Luis Franca, an original student of Maeda himself. Their Jiu-Jitsu features a different flavor with strong “Traditional Judo” takedowns, turnovers and ne-waza or ground techniques. A person trained in Judo can easily see the common Judo positions when watching Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.

Most of the people practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu today can trace their lineage back to Carlos Gracie who was also an original student of Maeda. “Gracie Jiu-Jitsu” features more guard work with many techniques using the legs while lying on your back. While the Jiu-Jitsu practiced by the Gracie branch is very effective and technical, it has developed and evolved away from strong standing throws or takedowns and has replaced many of them with many guard positions and submissions from the back. Brazil being relatively isolated for much of the 1900`s, was more or less stuck in a time warp. The original techniques of pre World War II Judo were introduced and left to develop and be tested in Brazil for many unimpeded years. The more isolated region of Brazil, Manaus, developed in a different way than that of the Gracie branch of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Some might argue that in Manaus they practice a style that more closely resembles that of the original techniques taught in the early 1900`s. Where the name “Jiu-Jitsu” came from is unknown. However, the original students of the Kodokan were all Masters of different Jujistu Schools.

Today, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is widely known throughout the world. Mixed Martial Arts and No Gi grappling are exerting a great influence on Jiu-Jitsu. New positions are being created and tested. The evolution continues and I predict that in 15-20 years, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu will be very different from what we know today. Many people argue over the similarities, differences, and effectiveness of Jiu-Jitsu and Judo. Judo during the last 100 years has changed greatly. The introduction of Judo into the Olympic games has made Judo a dynamic and exciting sport. Unfortunately some of the developments are not viewed as productive for the effectiveness of Judo. While the two arts may have once been the same, distinct differences do exist now. Luckily, I have had the opportunity to study both Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with great professors and practitioners. If you ever have the opportunity to study both I highly recommend it.

**I have obviously not created this history out of thin air. I have spent many hours reading and researching documents that reference the early 1900's Judo and Jiu-Jitsu climate. I have many sources and I also have my 10 plus years of experience talking and practicing with many notable people from both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo. I hope you have enjoyed it and as Kid Peligro says, “see ya on the mat.”

-Josh Johnson

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