FAQ
We get a lot of the same questions, and guess what? We asked them too when we were starting.
We might be able to allay some of your concerns and answer some of your questions right here.
Q: Is this like wrestling?
A: Oh man. To answer what Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is, how it works, and where it came from would take a whole web page. Short answer: Yes, it is like wrestling.
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is a specific brand and original branch of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a martial art and combat sport that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting. It is a derivative of early 20th century Kodokan Judo, which was derived from multiple schools of Japanese Jujutsu.
It promotes the principle that a smaller, weaker person using leverage and proper technique can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger opponent using joint-locks and chokeholds to defeat an opponent. BJJ can be trained for self defense, sport grappling tournaments (gi and no-gi) and mixed martial arts (MMA) competition.
The premise is that most of the advantage of a larger, stronger opponent comes from superior reach and more powerful strikes, both of which are somewhat negated when grappling on the ground.
Q: Are injuries common?
A: As with any physical exercise routine, sport, or martial art, consult your physician before starting.
Injuries are infrequent, but can happen. When we "roll" (sparring in the GJJ world), we are 100% non-complaint opponents, so bumps and bruises do happen. The rate of injury depends on the school, and RJJC prides itself on a history of safety. We see worse injuries, more often, in basketball.
Q: Would this stuff really work? / I wouldn't want to go to the ground in a street-fight.
A: If you avoid the story-tellers and the opinions of Internet Keyboard warriors, any Professional Bouncer or Law Enforcement Officer will attest to the likely hood of a fight ending up on the ground; with all opinions aside, the statistical fact is that most fights end up on the ground. Although it is not always in a fighter's best interest to go to the ground in all situations, the chances of being put there (even against your will) are very high. Considering these facts, it would be unwise to ignore groundfighting techniques.(Copied with permission from Jiu-Jitsu.net http://www.jiu-jitsu.net/faq.shtml)
It is also a fallacy that Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is limited to "going to the ground". The Gracie self-defense series includes plenty of techniques in which groundfighting is simply an option at your disposal. As it is a direct descendant of Kano Jiu-do (You probably know this as Judo), we cover many throws also.
All martial arts and combat sports have some redeeming quality. What sets them apart is how they apply their principles. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu involves actual non-compliant grappling. The positions, resistance, escapes, and submissions are done for real, against another Jiu-Jitsu practitioner who is intent on catching you. You are rolling for real.
This is just one of the advantages of our system. In six months, you may have had literally hundreds of small matches against training partners. You know the techniques work: you've been doing them for real (and received your fair share too).
In emergency situations, most people will fall back on what they are conditioned to do, NOT what they've been taught to do. The US Army's Airborne school takes three weeks to teach soldiers to safely fall out of an airplane, because it takes repetition to create the conditioned responses which will help the soldier accomplish simple tasks when he is scared to death. Frequent drills with proven techniques and live rolling gives the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu practitioner the conditioned responses necessary to be successful.
Q: Are kids and adults mixed like the Seinfeld episode? Are the advanced guys beating up the new guys?
A: No, we offer classes by both age and skill level. Kids: 7-11 years of age; Junior Ronin: 12-16 years of age; Adult Beginner/Combatives; and Adult Intermediate.
And no one is beating anyone up.
Q: (Really more like a statement): I came to class and tried rolling but I feel like I had no idea what to do. I even got on top of a person, but I still had no idea what to do at that point.
Spencer Answers: I would point out that you would at least feel the same, if not worse, if you got into a real fight or were attacked. This illustrates how important it is to start taking the classes. It is here on the mat that you can learn real life practical self defense techniques so that if that situation ever did arise, they would be prepared.
Jamie Adds: Every one of us felt the exact same way when we started. However, if you stick with it for just a few months, you start to notice a difference: you don't waste so much energy on pointless grabbing; you get mount and at least have a move or two you could use; when you get mounted you have an escape or two that might save you. The point isn't that you can beat everyone, the point is: the person you are today could catch the person you were a few months ago. That's self improvement. Someone once said "A black belt is a white belt who never quit"... but forget about belts: The difference between You and You-Improved is work.
Q: Shouldn't I learn multiple styles of martial arts or "mixed martial arts" to completely learn to defend myself?
A: If your goal is to become a fighter or to be able to defend yourself completely, Gracie Jiu-jitsu has significant advantages over most other martial arts. It remains the only single style that addresses all areas of fighting completely without the need for cross-training. Gracie Jiu-jitsu was designed as a fighting style to defeat other martial arts, where styles like Boxing, Karate, Kung Fu and Tae Kwon Do all specialize in striking someone, none of them present solutions for someone who is pinned on the ground; conversely, Jiu-jitsu offers solutions for defending against striking attacks while standing and on the ground in addition to all methods of grappling attacks. With the popularity of contests like the Ultimate Fighting Championship, you will see people naming their styles as Wrestling or Kickboxing, but they all (and must) supplement their training with Gracie Jiu-jitsu. To this day, there are still fighters entering the cage with Gracie Jiu-jitsu as their only method of training to ensure their victories.
However, if you have infinite time and money then of course, go learn a few others.
