Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu emphasizes ground fighting techniques and submission holds involving
joint-locks and chokeholds also found in numerous other arts with or without ground
fighting emphasis. 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.
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BJJ permits a wide variety of techniques
to take the fight to the ground after taking a grip. Once the opponent is on the
ground, a number of maneuvers (and counter-maneuvers) are available to manipulate
the opponent into a suitable position for the application of a submission technique.
Achieving a dominant position on the ground is one of the hallmarks of the BJJ style,
and includes effective use of the guard position to defend oneself from bottom,
and passing the guard to dominate from top position with side control, mount, and
back mount positions. This system of maneuvering and manipulation can be likened
to a form of kinetic chess when utilized by two experienced practitioners. A submission
hold is the equivalent of checkmate.
Types of submission
The majority of submission holds can be grouped into two broad categories: joint
locks and chokes. Joint locks typically involve isolating an opponent's limb and
creating a lever with the body position which will force the joint to move past
its normal range of motion, generally referred to as hyperextension.[3] Pressure
is increased in a controlled manner and released if the opponent cannot escape the
hold and signals defeat by submitting. Opponents can indicate submission verbally
or they can tap out (i.e. tap the opponent, the mat, or even themselves, several
times.) A choke hold, disrupting the blood supply to the brain, can cause unconsciousness
if the opponent does not submit soon enough. A less common type of submission hold
is a compression lock, where the muscle of an opponent is compressed against a hard,
large bone (commonly the shin or wrist), causing significant pain to the opponent.
This type of lock often also hyper-extends the joint in the opposite direction,
pulling it apart.
Joint locks
While many joint locks are permitted, most competitions bar or restrict some or
all joint locks involving the knees, ankles, and spine. The reason for this is that
the angles of manipulation required to cause pain are nearly the same as those that
would cause serious injury. Joint locks that require a twisting motion of the knee
(called twisting knee locks or twisting knee bars, or techniques such as heel hooks,
and toe folds) are usually banned in competitions because successfully completing
the move nearly always results in permanent damage that requires surgery. Similarly,
joint manipulations of the spine are typically barred due to the inherent danger
of crushing or mis-aligning cervical vertebrae. Certain locks involving the knees
and ankles are only allowed in competition starting at the brown belt. Any competitor
from white to purple belt who attempts any of those locks may be disqualified. However,
most joint locks involving the wrist, elbow, shoulder or ankle are permitted as
there is a great deal more flexibility in those joints and those locks are safe
to use under tournament conditions. Also, some fighters practice moves whose sole
purpose is to inflict pain upon their opponent, in the hope that they will tap out.
This includes driving knuckles into pressure points, holding their opponent's head
in order to tire out the neck (called the "can opener" or kubi-hishigi) and putting
body weight on top of the sternum, floating ribs, or similarly sensitive bones.
These moves are not true submission moves - they are generally only used as distractions
mostly in lower levels of competition. They are avoided or brutally countered in
middle to upper levels of competition.
Chokes and strangles
Chokes and strangles (commonly but somewhat incorrectly referred to as "air chokes"
and "blood chokes" respectively) are a common form of submission. Chokes involve
constriction of the windpipe (causing asphyxia.) Strangles involve constriction
of the carotid artery (causing ischemia.)[13] Air chokes are less efficient than
strangles and may result in damage to the opponent's trachea, sometimes even resulting
in death. By contrast, blood chokes (strangulations) cut the flow of blood to the
opponent's brain, causing a rapid loss of consciousness without damaging any internal
structures. Being "choked-out" in this way is relatively safe as long as the choke
is released soon enough after unconsciousness, letting blood back into the brain
before oxygen deprivation damage begins.[14] However, it should not be practiced
unsupervised. The prevalence of the more dangerous "air" chokes has led to the banning
of choke holds from some United States police departments. Because of the negative
legal connotations of the words "choke" and "strangulation", it is advisable to
use the term "lateral vascular restraint" when describing a blood choke used in
a self-defense situation.
Training methods
Sport Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu's focus on submissions without the use of strikes while
training allows practitioners to practice at full speed and with full power, resembling
the effort used in a real competition. Training methods include technique drills
in which techniques are practiced against a non-resisting partner; isolation sparring
where only a certain technique or sets of techniques are used against full resistance;
and full sparring in which each opponent tries to submit their opponent using any
legal technique. Physical conditioning is also an important part of training at
many clubs.
source:
www.wikipedia.org