Brazilian jiu jitsu, commonly abbreviated to BJJ, is a grappling based martial art and combat sport that specialises in controlling an opponent through positional technique, leverage, takedowns, ground fighting and submission holds. BJJ places particular emphasis on the idea that a smaller or physically weaker person can potentially control a larger opponent by using mechanical advantage, positioning, leverage and technique rather than relying exclusively on strength.
Training commonly involves starting from standing or ground positions and attempting to improve position, maintain control and secure a submission. The sport has become internationally prominent through specialist competitions and its influence on mixed martial arts. Although BJJ has roots in Japanese jujutsu and judo, Brazilian practitioners developed distinctive training methods and competitive strategies that became the modern Brazilian jiu jitsu system.
The historical development of Brazilian jiu jitsu is closely associated with the transmission of Japanese martial arts to Brazil during the early twentieth century. Mitsuyo Maeda, a Japanese martial artist associated with Kodokan judo and other grappling traditions, taught martial arts in Brazil, where the Gracie family became particularly prominent in developing and promoting a form of grappling that emphasised ground fighting and submissions.
The historical story is more complex than a simple invention by one family because BJJ developed through interactions among multiple teachers, practitioners and Brazilian training communities. Over time, different academies and competitive organisations developed their own approaches. The result is a broad martial art and sport rather than a single perfectly uniform technical curriculum.
The central technical concept in BJJ is positional control. Common positions include closed guard, open guard, half guard, side control, mount and back control, although terminology and classification can vary. Each position presents different opportunities and risks. For example, mount places the controlling athlete above the opponent's torso, while back control can provide access to rear naked chokes and other attacks. Guard positions allow a person underneath to use their legs to control distance, posture and movement while attempting sweeps or submissions. The objective is not simply to hold an opponent down but to progress towards positions from which effective submissions or advantageous control become possible.
Submissions are techniques intended to force an opponent to concede because continuing would risk injury or because the position has become untenable. Common BJJ submissions include chokes and joint locks. Chokes can restrict blood flow or breathing depending on the technique, while joint locks apply controlled pressure to joints such as the elbow or shoulder. Examples include the rear naked choke, armbar, triangle choke, kimura and various leg locks. Competition rules differ substantially concerning which submissions are permitted for different age groups, belt levels and formats. Competitors must learn not only how to apply submissions but also how to recognise danger and tap promptly, because failing to concede can result in serious injury.
BJJ also contains a major defensive and positional component. Escaping from inferior positions is fundamental because an athlete who cannot defend will eventually be submitted or controlled. Common escape concepts include creating frames, managing distance, recovering guard, bridging, shrimping, turning towards or away from an opponent and using appropriate leverage. Sweeps allow a grappler to reverse positional disadvantage and move from an inferior ground position to a superior one. Passing the guard is another major objective because the person on top attempts to move around or through the opponent's leg based control and establish a more dominant position. These interactions create a continuous technical battle for control.
Brazilian jiu jitsu can be practised in gi and no gi formats. Gi competition involves a traditional uniform that can be gripped, creating specific gripping strategies and techniques, while no gi competition uses athletic clothing and generally places greater emphasis on body grips and wrestling style control. Rules also vary concerning points, advantages, time limits, legal submissions and the treatment of stalling. Some competitions award points for takedowns, guard passes, mount, back control and reversals, while others emphasise submission victory with different scoring structures. These differences mean that a technique can have different strategic value depending on the ruleset.
BJJ has become particularly influential in MMA because ground control and submission skills are highly relevant when a fight reaches the floor. However, sport BJJ and MMA grappling are not identical. A BJJ competition may prohibit or omit strikes, allowing competitors to concentrate entirely on positional grappling and submissions. In MMA, a grappler must account for punches, kicks, cage positioning and the possibility of being struck while attempting a technique. Consequently, BJJ provides a major technical foundation for MMA but requires adaptation when strikes and other combat conditions are introduced. Similarly, BJJ training alone does not automatically provide competence in striking, wrestling or defensive movement outside the BJJ ruleset.
BJJ is also a training culture based heavily on live practice, commonly called rolling, in which participants apply techniques against resisting opponents. This resistance makes BJJ distinct from systems taught exclusively through cooperative repetition because practitioners must solve changing problems in real time. Technical learning often proceeds from understanding a position to practising a specific movement, then applying it under progressively less predictable conditions. The sport develops attributes such as balance, grip strength, body awareness, timing, pressure management, problem solving and persistence. Its competitive environment also teaches athletes to recognise when to attack, defend, conserve energy or change strategy.
