Sport Jiu Jitsu vs Self Defense Jiu Jitsu

Sport Jiu Jitsu vs Self Defense Jiu Jitsu

I am a huge fan of Jiu Jitsu. I consider myself a Jiu Jitsu nerd. I have been learning and training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) for more than 15 years at the time of writing this. When I think of myself and my martial arts journey, I think of myself as a martial artist, not as an athlete, even though BJJ is a sport.

For me, the difference in self-defense BJJ vs sport BJJ is who you are training to fight. In sport BJJ, you are training to fight (or compete against if you prepare) other people trained in BJJ. Self-defense BJJ is training for people who are not trained in BJJ.

Self-defense BJJ teaches distance management, how to nullify basic strikes, how to clinch, and take someone down to the ground. Once on the ground, controlling your attacker and stopping them. In self-defense BJJ, you need to know how to deal with a headlock. What to do if someone grabs you. If you get knocked down, how do you get up safely? If someone is kicking you on the ground, how do you minimize damage and get to your feet?

Self-defense BJJ is not a whole bunch of techniques. It is relatively simple (but not easy). Simple techniques practiced regularly, and in a realistic way, can be very effective.

Sport Jiu Jitsu is for fighting other grapplers. This kind of Jiu Jitsu is incredibly fun! The moves and the variations of moves are immense and growing all the time. There are incredible moves and variations of moves being innovated all the time.

This kind of Jiu Jitsu can be flowy and fun, it can be fast and physical, it can be very intense. Sport Jiu Jitsu grows and trends in different ways all the time, and if you don’t pay attention, it can and will leave you behind.

At Jungle Cat Jiu Jitsu we will practice both!

Jungle Cat