Japanese Jiu Jitsu Techniques

  • Before we get into the full list, understand that just because a lot of these “techniques” are 100% legal for competition doesn’t mean it’s cool to use them on your training partners on a daily basis. We’ve compiled a list of 30 jiu jitsu techniques you should avoid during training if you don’t want to be public enemy #1 in your gym.
  • Jiu jitsu is an old Japanese martial art. It has been around a long time and if the name does look appear to be familiar it is because ji jitsu is spelled in many ways. Jiu jitsu was originally created to use in warfare, however this did not pan out due to the end of the feudal period in Japan.
  • Japanese Jiu-Jitsu vs. In training terms, the main difference between BJJ and Japanese Jiu Jitsu is in the focus of the classes. While ground fighting is only a third of traditional Jiu-Jitsu, it is the main focus of BJJ. From a striking standpoint, BJJ offers a self-defense perspective in some curriculums, but not an offensive one.
  1. Japanese Jiu-jitsu Techniques Pdf
  2. Japanese Jiu Jitsu Techniques
  3. Japanese Jiu-jitsu Secret Techniques Of Self-defense Pdf
  4. Japanese Jiu Jitsu Techniques And Terms
  5. Japanese Jiu Jitsu Techniques Pdf
  6. Japanese Jiu Jitsu Techniques Names
  7. Is Japanese Jiu Jitsu Effective

Jim's 25 Traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu Throws.

They say fighting is not a physical thing but a spiritual thing. The literal meaning of this quote seems to be complemented by only one fighting art and that is Jiu-Jitsu.

Jiu-Jitsu is a Japanese martial art, commonly described as a close combat fighting technique in which the use of weapons ranges from none to minimal.

Using the opponent’s force to overcome him or her is one of the best ways to describe Jiu-Jitsu. One of the main reasons this particular art of fighting evolved was the inability to attack an armored opponent.

Confronting attackers with his or her energy seems to be an amazing idea, right? And that is the main principle of this martial art technique.

As mentioned before, Jiu-Jitsu techniques may or may not employ the use of weapons. This has led to the evolution of several approaches, all falling under the diverse category of Jiu-Jitsu.

Some of these approaches include Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the Olympic form of this art. However, it must be noted that all these techniques stem from the parent grappling technique, the Japanese Jiu-Jitsu.

Exploring differences between these approaches is something many people do to satisfy their curiosity. If you are curious, then stick with us for we are exactly going to do that!

Japanese Jiu-Jitsu

The first part of the word Jiu-Jitsu means soft, while the second part means art. It is interesting to have a look at the etymology of the term Jiu-Jitsu.

The term was used before the first half of the 20th century and it is still used commonly in Brazil, Germany, and a few other countries.

If we were to glance at the history of martial arts, Japanese Jiu-Jitsu will certainly stand out as a technique on which people depended to survive and thrive.

The origin of this technique dates back to the days when Samurai warriors and The Ninjas were stealing the show of combats. With an ever-increasing risk of fatalities, the need for a martial art system that could be used for unarmed combat kept mounting.

And as if nature responded to the calls of pour souls who suffered, this sophisticated yet beautiful technique was gifted to humanity.

History

Jiu-Jitsu was first practiced during the Sengoku period, its oldest form being Takenouchi-ryū which was discovered around the mid-16th century.

These earliest practices relied more on throwing and choking as compared to other variations which still involved a small weapon, for example, a dagger. The variations mentioned later were used in China mostly.

In the 17th century, a decline in the tendency to use armors and weapons was observed, which eventually lead to an increased appetite for hand-to-hand martial art techniques.

The increasing interest was eventually translated into the discovery of new and innovative skills within the technique. These new striking techniques focused on inflicting damage to areas above the chest and shoulders.

However, these techniques became less popular as we enter the 18th century, simply because these involved the use of a lot of energy. Their role was reduced to creating a distraction at best.

And now? Now Jiu-Jitsu serves not only as a combat technique in daily life but is also a part of military training all around the world. It is also played as a sport, the most notable form of which is its Olympic variation.

Techniques

It is crucial to understand the basic theme on which Japanese Jiu-Jitsu operates. The main focus in this art of fighting is always on pinning, throwing and other joint locking techniques.

Previously, not much trust was put in the striking techniques because of the armor worn by the opponent. Instead, these were employed as a part of set-ups used for grappling methods.

But these days, striking techniques are back in action. Many instructors believe in using striking either as a set-up or as a separate action.

The goal of learning this category of martial arts vary with the situation. Sometimes, even disarming is deemed enough while in other cases, inflicting grievous damage can be the ultimate goal.

Training sessions are usually held in an environment that is not as hostile as the actual battlefield, hence the chances of becoming gravely injured are minimized. However, this doesn’t mean that the training sessions are devoid of adventure.

Absolute focus is required to attain a complete command over the deadly dangerous moves taught in the practice sessions.

The older styles of Japanese Jiu-Jitsu include Araki-ryu, Daito-ryuaiki Jiu-Jitsu, and a few others. Modern-day schools include Hakko Ryu, Goshin Jiu-Jitsu and many others.

See also: Affordable BJJ Gis

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Grappling with ground fighting is the distinctive feature of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Categorized as a martial art and a sport, this particular technique was borne out of Kodokan judo fighting fundamentals.

Judo was subjected to improvisations, adaptations and innovations and the final product was BJJ, could it have been any better?

The most illuminating feature of this technique is the very idea on which it is based: the size doesn’t matter.

A weaker person can successfully stand his or her ground against a mightier opposition.

However, this will be only possible if one can take the fight to the ground and then use all the tools of the trade to eventually overcome the opponent. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu involves chokeholds, joint-locks and is a perfect art to learn if self-defense is your priority.

It is also used in sports i.e. in the grappling tournaments.

The number of people who practice BJJ is increasing with every day passing.

History

The trip taken by Mitsuyo Maeda to Brazil to spread the art of Kodokan fighting can be deemed as the foundation stone of BJJ. Maeda reached Brazil in 1914 where he gave demonstrations and accepted challenges from wrestlers and boxers.

Inspired by these animated performances, a certain Carlos Gracie became Maeda’s student and learned the art by all his heart. Not only that, but he also disseminated the teachings to his younger siblings.

Helio Gracie, one of Carlos’s siblings played a major role in the development of BJJ as he practiced Maeda’s judo and complimented it with ground fighting techniques.

He had to adapt because of his smaller physique, and that’s how the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was created. As Gracie’s established their academy and members of the family immigrated to the USA IN the 1980’S, BJJ began gathering popularity.

Pretty soon, all around the world, MMA fighters who relied on merely punching and kicking were humiliated by the BJJ rivals. A major highlight was Royce Gracie’s string of wins at the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Techniques

These days in Brazil, there are four ways in which BJJ is practiced and played. These include Gracie Humaita, Gracie Barra, Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and Alliance Jiu-Jitsu.

Japanese Jiu-jitsu Techniques Pdf

However, the central idea and the basic techniques are constant in all these variations.

As mentioned earlier, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu techniques revolve around the idea of ground fighting. This reduces the importance of standing strategies, the most important one of which is striking.

This unique martial art method employs several strategies that are practiced at a rapid pace competitively in learning drills. Rolling, sparring and live drills, all of these are important contributors to BJJ.

Submission is the ultimate goal of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It doesn’t matter if you are short in stature, once you have an opponent on the floor, you can take assume a dominant position and submit your opponent.

The nature of submission varies with the position you and your opponent are in. Some of the popular positions are side control, full mount and back mount.

For our understanding, we can divide the submission techniques into two pools. These are commonly known as Joint-locks and chokes. In the former, the idea is to isolate the limb of the opponent and then establishing a lever that will serve to dislocate the joint.

One has to be mindful of the fact that if the opponent is signaling defeat by tapping, then pressure must be released in a calculated and controlled manner.

Chokes are primarily conferenced with interrupting the supply of blood to the brain, eventually resulting in unconsciousness.

Differences

At this stage in this discussion, it is important to realize the differences between the Japanese Jiu-Jitsu and the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The Japanese version has been here for many centuries while the BJJ is barely a century old art.

The main teaching of the Japanese Jiu-Jitsu is discipline, while BJJ is more often played as a sport. Certainly, BJJ is less classical as compared to its Japanese counterpart.

While the Japanese version is more focused on the idea of self-defense which eventually helps you defeat your opponent faster, the Brazilian version believes in offense and attack.

And one can’t argue its effectiveness if we recall the results produced by BJJ players in UFC’s and other mixed martial arts events all across the world.

While BJJ is played as a sport and some of its techniques are quite effective in the game, they aren’t that helpful in a real fight outside the ring. And that’s where we once again realize the importance of simple yet effective Japanese Jiu-Jitsu martial arts. Lastly, against a taller and stronger opponent, BJJ is more effective as it takes the factor of power, out of the equation.

So all in all, it might not be a bad idea if one becomes the master of both of these forms.

Conclusion

This discussion aimed at highlighting the technical aspects, history and various types of jiu-jitsu, as well as illuminating the stark differences between them.

Hopefully, by now, you have grasped the main idea behind Jiu-Jitsu and its various forms. Theory always comes first before anything, martial arts are no exception to this rule.

Without knowing the basic concepts involved in these fighting techniques, one cannot hope to survive in combat. We will strongly recommend that you must first satisfy your thirst of curiosity by reading more such articles like this before practically entering the arena for your first official combat!

If you are interested in more great BJJ content, check out this webpage.

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Posted on May 2, 2020

There are certain unspoken rules of jiu jitsu that most practitioners know and respect. Like all grappling sports, jiu jitsu is very competitive, often fueled by ego. Whether you admit it or not, almost everyone wants to come out on top of every roll no matter if it’s in competition or friendly rolls in your academy. It’s human nature to want to win.

But let’s face it, no one wants to roll with that one guy in class who goes 100% all the time and will do anything necessary to win and become the uncrowned open mat champion of his gym.

Before we get into the full list, understand that just because a lot of these “techniques” are 100% legal for competition doesn’t mean it’s cool to use them on your training partners on a daily basis.

We’ve compiled a list of 30 jiu jitsu techniques you should avoid during training if you don’t want to be public enemy #1 in your gym.

In competition? Go ahead, sweep the leg.

1. Grabbing Fingers

It’s never okay to grab fingers while rolling. Grab the wrist or the hand, if you start peeling and twisting fingers off a lapel grip you’re surely going to piss off your sparring partner.

2. Pinching & Scratching

Okay, we shouldn’t even have to put this one on the list, but if you intentional scratch or pinch your opponent that’s just weird. Also, cut your fingernails!

3. The Faux Flow Roll

You all know that guy, he’ll start out by saying something like “Bro, let’s just flow.”

10 seconds later he’s going ape shit trying to pass your guard.

Don’t be this guy.

4. (Un)intentional Striking

Accidents happen, but you all know that one person who is always somehow either kneeing or elbowing someone during transitions. Slow down and transition with style.

5. Knee Nut Slices

Easiest way to pass from knee slice? Knee ’em right in the stones. I’m all for this technique in competition, but please for the sake of your training partners future, don’t do this in class.

6. The Oil Check

The oldest trick in the book. This may be the most effective technique in this list, nothing will help you advance your position better than a good ole oil check. On the flip side, nothing will stop your training partner from ever wanting to roll with you again.

7. Knee On Soul

Okay, there is nothing like a good knee on belly. I love just thinking about it.

But if you’re trying to suck the soul out of your training partner by driving your knee through the floor, you deserve what’s coming up next.

8. Waterboarding

Japanese

A little self awareness goes along way. If you are drenched in sweat, try to avoid waterboarding your opponent from north south or heavy side control.

9. The Chloroform Choke (Covering The Mouth)

The Vagner Rocha special.

Just because you’ve seen your favorite MMA fighter do this, doesn’t mean it’s cool to do while rolling. If you rely on this technique, you deserve to be bitten.

10. Fist Under The Back

This is an old school trick that almost didn’t make the list as it’s a crazy effective way to break the closed guard as well as other positions.

11. Can Opener

If you have to rely on the can opener to break someones closed guard, you should go back to jiu jitsu 101 class. You can also really injure someone who has never had it applied on them before.

12. North South Teabag

You know your body better than anyone. If you like to play north south, please keep your junk north of your training partners face.

13. Mopping The Face

Long hair? Put it up, tie it back, roll it in a bun, whatever you do keep it out of your opponents face.

14. Knee On Throat

We covered the knee on soul above, but equally dirty is the knee on throat. If you’re trying to get out of a scissor choke from side control, go for it, otherwise avoid it.

15. Hey, That’s Not Legal!

Nothing like sinking in the perfect heel hook in practice…

Except for the fact that you did it to a white belt with the gi on.

Every gym and training partner is different, but generally speaking if your partners skill level doesn’t allow a certain technique don’t do it to him. Do this with discretion, they should be aware and should be working on these as they progress but there is no reason to knee bar a white belt who just finished his 3rd trial class…

16. Wrist-locking White Belts

Same as above, as fun as it is making white belts squeal by catching them in a wrist lock, don’t do it. You know it’s there, go for something else, it’ll make you better.

17. Pulling Back On The Nose For RNC

Another old school favorite. Pulling back on the nose (or worst – on the eye socket) to expose your opponents neck is perfectly acceptable in competition, but try not to gouge your opponents eyes out during training.

Work on finding other ways to expose the neck.

Japanese jiu jitsu techniques videos

18. Slamming In Closed Guard

This is a spazzy white belt favorite. While I’ve never seen anyone get picked up and straight up power-bombed in class, I’ve seen plenty of strong white belts get frustrated and proceed to lift their opponent up from closed guard a few inches and drop them over and over.

This is a great way to get straight arm barred by someone who doesn’t care about hyperextending your joint.

19. Forearm In Throat

Posting up and driving your forearm in your opponents choke is going to do one thing and one thing only: piss them off.

Japanese Jiu Jitsu Techniques

It also opens you up for a ton of counters that you probably don’t want coming your way.

Japanese Jiu-jitsu Secret Techniques Of Self-defense Pdf

20. Knuckles In The Ribs

Another old school jiu jitsu move that should be avoided in training.

21. Neck Crank

“That was a choke right?”

… if you have to ask your partner if your choke was a choke, chances are it wasn’t a choke and you were just crushing their jaw.

Jiu-jitsu

22. The Elbow Dig Pass

Otherwise known as the “universal piss your partner off button.”

Aside from the fact that most upper belts no longer have nerves in their thighs from years of dealing with this, it’s just not very effective. But it’s a great way to make your opponent want to sub you that much more!

Japanese Jiu Jitsu Techniques And Terms

23. Turtle “Gut Wrench”

Performing the heimlich maneuver on your opponent while he’s in turtle is a great way to open him up to get your hooks in.

But if you do that to me, we’re probably not friends after this roll.

24. Skull Pressure To Chin While Passing

Another one that almost didn’t make the list. If you’re trying to pass to side control putting your skull on your opponents chin and flattening them out is almost unstoppable if you know what you’re doing.

On the other hand, doing this to your training partners day in and day out probably makes them avoid you during open mat.

Japanese Jiu Jitsu Techniques Pdf

Self-defense

25. Herculean Collar Drag

Go ahead and use everything you’ve got in a tournament!

You can do an effective collar drag without forcing your opponents to eat the mat.

26. The Brazilian Tap

If you need to tap, tap. Accept defeat and move on, don’t play stupid games.

Nothing makes you look more cowardly than trying to pull off the Brazilian tap.

27. Using Illegal Grips

There’s a reason grips are illegal, and if you like to compete you should take your grips seriously during training.

28. Stepping On Thighs From Standing Pass

If you’re good enough to pass straight through my guard from standing, you’re good enough to do so without stomping on my thighs.

Japanese Jiu Jitsu Techniques Names

29. Chin In Side Of Ribs

Welcome to the side control show with Jay Leno!

This is a great way to get the kimura from top side control while your opponent is grabbing their own belt as a defense.

30. Grabbing Shorts or Rashguard in NOGI

Is see this a lot in nogi training, especially with that one guy who always forgets its nogi class so ends up training with his gi pants on.

Is Japanese Jiu Jitsu Effective

There you have it, the 30 Dirty Jiu Jitsu Techniques to avoid during training! Of course this should be used as a general guideline, use anything above(except the oil check, never oil check) at your own discretion.

And always remember – if you’re a lower belt rolling with an upper belt, what goes around comes around.