Gracie Jiu Jitsu Training: Understanding the Difference between GJJ and BJJ
Are you interested in learning Jiu Jitsu but confused about the various styles? One common source of confusion is the difference between Gracie Jiu Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. While they share many similarities, they also have distinct features that set them apart. In this post, we'll explain the nuances of each style, focusing on Gracie Jiu Jitsu training and what makes it unique.
Understanding the Roots
To understand the difference between Gracie Jiu Jitsu (GJJ) and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), it's essential to go back to their origins, which explain in detail in Part 1 and Part 2 of our blogs covering the history of Gracie Jiu Jitsu. Both styles trace their roots to traditional Japanese Jiu Jitsu, but they evolved differently over time.
Gracie Jiu Jitsu is the original style developed by the Gracie family in Brazil, particularly by Carlos and Helio Gracie. It emphasizes leverage, timing, and technique to overcome larger and stronger opponents.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, on the other hand, emerged from Gracie Jiu Jitsu when practitioners such as Carlos Gracie Jr. and his cousins adapted and refined the techniques for sport competition. BJJ has become more focused on sportive aspects, including point systems, tournaments, and belt ranks.
Core Principles
While both styles share fundamental principles such as leverage, control, and submission holds, their training methods and focus may differ.
Gracie Jiu Jitsu: GJJ puts a strong emphasis on self-defence techniques, teaching practitioners how to defend themselves in real-life situations. It often incorporates stand-up techniques, ground fighting, and strategies for dealing with multiple attackers. MMA is a secondary focus and competition jiu-jitsu a tertiary focus for Gracie Jiu Jitsu.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: BJJ, on the other hand, tends to focus more on sportive aspects, such as competition training, sparring, and refining techniques for tournament success. In modern Brazilian Jiu Jitsu self defence is rarely a focus.
Training Methods
The training methods in both styles can vary, reflecting their different objectives.
Gracie Jiu Jitsu: GJJ training typically involves a more structured, curriculum based approach, with an emphasis on drilling techniques repeatedly until they become second nature. Techniques are often taught in a step-by-step manner, focusing on practical applications for self-defence scenarios. Live sparring focuses on putting those techniques to the test under duress and eventually gloves are introduced during sparring and light striking is encouraged whilst sparring/rolling.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: BJJ training is often a little less structured and more creatively open technically. It may include more live sparring (rolling) than GJJ, with practitioners testing techniques against resisting opponents. Competition preparation is a significant part of BJJ training, with practitioners often focusing on specific strategies to deal with time constraints and refining their techniques for tournament success.
Belt System and Rank
Both Gracie Jiu Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu use a belt ranking system to signify a practitioner's progress and skill level, but there are some differences.
Gracie Jiu Jitsu: The GJJ belt system emphasizes an understanding of practical self-defence skills in the early belts and in the upper belts a deeper understanding of the self-defence skillset and deep understanding of the sport side of jiu jitsu. The progression through belts may be slower, due to focusing on mastering essential techniques and principles from both the self-defence curriculum and the sport side to the art.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: BJJ often has less focus on accumulated curriculum understanding and more focus on finding your own “game” and building your own skillset that works for you under the rigours of competition. Belt promotions may come more quickly for those who are athletically gifted and who excel in tournaments, although this is not rule of thumb, each school may have its own criteria for advancement.
In Summary…
While Gracie Jiu Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu share common origins and core principles, they have evolved into distinct styles with different focuses and training methods. Gracie Jiu Jitsu training prioritizes practical self-defence techniques and a structured approach to learning, while Brazilian Jiu Jitsu may place more emphasis on sportive aspects and competition success.
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