Brazilian Jujitsu, commonly referred to as BJJ, is gaining a lot of traction around the world as both a sport and a viable self-defense martial art. Its rising popularity is thanks to several factors, but the primary reason is because it was, and continues to be used with excellent success rates in mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions and vale tudo matches.

BJJ is unique in the martial arts realm in that it is both defensive and offensive at the same time, from the same positions. This leads many people to believe that a BJJ fighter is defending when he’s actually on the attack.

The underlying principles of BJJ enable a small fighter to successfully defend against and attack by applying leverage, and using strong muscles (or multiple muscles) to attack weaker muscles or joints. Early vale tudo videos (Brazilian for “anything goes”) show these principles in action.

BJJ fighters can also end a fight through traditional means (punches and kicks), but these are often attacks of opportunity opened when an opponent defends against traditional BJJ attacks, leaving himself vulnerable in the process; or directly through the use of BJJ attacks. BJJ attack techniques are engineered to render an opponent unable to continue a fight, either by inflicting damage to a joint or limb, or rendering him unconscious or immobile.

Most attack techniques can be broken down into three categories:

1) Joint Locks: a practitioner will attempt to isolate one of his opponent’s joints and use leverage to move the joint beyond its normal range of motion. Some examples are knee bars, arm bars, Kimura, Americana.  

2) Chokes: the word “chokes” is sometimes mistakenly used for “strangles,” but the two are represent completely different types of attack, thought they both focus on the neck. A choke occurs when a practitioners attacks the windpipe of his opponent to prevent the opponent from breathing properly. 

3) Strangles: with a strangle, a practitioner attempts to cut off the supply of blood to the brain by constricting the carotid arteries. Strangles are seen more often when fighters are wearing gis (rear naked choke being a large exception), which are the traditional training and sparring uniform. You can view BJJ gi videos to see these tactics in action.

BJJ is a fascinating martial art. It takes years or even decades to rank, but even inexperienced BJJ practitioners fare very well against expert practitioners from other arts like karate or tae kwon do. There are many vs videos available which demonstrate one art vs another. These videos will provide a glimpse into why BJJ is so effective for self defense.

Ancient masters described Chinese Wing Tsun Kung-Fu’s art as a ‘living philosophy’.

At its highest stage, Wing Tsun instructs you in understanding yourself as well as your interrelationships with your fellow humans. Based on the amalgamation of Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian principles, the etiquette of Wing Tsun is aimed at enshrining important ideals in its practitioners. Some of the important ideals that Wing Tsun will try to teach, are true appreciation of humor, loyalty and dignity. It is also important that people learn to respect others, control their emotions and tempter, and to control their own ego. Without these a person can never master himself, or the art of Wing Tsun, as these two are synonymous.

The art has been widely regarded as ‘the noble Wing Tsun‘ due to these unique characteristics. The ultimate aim of Wing Tsun, therefore is the development of the student. In fact, ‘Si-Fu’ translates as ‘Father-Teacher’, signifying the role of the Master as he takes on the responsibility of his ‘todai’ (born to the father).. Contrast to the majority of other Martial Arts, such as Karate where ‘Sensei’ plainly means ‘Teacher’.

The three main features of Wing Tsun is Physical, Health and Spiritual. To find schools that teach these three together is unfortunately rare. One can mimic aspects of a physical nature, but to enhance spiritual growth a true master is required. An important teaching in Wing Tsun is that a student’s persona will develop as the student develops his or her physical techniques.

You don’t have to be Chinese to understand the martial arts, you just need to comprehend the teachings from the Masters, both the Masters of past and the Masters of today. Logically, however, this is only possible if you appreciate the historical and social background to it. Properly learning the martial art is important before changing any part of it, as to not undermine the basic foundations.

If you take away the etiquette or culture then you take away the history. It is important to learn the history of martial arts. It is a just a series of moves with no principles or any understanding behind them. This is not a true martial art.

It is not uncommon for people to want to understand all forms of Martial Arts just as some people want to understand the Solar System and how politicians think. It is necessary to gain an insight into the history, politics and political philosphy which underpin the constitution, it is an essential component without which the structure, law and policies of the state cannot be understood.”,Hilaire Barnett was clear on this point in her book Constitutional and Administrative Law stating “to study the UK’s constitution successfully.