Fight Techniques From The World Of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

By Rod Bourgoine


The best MMA fighters are often the ones with the most varied set of fight skills. They understand the importance of learning techniques from boxing to Muay Thai to judo and, of course, Brazilian jiu-jitsu. There are many key BJJ moves that can really make a difference during a fight.

The basic idea behind Brazilian jiu-jitsu is that a person can more easily overcome an opponent by utilizing ground-fighting skills. The fighter attempts to get his opponent to the ground and then inflict some type of submission hold. Joint locks and chokes are the two categories of submissions typically used in BJJ.

Joint locks are applied to various joints on the body, including arms, legs and shoulders. They are very difficult to get yourself out of when an opponent has a solid hold, but there are techniques that can be used to escape. One of the most common locks that fighters use is the armbar.

Arm locks are definitely a solid skill to possess. If you don't think the armbar is an effective tool, watch Ronda Rousey's last bout against Sarah Kauffman and rethink your opinion. Actually, you could really watch any of Rousey's fights as a pictorial of the effectiveness of the armbar. Matt Hughes, Rorion Gracie and Frank Mir are just a few other top MMA fighters who have ended fights (and even broken arms) using this skill. There are many types of armbars, including the flying armbar, double armbar and helicopter armbar. Learning how to inflict some type of armbar is an excellent idea, and it also wouldn't hurt to learn how to escape from this move either.

Another type of submission hold is the chokehold, and as with joint locks, there are many different styles of chokes that you can learn. The theory behind a chokehold is that you cut off the oxygen supply or blood flow of your opponent forcing them to submit, and occasionally, they will become unconscious. This is certainly an excellent tool for self defense but also as part of your fight game plan. Two types of chokes that have been used with great success in MMA are the guillotine chokehold and the rear naked choke. Royce Gracie used this rear naked choke to take down Ken Shamrock in under a minute during UFC 1. There are many examples of fights ending due to a well-applied guillotine choke, but few are as interesting to watch as the 2007 IFL fight between Dave Phillips and Dan Miller.

Of course, there is much more to learn about Brazilian jiu-jitsu than chokes and joint locks. You have to learn how to escape from holds, how to get your opponent to the ground and all of this takes time and practice. Eventually, you probably will find one or two submission holds that really work for you during fights, and you will spend many months perfecting these helpful skills.




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