The Gracie family helped create and popularize Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu all over the world, especially in the early days of the UFC. Nowadays modern MMA has almost nothing to do with the UFC from the 90’s and it has evolved so much that the traditional Gracie Jiu-Jitsu style of fighting can be see as largely outdated.
What is Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and does it differ from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
What is the difference between Gracie Jiu-Jitsu versus Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? The Armlocks, Chokes and moves of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) are the same as Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. The difference is the teaching method. Here at the Gracie Jiu Jitsu Academy in Torrance, California we strictly endorse the teaching methods of Grand Master Helio Gracie. He believes that there is no such thing as a good or bad student: only good teachers and bad teachers.
Above was the question and answer sequence Gracie Jiu-Jitsu instructors were told to memorize, drill and say during introduction lessons at the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy’s instructors training program from 1998 to 2000.
But what are the real differences between Gracie Jiu Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? Which one is better?
For those who are considering starting Jiu Jitsu, that is a very common question.
In all honesty, there is a lot of overlapping between the two Jiu-Jitsu styles but there are also some differences.
It’s important to know what you are looking for in a martial art and what you want to focus on.
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu focuses heavily on self defense and ground fighting with submissions from positions like full guard, and mount. There is also some very rudimentary striking, mostly set up the clinch or set up takedowns.
Where does Gracie Jiu-Jitsu fit in modern MMA
Stand-up striking skills have improved tremendously in MMA over the past few decades, so has athleticism. Fighters today are proper athletes, much more well-rounded and knowledgable at avoiding fights from going to the ground.
Pulling guard and looking for submissions from closed guard can be risky against modern MMA athletes who especially have trained Jiu-Jitsu.
MMA fighters are now bigger, stronger, and more well-versed in defending submissions. Techniques in MMA have advanced, and new guards, sweeps, and submissions are being used. Traditional Gracie techniques like the triangle choke and armbar, while still effective, are not as dominant as they once were and everybody at a higher level knows how to avoid them.
What stays relevant
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is still a good base for MMA. Its core principles (leverage, positioning) are still very useful. Modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu which is the evolution of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, uses more leg locks, heel hooks, and a hybrid style of Wrestling & Jiu-Jitsu that can be very effective in MMA. Top fighters like Charles Oliveira, Demian Maia, and Ryan Hall, Jacare still utilize this with great success.
To sumerise, many aspects traditional Gracie Jiu-Jitsu can be seen as outdated, however the core principles are very important for MMA. Ideally, When using modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu combined with Wrestling is the best bet for MMA.
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