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For many people asking themselves “what is jiu jitsu” when discovering this martial art for the first time, the answer goes beyond takedowns, submissions, and rolling on the mats. Jiu Jitsu—particularly Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ)—is a grappling-based martial art focused on leverage, technique, and strategy rather than strength alone. It is practiced by millions worldwide for self-defense, sport, fitness, mental discipline, and community. To truly understand what is jiu jitsu, you have to look at its origins, philosophy, techniques, and impact on modern training culture.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is often compared to judo, wrestling, karate, and Muay Thai, but it occupies a unique place among them. Like judo, it emphasizes balance, leverage, and throws, and like wrestling, it focuses heavily on grappling, control, and positional dominance. However, unlike karate and Muay Thai, which are primarily striking arts built around punches, kicks, elbows, and knees, Jiu Jitsu is centered on ground fighting and submissions, making it a martial art that prioritizes technique and strategy over raw power or striking ability.
To get the answer on the question "what is jiu jitsu" you have to go way back before its modern incarnation. The roots of this discipline go all the way back to traditional Japanese jujutsu systems which were used on the battlefield by samurai. These techniques were all about grappling, joint locks & leverage to take down opponents dressed in armor. In the late 1800s Jigoro Kano - the founder of Judo - got all these techniques in order and turned them into a safer, systemized martial art.
As time went on one of Kano's students named Mitsuyo Maeda started demonstrating Judo all around the world. When he got to Brazil in the early 1900s he started teaching his methods to Carlos Gracie. Carlos and his brother Hélio Gracie then took those techniques and adapted them to suit smaller, weaker people by focussing a lot on leverage & ground control. This adaptation was what ultimately gave rise to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Today, BJJ is one of the fastest growing martial arts out there, and its being recognized for its effectiveness in MMA, self defense & lifelong fitness.
To get to the bottom of what is jiu jitsu you also need to get a handle on the mindset behind it. The people who train in BJJ tend to do so under the belief that someone smaller or weaker can neutralize a bigger or stronger opponent using leverage, angles & intelligent technique. Unlike a lot of other martial arts which rely on strikes, BJJ is all about controlling an opponent, making them make mistakes & then forcing them to submit with as little force as possible. This way of thinking teaches humility, patience, discipline & resilience. You learn to stay calm under pressure, make long-term decisions & to view failure not as the end of the world - but as a learning opportunity , even if you do lose & get tapped out. Many practitioners learn the deeper meaning of the Gentle Art through BJJ quotes like “technique over strength,” which perfectly capture the philosophy behind Jiu Jitsu.
For all its size & complexity, most of the techniques in BJJ boil down to three main categories: positional control, transitions, & submissions.
BJJ is all about getting & keeping a strong position over your opponent. This means:
The Guard (closed guard, open guard, half guard, butterfly);
Mount, side control & back control;
Knee on belly
From each position you're aiming to advance, escape or set up a submission;
Getting from one position to another is just as important as the positions themselves. Smooth transitions indicate good timing, balance & strategy. Examples include passing the guard, taking the back or sweeping from bottom positions.
The goal of a submission is to get your opponent to tap out, which is the end of the fight. The most common types of submissions are:
Chokes (rear naked choke, triangle choke, guillotine, bow and arrow);
Joint locks (armbar, kimura, americana);
Leg locks (heel hook, ankle lock, knee bar);
None of these rely on brute strength - another key factor in understanding what is jiu jitsu;
Modern BJJ is practiced in two variations:
This style is practiced in the traditional uniform (the gi) which allows for grabbing fabric for grips, throws & submissions. This style places a big emphasis on technical control, grip fighting & layered strategy.
This style is practiced in athletic gear & takes away the grip element, making the game faster & more explosive. The Gi i usually replaced with rash guards, shorts and spats. This version is used a lot in MMA & submission only competitions.
Both styles teach transferable skills but a lot of practitioners prefer one over the other depending on their goals.
Getting a grip on what is jiu jitsu also means recognizing all the reasons why people train.
Self Defense BJJ is great for teaching real world skills to get out of holds & survive confrontations without having to resort to striking - its particularly useful because most fights tend to take a turn towards some form of clinch or grappling. Kids learn from an early age to defend against bullies in an effective way.
Physical Fitness All that rolling around on the mat is a full body work out that improves strength, flexibility, balance & your cardiovascular health. Many practitioners choose BJJ because its more like playing than running on the treadmill.
Mental Health Training teaches stress management, mindfulness & resilience. The focus needed on the mat often becomes a form of meditation in motion.
Community At a BJJ gym you'll find a community that's as tight-knit as a family. Your training partners will become friends, and in no time you'll feel like you've found a second family.
Lifelong Learning There's always something new to learn, whether it's a tricky technique, a subtlety of movement, or a fresh perspective on the game. And that's exactly why so many people get hooked on BJJ - they love the idea of challenging themselves and seeing progress with every class.
BJJ culture is built around a few key values : respect, discipline and looking out for one another. You'll see people bowing on and off the mat - it's a sign of respect for their training partners and the art itself. Helping out your fellow students, keeping a humble attitude and being willing to learn from others - these are all core values that will help you get the most out of your BJJ journey. Also, the shaka sign is a common symbol in Jiu Jitsu culture, representing respect, camaraderie, and a laid-back confidence—often exchanged between teammates as a sign of mutual appreciation on and off the mat
And then there's the belt system - one of the most iconic symbols of BJJ. You'll see people ranging from brand new white belts all the way up to seasoned black belts. The key thing is that progression isn't just about how strong or athletic you are - it's about how much you know, how well you apply that knowledge, and how humble you are when you're on the mat.
Beyond training, the culture of Jiu Jitsu also extends off the mat through BJJ merch like T-shirts, hoodies, and hats, which practitioners wear as a way to represent their academy, mindset, and lifestyle. These items aren’t just apparel—they’re symbols of belonging, pride, and shared values, often featuring inside jokes, techniques, or philosophies that only fellow grapplers truly understand.
So, what is jiu jitsu, anyway? Is it a martial art? A sport? A way to stay in shape? A means of self defense? Or is it a bit of all those things? The answer, of course, is yes - and it's a lot more too. It's a martial art that challenges you physically and mentally every single time you step on the mat. It's a transformative journey that changes not just your body, but your mind and your spirit - and that's a journey that can be just as rewarding for fitness enthusiasts as it is for competitors, for parents looking for a fun and challenging activity to share with their kids, or for anyone looking for a new way to connect with others in their community.
