Frequently Asked Questions:
What is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
The Gracie family developed Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the mid 1900’s. BJJ, put
simply, is traditional Jiu-Jitsu/Judo modified to meet the demands of real, no
rules, fighting that was prevalent in the streets of Brazil.
What is the difference between Japanese Jiu-Jitsu and BJJ?
BJJ’s concentration on ground fighting skills and constant live practice
differentiates it from most Japanese Jiu-Jitsu systems. BJJ was not created in a
vacuum and you will find many of the positions and techniques in other
traditional systems, but BJJ specialization on ground fighting is unique.
If my opponent is bigger and stronger than me, won’t he always beat me?
Especially when you first begin training and your arsenal of techniques is
limited (as well as your understanding and “feel” for positioning) the stronger,
faster opponent will dominate. This is natural, however, the emphasis in BJJ is
not on superior athleticism but on using leverage, balance and pressure to
control and ultimately submit a larger, stronger opponent. This is the ideal goal
of Jiu-Jitsu. If you do not make a commitment from early on to concentrate on
developing your skills but rather always relying on your natural abilities, your
development will hit a plateau very quickly and you will never gain a greater
understanding of Jiu-Jitsu and your own potential.
How long does it take to get ranked in BJJ?
This varies greatly from club to club, team to team, instructor to instructor, and
most importantly, from individual to individual. Skill in Jiu-Jitsu is gained
from experience and proper technical application not by how many moves you
know. Every person will progress according to his own abilities and goals.
Though there are many exceptions, the average time is approximately 1-1.5 years
to blue belt, 3 years from blue to purple belt, 3 years from purple to brown belt
and then 3-5 years to gain your black belt. The average committed student can
expect a journey of 10-12 years to gain the black belt.
The Royler Gracie-David Adiv Jiu-Jitsu Team ranking is as follows:
• White belt
• White belt 1-4 stripes
• Blue belt
• Purple belt
• Brown belt
• Black belt
Can I get injured training in BJJ?
While Jiu-Jitsu does not focus on punching and kicking where the chance of
injury is greatest, it does however have its risks. Common injuries can include
muscle strains to the neck, back, shoulders. As with any art that includes
takedowns, throws and grappling strain to the joints may occur. To a lesser
extent, injuries resulting from grappling such as; mat burn/abrasions, kimono
abrasions and swelling to the ears can occur. But at Harrisburg BJJ we take
every possible precaution to ensure that training is done safely. But in the end it
is up to you to ensure your own safety. Here are some tips to help you take the
right precautions. At Harrisburg BJJ, every class begins with a warm-up
followed by stretching of the muscles. Make sure you arrive on time to class to
take advantage of this warm-up. Train safely; follow the one-tap rule. When
applying a submission on your training partner always apply the submission
slowly and release it immediately when your partner taps out. If you are prone to
If you are prone to cauliflowering of the ear, then wear wrestling head gear. If
you have any type of joint problems or weakness in your elbows or knees, prior to
starting, purchase a good quality support which has some padding. Not only will
it help to support your joints but the padding will also help with Kimono and
mat abrasions which are common in the elbows and knees.
What is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
The Gracie family developed Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the mid 1900’s. BJJ, put
simply, is traditional Jiu-Jitsu/Judo modified to meet the demands of real, no
rules, fighting that was prevalent in the streets of Brazil.
What is the difference between Japanese Jiu-Jitsu and BJJ?
BJJ’s concentration on ground fighting skills and constant live practice
differentiates it from most Japanese Jiu-Jitsu systems. BJJ was not created in a
vacuum and you will find many of the positions and techniques in other
traditional systems, but BJJ specialization on ground fighting is unique.
If my opponent is bigger and stronger than me, won’t he always beat me?
Especially when you first begin training and your arsenal of techniques is
limited (as well as your understanding and “feel” for positioning) the stronger,
faster opponent will dominate. This is natural, however, the emphasis in BJJ is
not on superior athleticism but on using leverage, balance and pressure to
control and ultimately submit a larger, stronger opponent. This is the ideal goal
of Jiu-Jitsu. If you do not make a commitment from early on to concentrate on
developing your skills but rather always relying on your natural abilities, your
development will hit a plateau very quickly and you will never gain a greater
understanding of Jiu-Jitsu and your own potential.
How long does it take to get ranked in BJJ?
This varies greatly from club to club, team to team, instructor to instructor, and
most importantly, from individual to individual. Skill in Jiu-Jitsu is gained
from experience and proper technical application not by how many moves you
know. Every person will progress according to his own abilities and goals.
Though there are many exceptions, the average time is approximately 1-1.5 years
to blue belt, 3 years from blue to purple belt, 3 years from purple to brown belt
and then 3-5 years to gain your black belt. The average committed student can
expect a journey of 10-12 years to gain the black belt.
The Royler Gracie-David Adiv Jiu-Jitsu Team ranking is as follows:
• White belt
• White belt 1-4 stripes
• Blue belt
• Purple belt
• Brown belt
• Black belt
Can I get injured training in BJJ?
While Jiu-Jitsu does not focus on punching and kicking where the chance of
injury is greatest, it does however have its risks. Common injuries can include
muscle strains to the neck, back, shoulders. As with any art that includes
takedowns, throws and grappling strain to the joints may occur. To a lesser
extent, injuries resulting from grappling such as; mat burn/abrasions, kimono
abrasions and swelling to the ears can occur. But at Harrisburg BJJ we take
every possible precaution to ensure that training is done safely. But in the end it
is up to you to ensure your own safety. Here are some tips to help you take the
right precautions. At Harrisburg BJJ, every class begins with a warm-up
followed by stretching of the muscles. Make sure you arrive on time to class to
take advantage of this warm-up. Train safely; follow the one-tap rule. When
applying a submission on your training partner always apply the submission
slowly and release it immediately when your partner taps out. If you are prone to
If you are prone to cauliflowering of the ear, then wear wrestling head gear. If
you have any type of joint problems or weakness in your elbows or knees, prior to
starting, purchase a good quality support which has some padding. Not only will
it help to support your joints but the padding will also help with Kimono and
mat abrasions which are common in the elbows and knees.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| Harrisburg Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Team Royler Gracie - David Adiv |
