"So what's the difference between Brazilian and 'Normal'?"

**Loco234** · Posted On: 10/19/2008 10:36am

Ever heard this before?

You know the scene, you meet some friends of a friend whilst out playing pool at the nearest pub and the question crops up, "So are you in any clubs or play sport at all?". Now I should really have learnt from experience to just say, "oh a little Judo.", but foolishly BJJ always get's a mention to people that have no idea what it is.

Then the inevitable question is asked...

"So uh, what's the difference between Brazilian and 'normal'?"

Normally I end up having to explain differing training methods, go on to aliveness in training and by this point their eyes have glazed over and they respond with,

"so what would you do if I did a flying kick into you?"

*facepalm*

So what do you guys think? any ways you've succeeded or failed miserably at explaining Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to a person that thinks Kata will make you an 'Ultimate Battle Warrior'?

**angry welshman** · Posted On: 10/19/2008 10:41am

Originally Posted by Loco234

So what do you guys think? any ways you've succeeded or failed miserably at explaining Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to a person that thinks Kata will make you an 'Ultimate Battle Warrior'?

If said friend of a friend is not some seriously strong, conditioned individual who's impervious to pain and your Jitsu is good enough, why don't you just show him? It's one system where you actually have the option of putting the pain on without hurting the guy is it not?

**Loco234** · Posted On: 10/19/2008 10:51am

Originally Posted by angry welshman

why don't you just show him? It's one system where you actually have the option of putting the pain on without hurting the guy is it not?

In a pub?

**v1y** · Posted On: 10/19/2008 10:59am

"bjj works under the assumption that you can only truly develop proper technique and timing against uncooperative opponents -- or at the very least that proper technique and timing will come at a far faster rate than training with cooperative opponents"

***Cassius*** · Posted On: 10/19/2008 12:06pm

Repeatedly glancing away/looking at my watch or phone, smiling arrogantly, and numerous sarcastic 'oh yeahs' usually get the point across. Outright laughing is pretty good too.

**poker** · Posted On: 10/19/2008 1:04pm

Tell them that Brazilian is waxed at both sides and hairy in the middle.

**angry welshman** · Posted On: 10/19/2008 1:35pm

Originally Posted by Loco234

In a pub?

Point out that postulating what would happen in some imaginary scenario where your friend has the deadly skills of Leung Ting (silent rofl to myself) is a waste of time, and suggest you show him at a more appropriate time and place. Invite him to a class why not?

**meataxe** · Posted On: 10/19/2008 1:47pm

"More sweaty man on man action"

**illegalusername** · Posted On: 10/19/2008 1:52pm

Originally Posted by meataxe

"More sweaty man on man action"

Quoting a friend when he saw people doing BJJ. "This is the gayest thing i've seen. And i watched Top Gun"

**TheMightyMcClaw** · Posted On: 10/19/2008 1:53pm

I tend to go at that question from a linguistic standpoint. "Jujutsu" (and it's various spelling variations) refers to a wide body of traditional Japanese unarmed fighting arts, as well as a number of arts derived from them, some of which may or may not still use the term "Jujutsu." Thus, Aikido, Judo, and Ninjutsu are arts derived from these traditional Japanese systems which no longer use the name "Jujutsu"; BJJ is one amongst these that does still use the name.
It's a bit obtuse, but I think it's important to break down this false paradigm of "Brazilian Jiujitsu" and "normal Jujitsu" or "Japanese Jujutsu", and present Jujutsu as a very wide family of martial arts, not just a pair of siblings, one Japanese and one Brazilian.
And then, after all that, maybe I'll go into how BJJ focuses on live training and groundwork, blah blah blah.