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

[Loco234]

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]

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]

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]

"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]

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]

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

[angry welshman]

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]

"More sweaty man on man action"

[illegalusername]

"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]

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.

[Asriel]

I explain the advantages of 'combat sports' over 'Martial Arts' and tell them that their Krotty/Wing Chun etc would be useless against someone attempting to impose their will upon them

[Lebell]

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.

dont forget the teasing: oh really?

[Rene "Zendokan" Gysenbergs]

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'?

You're making your explaination too complicated.

When the friends know nothing about MA, I use this method:

Friend: What do you train?
Me: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Friend: What's that?
Me: Do you know Judo? (Everybody knows Judo)
Friend: Yes
Me: You know that Judo has groundfight?
Friend: Yes
Me: Well, that's Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

That's more than enough explaination for a non MAist. And I can get on with what I was doing before.

If you try to explain BJJ with all it's finesse to non MAists, it will can easely take an hour and even then they won't get it.

[jnp]

I tell them it's wrestling that incorporates jointlocks and chokes.

Even better, assuming you have enough sense to refrain from discussing martial arts with strangers, tell your friends not to bring the subject up either.

[Bustardo]

I tell them it's wrestling that incorporates jointlocks and chokes.

That's what I say if/when I'm asked. It's usually more than enough information. Usually if they're interested in MA I get to hear about how they trained 'INSERT-KARATE-STYLE-NAME' here and would destroy any of 'those MMA' guys. I just agree with them to shut them up.