Combat Jiu Jitsu

While to me this sounds completely reasonable, it seems the “open handed” part becomes quickly viewed as “slap fighting” and silly by many viewers. Especially in Jiu Jitsu circles. It’s always odd to me the type of in fighting and division inside such small groups of people. This happens in the firearms community all the time. Hunters who’s world view doesn’t include your particular rifle, guys that carry a gun but don’t see the need for normal capacity magazines, and so on. Truly in these small groups we can be our own worst enemies.

” Combat Jiu-Jitsu… Lots of back and forth banter on if its good or not.  Who really cares? If you want to do it, do it. If you want to watch it, watch it. If you don’t want to do it, don’t. If you don’t want to watch it, don’t..  Stop hating.”

-Tom DeBlass

Let me just say I’m a fan. It’s fun to watch, and especially for the readers of this blog interested in self defense its applicable and accessible. What we have is a safe way to incorporate striking with our grappling while maintaining real ungloved gripping ability and without the practitioner needing to go full in on MMA ground and pound. It’s a step between the two. And it’s not entirely new for anyone that has heard of Pancrase.

We often hear BJJ guys contemplate if their deep half will work “in da streetz” or how effective their guard game will be once strikes are introduced. Its not often though that most people (current company excluded!) get the gloves out and get at it. Sometimes the step between pure grappling and dropping bombs on a dude is just too big of a gulf.

Personally I’m excited to see it evolve as it picks up popularity. I always enjoy watching the adaptations that happen in new environments, new rule sets tend to push the desire to innovate and improvise. The athletes today, even those with MMA experience, are still just learning how to maximize their effectiveness in this context and it should prove outstanding for us to see what we can learn from their experience.

This is but one more expression of the core art that is Jiu Jitsu. I often have discussions about what people prefer. Wether thats GI or No GI, points, sub-only, MMA, wrestling, playing guard vs passing, and so on. Personally I love it all, and I like to be well rounded and able to thrive in any rule set. At least that’s the long term goal. My rules, your rules, his rules, or no rules at all I’m down! I want to be free to experiment, to be curious, to adapt, and to feel out those core principles that tie it all together.