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Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art based on grappling and ground fighting, focusing on the skill of controlling one’s opponent through techniques that force him or her to submit. It prides itself on being known as the “gentle art”, allowing a smaller, weaker person to use leverage and submissions (chokes, locks) to defend himself against a bigger opponent. With origins in Judo (Newaza) and Japanese Jujutsu, it has since been adapted and modified by Carlos Gracie and his family to become the martial art it is today.

The popularity of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) has been on a steady rise over the years, thanks to the growing audience of MMA. Typical Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu jargon such as “rear naked choke”, “armbar” and “guard” have even become common vocabulary even among non-practitioners. BJJ can be trained in two contexts, GI and No-GI. GI refers to the uniform worn in BJJ which includes the GI itself and a belt, which represents the rank you hold. No-GI is without the GI and can be competed in pro competition in just shorts and groin guard, but typically training involves participants wearing a rash guard (long or short sleeved) and tight shorts or pants.

9 Reasons Why Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Is a great martial art

1) It is one of the most potent, real-life fighting systems on the planet.

Contrary to popular belief, studies show that 95% of street fights end on the ground. The techniques you learn in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, which focuses on taking your opponent down to the ground and keeping them there, enables you to attack or get into a more dominant position. This gives you the upper hand at all times in a real-life self-defence situation.

2) It will be your second line of defence.

In the event that you find yourself in a precarious situation, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a great second line of defence in case striking does not work. As mentioned above, a street fight will most probably end on the ground, thus enabling you to incapacitate your opponent with submissions should the occasion arise. 

3) Anyone can practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Anyone: women, men, and even children as young as four years old can practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Because it is an art that is designed for a smaller, weaker practitioner to subdue much larger and stronger opponents, virtually anyone of any size, age or sex can practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

4) It is a martial art that sharpens the mind.

Also known as the “game of human chess”, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners utilize a lot of strategy and technique in order to beat their opponents. In fact, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu student will probably come across hundreds of techniques and concepts in just a few years of training!

5) It is a great workout.

One of the greatest benefits of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is how your body changes without you realizing it. Constant drilling sessions and sparring will certainly have an effect on your body! Because you have become so focused on learning new techniques, you do not realize how much weight you have lost or how much flexibility you’ve gained in the process. Any workout that does not seem like one is definitely a plus.

6) It is one of the best bases for Mixed Martial Arts.

What do all of the top MMA fighters have in common: a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Anyone who has a solid base in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has the upper hand once the fight hits the ground. It is a great defence against wrestlers as well as strikers who are not as adept in the art. In fact, more fighters who are not as highly ranked in BJJ have found it necessary to learn how to defend it or prevent it from being used.

7) It builds character.

There are days when you feel like you are at the top of the world and then there are some days where you wonder why you even bothered to attend class. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu exposes you to a roller coaster of emotions that not only makes you stronger physically but mentally and emotionally as well. You have to be ready to accept failure, learn from it and move on. Doing so determines how far you will succeed in the martial art.

8) It promotes continuous self-improvement.

Whether you are a black belt or a white belt, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu teaches you to accept that you will never fully become a master of your martial art of choice. Not only are there hundreds of techniques out there, but there are also new ones being discovered every day. You then realize that the only way to improve is to continuously work on it every day and remind yourself that you have a lot to learn. By taking it one step at a time and acknowledging your achievements, who knows how far you will go?

9) The lessons you learn on the mat can be applied to your daily life.

The more you train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the more focused you become on the bigger picture; an important lesson you learn on the mats. Now, nothing can faze you. Whether it is stress from work or being dumped by a boyfriend or girlfriend, you realize that some things are not worth beating yourself up over, giving you an edge over those who are not used to experiencing duress on a daily basis.

Whether it is to learn self-defence, the start of a new hobby or wishing to further your martial arts repertoire, there is no doubt that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a beautiful art that is accessible to anyone. From its countless lessons to its physical benefits, it becomes clear: the more you train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the more you realize that it is more than a martial art – it is a lifestyle.

Thai boxing/kickboxing

Muay Thai, which translates to “Thai Boxing”, is the national sport of Thailand. It is a martial art with roots originating from military use dating back to around the 13th century during the time of the Sukhothai Kingdom.

Muay Thai is known as the “Art of 8 limbs” because it makes use of 8 points of contact namely, punches, elbows, knees, and kicks. This differs it from other stand-up combat sports such as boxing (2 points - fists) and karate (4 points - fists and feet).

Today, Muay Thai is practised and competed not only in Thailand, but also all around the world.

What is Muay Thai?

“Muay” translates to mean “boxing” in Thai, so Muay Thai is literally Thai boxing. Taking elements from Muay Boran, the traditional Thai martial arts, Muay Thai as a modern combat sport was first formalized in the early 20th century. The sport was influenced by British boxing where codified rules and the boxing ring were put in place. During this period, fighters also ditched wrapping hands with ropes (“Kard Chuek”) and began wearing boxing gloves in competitions.

Muay Thai is a stand-up striking sport, with two competitors in the ring throwing punches, elbows, knees and kicks at each other. Clinching, sweeps, and throws are also allowed. Besides the 8-point contact, a key difference between Muay Thai and many other stand-up combat sports is its emphasis on traditional elements such as the pre-fight dance ritual known as Wai Kru Ram Muay, the head dress (Mongkon) and the Sarama music that accompanies each fight.

History

The history of Muay Thai can be traced historically to the Sukhothai dynasty of Thailand around the 13th century. As recorded in Thai history, the first Thai army was born out of a need to defend the kingdom and soldiers were taught both armed and unarmed combat. Over time, the evolution of this martial art gave us Muay Boran and Muay Thai as we know it today. Due to wars with neighbouring kingdoms and tribes over the centuries, Muay Thai became a way of life for the people of Siam (as Thailand used to be called). One of the most famous stories of Muay Thai came via the great Nai Khanom Tom, during the Ayutthaya period. The tale narrates how Nai Khanom Tom defeated 9 Burmese fighters, one after another, during his imprisonment after the Siam kingdom was under siege. The historical event (half steeped in myth) is now celebrated as Muay Thai day, which takes place every year on March 17th. During the Rattanakosin Kingdom era (around a 18th-early 20th century), Muay Thai was formally becoming a national sport where rules and regulations were introduced. 

Modern Muay Thai 

Muay Thai has grown over the years since around World War I period to become a combat sport loved and practised all around the world. Modern Muay Thai encompasses elements of traditional boxing including the use of padded boxing gloves, 3 to 5 rounds with time limit, defined rules and take place within a ring (squared platform).

Muay Thai takes many of its strikes and techniques from ancient Muay Thai, also commonly known as Muay Boran. Muay Boran was created primarily for hand-to-hand combat during warfare. As the sport evolves, dangerous techniques from Muay Boran that may be deadly have become forbidden in Muay Thai such as strikes to the joints or back of the head.

Other than variations of punches as seen in western boxing (e.g. jabs, crosses, hooks, uppercuts), kicks, elbows and knee strikes are used in Muay Thai. Clinching, sweeps and throws are also used strategically in modern Muay Thai to make it an all-rounded combat art. Due to the 8-point contact, the sport has proven to be one of the most effective stand-up striking art and practised by many mixed martial artists.

The stadiums of Lumpinee and Rajadamnern in Bangkok are considered to be the most prestigious arenas of Muay Thai. Fighters, local and foreign aspire to compete in the stadiums.

Kickboxing

Is a form of martial arts derived from karate. It borrows moves from multiple types of martial arts, including full-contact karate, Muay Thai, and boxing.

Although the name implies kicking as a priority, this type of martial art uses both hands and feet as points of contact. Kicks and punches are both used during kickboxing. Unlike Muay Thai, elbows and knees are generally not used, and the points of contact are limited to the hands and feet.

Kickboxing is a popular professional sport, similar to MMA or boxing. Many cities have martial arts studios that offer specialized classes in kickboxing. However, with its high energy vibe kickboxing is quite popular with the general public as well. Many gyms offer non-contact kickboxing classes as aerobic exercise and with good reason. There are lots of benefits for using kickboxing as a form of exercise.

Wrestling

Wrestling is a physical combat sport. It is one of the most exhausting sports, both mentally and physically and probably this is the reason why that moment gives immense pleasure when you win a bout in this match. This game demands not only sound physical fitness, but also an unbreakable confidence and character that define the true sportsman spirit.

History

The ancient drawings in the caves trace back the game to 3000 BC. Wrestling was introduced into the Olympic Games in 708 BC. During the early nineties, freestyle format was introduced into wrestling where an individual is allowed to hold his opponent above or below his waist by using his arms and legs. The game got immense popularity in United States and Great Britain.

Just like freestyle, Greco-Roman was another style of wrestling that was equally popularized, but unlike freestyle, the wrestlers could use their arms and upper bodies and could hold only those parts of their opponents. Earlier ten categories were used to present in Greco-Roman style. Later in 2004 Olympic Games, a modification was made that confined 8 categories.

Objective

The objective of each wrestler is to pin the opponent and establish own superiority without violence. While doing so, the wrestlers perform various techniques such as taking down, joint locks, pins, and grappling holds.

The judges award points for each successful move to pin down your opponent. The team having maximum points at the end of the match is declared as winner.

An international governing body named United World Wrestling (UWW) is for the sport of wrestling. It was formerly known as the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles or in French, Fédération Internationale des Luttes Associées (FILA).

It oversees wrestling at the Olympics. It presides over international competitions for various forms of wrestling, including Greco-Roman wrestling and freestyle wrestling for men and women. UWW sets rules and regulations and holds international competitions in the following wrestling styles −

• Greco-Roman Wrestling
• Freestyle Wrestling (Men’s and Women's)
• Grappling
• Beach Wrestling
• Amateur Wrestling
• Weight Throwing
• UWW conducts a flagship event named Wrestling World Championships.

Wrestling – Participating Countries

Wrestling is present at the Olympic Games since its inception. Since its introduction to Olympiad Games, the popularity and demand of this game by different nations grew exponentially. Many Asian and non-Asian countries have their active participation in this category of game.

Some of the dominating Asian countries participating in Wrestling are Japan, Iran, India, Uzbekistan, and South Korea. In 2014 Asian games, Yogeshwar Dutt of India bagged the gold medal in men’s 65 Kg freestyle category and Rio Watari of Japan bagged gold medals in the women’s 63 Kg freestyle category, respectively.

Similarly, many non-Asian countries have shown their talents in events like summer Olympics. Countries such as Russia, USA, and Azerbaijan are dominating in the competitions. In 2012 Summer, Olympics, Jordan Burroughs of USA bagged the gold medal in men’s 74 KG freestyle category, while Natalia Vorobieva of Russia bagged gold in women’s 72 Kg freestyle category, respectively.

All Classes are paid on a monthly basis and on months’ notice must be given to terminate membership. Unlimited classes means that a person can avail of both classes in the gym/fitness side, and also join martial arts classes. Signing in for classes can be done prior to the start of class. For instance, a person can do a circuit based class on a Monday morning and also do a BJJ class the same evening.