Martial Arts Advice for Las Vegas: How to Choose YOUR Combat Style, PART 3

Welcome to the third installment of this six-part article series on choosing the right martial

arts systems to suit your needs, goals and interests. In Part 1 and 2, we looked at what Las

Vegas residents can expect from kickboxing, Muay Thai and Wing Chun training and whether

the core teachings of these various forms of martial arts might be suitable for them. Now let’s

take a look at Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and whether it’s the martial art system of choice for you!

Choose the Right Martial Arts for You # 3: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

What’s it about?

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is an offshoot of Judo that was developed by the Gracie family at the

beginning of the 20th Century in, surprise, Brazil. The core philosophy of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is

that, no matter how short in stature you may be, or how big your opponent is, if you take the

fight to the ground you have a much better shot of winning. As such, students of Brazilian Jiu-

jitsu are taught a suite of submission holds, throws, chokeholds and joint locks that are designed

to take their partner in the ground, where they can be locked down and neutralized. This martial

art system really gained popularity in Las Vegas, when master Royce Gracie blasted several

opponents out of the water at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Where Have I Seen Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Before?

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is a hugely popular martial art system in the UFC, with just about every

professional fighter having a background in it. So, if you’ve ever tuned in to watch a professional

fight, chances are you’ve seen Brazilian Jiu-jitsu in action!

This six-part article series provides a brief look at the various different

forms of popular martial arts, where we would have recognized them

from and what we can expect from their training.

What Can I Expect from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Training?

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu has a heavy focus on wrestling technique and on performing various pinning

maneuvers and holds, which you will be required to maintain for long periods of time. It may

look like not much is happening on the mat when two contestants are locked in wrestling in one

of Las Vegas’ riveting UFC shows, but beneath it all, there is quiet and fierce combat going on.

Muscle is straining against muscle to gain the upper hand. A bout of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is about

the most taxing workout your body can get and you’ll notice muscles popping out all over the

show in no time!

Is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for me?

If your ultimate goal of learning a martial art in Las Vegas is to be able to defend yourself in a

real world context, then Brazilian Jiu-jitsu perhaps isn’t the best option for you, although it

certainly wouldn’t be proven useless. It’s just that taking a fight to the ground on the street isn’t

the best move.

If, however, you’re comfortable getting up close and personal with a contestant, are keen on

competing casually or professionally and want to get absolutely ripped, then Brazilian Jiu-jitsu

is a fantastic choice for you. More and more Brazilian Jiu-jitsu tournaments are popping up

all over LasVegas, so there’s plenty of opportunity for you to compete.

Please do note that it is absolutely advisable for you to invest in some good headgear,

otherwise you might end up with puffy cauliflower ears. The good news is that there is a

relatively low risk of traumatic injury in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, since the emphasis is on ground

wrestling, rather than striking and kicking.

Stay Tuned for Part 4

Stay tuned for the fourth installment of this six-part article series to find out more about

the different forms of martial arts available to Las Vegas residents and which ones might be

more suitable to you!