Great production values on this recent video promotion of Gracie Jiu Jitsu, from the women’s self defence angle. A kind reader provided a translation of the introductory text (thanks Hugo!):
Look at what you’re about to learn.
Every second, 15 women are attacked in Brazil.
Every 6 minutes a woman is raped.
3 out of 4 women are victims of at least one violent crime in their life.
These things happen when you least expect it.
Be ready.
Yes, you will succeed.
9 Apr 2011 @ 5:08 pm
I saw that video and it gave chills down my spine! The production quality is amazing but more importantly was how the techniques were applied to realistic attack situations. I was so inspired to practice more self defense BJJ after watching the vid. Sometimes it’s easy to forget (with all the rolling esp) that some of my bread and butter sport BJJ techniques are not realistic in real life attack situations. But that video helped remind me abt the ‘rice and beans’ stuff that can save ur life one day. 🙂
10 Apr 2011 @ 12:08 pm
Hi SL! Thanks for your comment. Indeed, it is spine-tingling and excellently done; the GJJ peeps are super professional, no matter what you may think about their approach! I love that my Coach is very self defence oriented and we work exactly the techniques demo’d in our Weds ‘Core Essentials’ class and I do find the SD stuff applicable in rolling (adapting it to the context, of course). For me a balance between ‘sportive’ and ‘self defence’ jits is really important and I believe the two harmonise and balance one another; I appreciate that’s not everyone’s perspective and that’s cool 🙂
10 Apr 2011 @ 11:27 am
Excellent video. I believe the confidence that a woman develops from training also plays a big role in the self defense aspect of bjj.
Also, the intimacy of the sport was a huge hurdle I had to overcome when I first started training with men other then my husband. While training is not the same as being under attack, I have to believe that if ever in a dangerous situation, overcoming this would help in some respect. Hopefully we’ll never have to find out.
10 Apr 2011 @ 12:06 pm
Hi Jen, thanks for your thoughts! I totally agree, the confidence of training definitely reduces an individual’s ‘prey vibe’ and overcoming the claustrophobia of fat sweaty dudes tap dancing on you (I’m speaking from my experience HA!) must surely have important implications for self defence, especially when considering the sort of attack women might face in comparison to men’s self defence.
11 Apr 2011 @ 9:53 am
Fantastic! What a powerful message.
11 Apr 2011 @ 9:57 am
Glad you enjoyed it, Liam. Thanks for commenting!
19 Apr 2011 @ 8:25 pm
Excellent production value on the video! It is vital to remind everyone that striking MUST be a part of a complete self-defense program, especially for women and anyone who is much smaller than their attackers.
20 Apr 2011 @ 9:54 am
Hi Lori, thanks for your comment. I agree with you whole heartedly and big hanks for your comment!
Women’s Self Defence seminar: Phoenix MMA 14 May 2011 | A BJJ Blog by Meg Smitley | Women in BJJ | BJJ Women | BJJ Gi Reviews
1 May 2011 @ 10:34 am
[…] on leverage and technique rather than athleticism and power. You can check out this beautiful video of Gracie Jiu Jitsu. Categories: Self Defence, […]
8 May 2011 @ 9:11 am
Love this video. Training under Relson Gracie in Hawaii and can say without a doubt that self defense is my main reason for training. I show this video to whoever I can so they understand the concepts of self defense training and its importance. Well done.
8 May 2011 @ 9:41 am
It is a tremendous demo; I love it too! Self defence is important to me, but I think personal development, physical fitness and sense of well being are my main motivations | https://megjitsu.com/top-10-reasons-women-should-train-bjj/. That said, I am really really pumped for running my first seminar next weekend which will be a women’s self defence seminar and we’ll be focussing on exactly these sorts of techniques | https://megjitsu.com/women-self-defence-seminar-phoenix-mma/. Moreover, I find that self defence principles have been invaluable to developing my game even in a ‘jiu jitsufied’ context of rolling with a skilled individual.
Thanks very much for your comment, Big Bob. Best wishes for your training!
9 May 2011 @ 3:39 am
You are welcome, if you ever get to Honolulu, Hawaii and need a ride, want to train or roll with some girls, email me jjmuaythaiguy@hotmail.com
You got a friend in me,
Aloha,
Big Bob
9 May 2011 @ 7:23 am
Very kind, Big Bob! I tell you that Britain is a lovely island, but if I ever had the opportunity to get to your island home, I would take it! When that happy day comes I look forward to rolling the with boys and girls at your club 🙂
Self defence for women: workshop at Shoreditch Sisters WI | A BJJ Blog by Meg Smitley | Women in BJJ | BJJ Women | BJJ Gi Reviews
30 Jun 2011 @ 10:00 am
[…] backThe second half of the meeting was spent as an introductory self defence workshop. Drawing on Gracie Jiu Jitsu-style self defence techniques, we looked at two defences versus a two-handed grab to the throat; several women had […]