Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art and combat sport that focuses on ground fighting and submission grappling. It’s built on the principle that a smaller, weaker person can defend themselves and submit a larger, stronger opponent by using leverage, technique, and timing instead of brute strength.

BJJ emphasizes control, positional dominance, and submissions like joint locks (e.g., armbars, kimuras) and chokeholds (e.g., rear-naked choke, guillotine choke). The idea is to get your opponent into a position where they can’t escape and are forced to submit, either by tapping out (physically tapping their opponent or the mat) or by being rendered unconscious in some cases (with a choke).

A lot of the techniques are based on taking your opponent to the ground, where you can use various positions like mount, guard, and side control to control them. From these positions, you can work for submissions, or you can work on improving your position to eventually dominate the fight.

In a typical BJJ class, you’d spend time rolling (sparring), drilling techniques with a partner, and working on your fitness, flexibility, and mental discipline. BJJ also focuses heavily on the concept of “flow”—being able to transition between different positions smoothly and effectively.