The Jiu-jitsu Technique In The UFC

The jiu-jitsu technique was introduced to the world on a grand scale with the creation of the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 1993. A man named Royce Gracie stunned everyone by becoming the first UFC victor. He accomplished this feat by using the martial art techniques that his family had perfected over sixty years to defeat his opponents, all of whom were bigger than him. He then did it again and again, winning three out of the first four tournaments.

After Gracie proved that a command over the jiu-jitsu technique was essential for success in mixed martial arts competitions, all fighters began receiving some form of personal training in jiu-jitsu, and the UFC became a series of matches on the ground. A standup fighter was almost always doomed, for once the combatant who knew jiu-jitsu got him on the ground, a tap out from the striker was inevitable. Submissions in the form of chokes, arm bars, leg locks and so on became the norm for those early UFC matches.

While this focus on the jiu-jitsu technique made for an interesting experience for those well versed in ground fighting, for an audience hungry for blood, it quickly became boring when fighters learned how to counter submissions and last longer against a jiu-jitsu expert. To make matters worse, fighters with more stand-up experience didn't want to commit to attacks that might end up with them on the floor, and so there was more circling and feinting than actual contact and this practice enraged audiences as well. Therefore, there was more pressure on combatants to fight on their feet, and not get locked into certain positions when on the floor.

Some people believe the jiu-jitsu technique has disappeared in the recent tournaments of the UFC, but that's not quite accurate. All fighters engaged in mixed martial arts tournaments have to study jiu-jitsu in order to be able to compete effectively. This means that these top fighters can more easily block and counter the different submissions and groundwork that fighters use when grappling. MMA and jiu jitsu still have a strong relationship.

It would be wrong to say that the jiu-jitsu technique is dead in the UFC, just because there are fewer tap outs to submissions than there were before. MMA and jiu jitsu will always go hand in hand; jiu jitsu just won't be the deciding factor in a fight anymore because everyone studies it now. If you are interested in participating in any mixed martial arts tournaments, then you would be well advised to study jiu jitsu in order to be able to compete with everyone else.