What is Combat Jiu-Jitsu

1. Combat Jiu-Jitsu

Combat Jiu-Jitsu is a newly originated sport that is a mixed version of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Combat Jiu-Jitsu is the hybridization of all rules of BJJ and a few rules from MMA.

The only new thing in the CJJ is that open-palm slaps are allowed in the CJJ. Combat Jiu-Jitsu is getting more famous day by day. Big names in MMA and BJJ joined CJJ competitions and made this championship more familiar to the audience.    

2. Founder of Combat Jiu-Jitsu

Eddie Bravo, the founder of 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu is also the founder of Combat Jiu-Jitsu. He introduced the grappling world with this new style of fighting in 2013. In the beginning, Eddie Bravo’s new fighting style with palm strikes made its name to the world slowly. But now, Combat Jiu-Jitsu becomes famous with significantly accelerated momentum. 

Eddie Bravo is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt and founder of the Eddie Bravo Invitational.(EBI) He made his name in Jiu-Jitsu when he fought and won his historic match against Royler Gracie in ADCC World Championship 2003. He is also the pioneer of the invincible BJJ Twister and revolutionized the Rubber Guard.

3. The Purpose of Combat Jiu-Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one of the most rapidly progressing combat sports all over the USA. BJJ was initiated as a self-defense system. But now, various people think BJJ is no longer focused on defensive techniques which can be applied in real-life situations.

Eddie Bravo wanted to eliminate this thought. So he started Combat Jiu-Jitsu which introduced such rules which made this sport very close to a realistic situation. Eddie Bravo wanted to eliminate the gaps in BJJ and MMA. His aim was to spread modern BJJ which would be “as enjoyable to watch as it felt while playing”, and MMA all over the world.

To fulfill his desire to raise the honor of BJJ, Eddie Bravo initiated EBI, and it seems he is not done revolutionizing BJJ yet. Continuing his efforts he recently announced a new modern version of Jiu-Jitsu and named it Combat Jiu-Jitsu which is rooted in BJJ and MMA. in Combat Jiu-Jitsu, by allowing striking and open palm striking, Eddie Bravo made this sport closer to real-life situations.

It is Eddie Bravo’s way of honoring the founders of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Carlos Gracie, and Helio Gracie, and the purpose of their Gracie Jiu-Jitsu by uplifting the BJJ closer to MMA and self-defense purposes.           

4. Rules of Combat Jiu-Jitsu

Combat Jiu-Jitsu will soon be considered the most prevailing combat sport which is making history now. Eddie Bravo, the founder of Combat Jiu-Jitsu, set new rules that are much closer to realistic situations and MMA. Some of the rules in Combat Jiu-Jitsu are as follows.

4.1. Similar to the Rules of BJJ

Combat Jiu-Jitsu originated from BJJ. So most of its rules are similar to BJJ. All the submission techniques that are used in BJJ are also taught and applicable in CJJ.

4.2. Open Palm Strike

Along with the rules of BJJ, CJJ includes one additional rule. CJJ includes open-palm strikes to its competitors when the competitors are on the ground, they are allowed to do an open-palm strike on the face and other body of the opponent. The competitor is considered to have an “on the ground” position when his butt or knees touch the ground.

4.3. Get Down Rule

One minute after starting the fight, if the competitors are still standing, then they will follow the get-down rule. In the get-down rule, both fighters have to start ground wrestling. The referee will conclude the ground wrestling.

The referee tosses to conclude who will be allowed to take the decision of the position. The winner of the toss has the right to select whether he will start with the butterfly guard or with the opponent’s butterfly guard.

4.4. Purgatory Position

The purgatory position is considered when one of the competitors is in a standing position and the other one seems on the ground. Both athletes are allowed to stay in this position for only 30 seconds. After 30 seconds, the time in this position will be counted as overtime.

If any athlete touches his knee to the ground in an effort to attack his opponent or because of other reasons, the referee will announce the end of the purgatory position. If both athletes are in an inactive position for more than 10 seconds, purgatory time starts.

This rule is basically formed to ensure dynamic competition. As Eddie Bravo wanted to eliminate any boring aspects of the game. So he made the Purgatory rule/position to ensure a more interesting fight.

4.5. All Submissions are Legal

In Combat Jiu-Jitsu, no submission is considered illegal. As all the submissions of BJJ are allowed and are considered legal. No point system is established for CJJ. So CJJ also falls in the submissions only Jiu-Jitsu. 

4.6. Winning Criteria

Fighters can only win the competitions by submission, overtime, or knockout. Overtime rules in this championship are as similar as in EBI. After overtime, if any competitor could not submit the other, the fighter with the faster escape is announced as the winner.  

4.7. Attacking and Defensive Positions

In EBI over time, both athletes are given the chance to attack and defend. Both athletes have an equal time of two minutes to attack and defend. They have two minutes in the attacking position and two minutes in the defensive position. 

Competitors can take two attacking positions. The first attacking position is a spider web which is a back attack. The second one is the armbar position attack. Competitors have to defend or escape from the attack to win the match.

5. Difference Between BJJ and GJJ

Combat Jiu-Jitsu is a derivative of BJJ and a bit closer to MMA as compared to the traditional BJJ, but still, both fighting styles have some differences. Here are some of the differences between the two fighting styles.

5.1. Striking

The basic and most prominent difference between BJJ and CJJ is open-palm striking among many others. In traditional BJJ any kind of striking is prohibited while in CJJ, open-palm striking is allowed in certain positions.

5.2. Striking

In BJJ, every championship has its own points system. If any competitor fails to submit the opponent, points are used to announce the winner. But in CJJ, no points system is established. You have to submit your opponent to win the game. Submission, knockout, or fastest escape are the methods to win the CJJ match.

5.3. Striking

BJJ is now converted into a sport and its defensive aspect is now deteriorating with time. While CJJ is more about self-defense. CJJ is closer to real-life fighting scenarios. 

5.4. Striking

Traditional BJJ is considered a gentle art. During practicing BJJ, people often get injured but their injuries are not very serious. But in CJJ, striking, facial wounds, bruises, and other injuries are often observed. 

5.5. Striking

Finding a gym for CJJ is not as easy as BJJ. BJJ is a more famous fighting style than CJJ. A large number of practitioners join gyms and BJJ because they want some physical activities to adopt a healthy lifestyle. BJJ is very beneficial for those who want to join the gym for their physical and mental health as BJJ does not involve any methods which are more harmful.

CJJ is a fighting style similar to street fights. So CJJ practitioners eliminate a big number of people who want to go to a gym for health. In this aspect also, BJJ is more popular as compared to CJJ.

6. CJJ Championships and the Most Competent Athletes in Combat Jiu-Jitsu

Combat Jiu-Jitsu is a rising sport and attracts various BJJ and MMA athletes to participate and compete. Eddie Bravo hosted the first CJJ World Championship in 2018. Various big names in the grappling world participated in this championship.

The first-ever athletes who participated in the CJJ event are Vagna Rocha and Chad George. Vagna Rocha is a lightweight champion and competed in UFC. While Chad George was Bantamweight Champion in the CJJ event. Eddie Bravo made this first-ever World Championship of Combat Jiu-Jitsu more interesting by entertaining those audiences who have UFC passes. Such people can make an entry in the championship by using those passes.

Some MMA athletes who participated in CJJ are Wilson Reis, Masakazu Imanari, Tyson Griffin, Ritchie Martinez, Denny Prokopos, Nathan Orchard, Donald Cerone, Mac Danzig, Diego Brando, and Cole Miller.

Due to the increasing popularity of CJJ, various athletes from American Jiu-Jitsu also jump into CJJ. Those athletes include Ben Eddy, Keith Krikorian, Richie Martinez, Damien Anderson, and Ethan Crelinsten.

In the World events of CJJ, grapplers executed their maximum efficiencies and made this sport more interesting for the world. In the 2021 CJJ World event, Australian grappler Craig Jones defeated a big competitor of UFC, Donald Cerone. Now, CJJ is opening the way for other combat sports like Luta Livre and Kenpo Jiu-Jitsu.  

7. Conclusion

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one of the most watched combat sports in the USA and all over the world. Combat Jiu-Jitsu which is derived from BJJ has evolved more into defensive and offensive modes. Combat Jiu-Jitsu has rules which are closer to a realistic fighting approach like street fights. CJJ allows striking and does not have any points system. 

Eddie Bravo, the founder of EBI has initiated this combat sport and also launched the CJJ world championship in 2018. Various athletes from MMA and BJJ jumped into this new emerging sport and caught the attention of the world.

Photo Credit: @jiujitsutimes