Looking for something a little bit different to fill up some free time in your schedule and blow off some steam? The Brandeis Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu club was founded in 2004 with a mission “to instruct students in the practice and application, in both competition and self-defense, of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu,” according to the club’s constitution. The Brandeis club sports team is headed by coaches Dave Ginsberg and Mike Mena. The club’s president is senior Isaac McKillen-Godfried.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was developed by the Gracie family in 1882 from pre-war Kodokan Judo and western wrestling. The goal of a match is to bring an opponent to the ground and use grappling techniques to force the opponent into submission. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a form of self-defense used in MMA and Vale Tudo competitions like UFC and Pride FC.
The club currently operates as an instructional organization, teaching their members techniques in self-defense, combat sport and ground fighting based martial art, or grappling. However, there are a few members of the club who compete as individuals in various Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments in the area. The sport is designed for the underdog, reinforcing the idea that the smaller participant can control and defeat the large opponent through the use of leverage. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu focuses on both positional dominance, like pinning the opponent for control, and submission skills like joint locks. Practices for the club include a formal bow-in at the beginning of each practice followed by technical drilling and calisthenics, and each practice finishes with live rounds and sparring.
The club looks to “teach students basic ground techniques so that if they either find themselves on the ground in an actual fight they can defend themselves or if someone is striking them they can take the fight to the ground and defend themselves. Secondly, we want to introduce them to the potentially lifelong hobby of both BJJ training and competition. We also help people who wish to go into Mixed Martial Arts develop their grappling base,” explained McKillen-Godfriend.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is as much about self-defense as it is a technical challenge. “Many people have described it as almost like a physical type chess and I couldn’t agree more,” McKillen-Godfriend said. “You’re always trying to think two moves ahead and chain various techniques together. Sometimes you win and come out on top, other times you get shut down, but it’s always fun.”
The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community also allows participants to build both physical and internal skills. “BJJ has made me more humble. Repeatedly getting submitted will definitely help get rid of any ‘ego’ you might have,” explained McKillen-Godfried. He also finds motivation in those around him practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, “because merely the fact that you are rolling live (close to 100 percent) with some of the best chokers and joint lockers around will give you more confidence and inspire you to improve. As you build skills and realize how much better you are now than when you started you will also gain confidence.”
The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu club meets Sunday from 12 to 1:30 p.m. and Wednesday from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Practices are held in the Linsey Pool House in MPR 3 and are open to anyone who would like to check out a practice. For more information about Brandeis’ Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club, please email jmgb@brandeis.edu.
