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No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

What is No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a style of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that is practiced without the traditional kimono, or gi. In No-Gi BJJ, practitioners typically wear rash guards, shorts, or spats, which are tighter-fitting athletic clothing designed to minimize friction and prevent the grabbing of clothing during grappling.

Key characteristics of No-Gi BJJ include:

  1. Grip and Control: Unlike traditional BJJ, where practitioners can use the gi to grab and control their opponent, No-Gi BJJ relies more on body grips, such as overhooks, underhooks, and head control. This often results in a faster-paced and more dynamic style of grappling.
  2. Techniques and Strategies: While many of the foundational techniques are similar between Gi and No-Gi BJJ, some techniques and strategies are more effective in one style versus the other. For example, certain chokes and submissions that rely on the gi are not applicable in No-Gi, and practitioners may focus more on leg locks, wrestling-based takedowns, and positional control.
  3. Competitions: No-Gi BJJ has its own set of competitions and tournaments, which are governed by different rulesets depending on the organization. Some of the most well-known No-Gi competitions include the ADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Club) Submission Wrestling World Championship and the IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation) No-Gi World Championship.
  4. Training: Training for No-Gi BJJ often includes a significant emphasis on wrestling and submissions that do not rely on the gi. This can make No-Gi BJJ more applicable to mixed martial arts (MMA) and self-defense scenarios, where opponents are unlikely to be wearing a gi.

Overall, No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a versatile and effective form of grappling that complements traditional Gi BJJ and offers practitioners a different set of challenges and techniques to master.

Related Article: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: The Gentle Art of Ground Fighting

I have been asked if I have no fear. The truth is I fear a lot of things. I just don't let fear control me. I use it to motivate me. I confront things that scare me head-on, because fear is nothing more than a feeling. The girls I'm facing in the cage, they can hurt me. Fear can't actually hurt me. Acting without fear is called recklessness. Acting with fear is called courage.
Ronda "Rowdy" Rousey

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Other Glossary terms

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In the context of the traditional Thai martial art Krabi Krabong, "plong" refers to a long wooden staff used as a weapon.
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