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The Evolution of Jiujitsu, from throws to scoots.




Jiujitsu originated from Japan. It was the Samurai style of grappling for when combat went to the ground and nobody had weapons. It was and still is a pretty devastating form of self defense that spread around the entire world. Many Japanese migrated to Brazil and there, Brazilian Jiujitsu became a thing. Two cultures that really loved grappling, Brazilians flocked to jiujitsu gyms.


It was the Gracie family that brought it into the mainstream U.S with the early days of the UFC. Where you saw these smaller dudes going in and very quickly taking down / tapping out these giant guys when they didn't have weight classes. Some people didn't even think it was real. You know it's real if you've ever had a rolling session in a real Jiujitsu gym.


Jiujutsu is a hard-core sport. You pretty much spend your first year just learning how to survive if you have no grappling experience. It puts a lot of stress on your body, but the knowledge of grappling and being able to defend yourself is worth it. So it's just kind of weird how it's evolved today. Much has changed in the sport and what became famous for it's nasty takedowns, is now also synonymous with "butt scooting."


Decades ago, a jiujitsu tournament was guaranteed to show you the filthiest throws, slams, and explosive grappling. Today, you pretty much just watch two dudes butt scoot towards each-other and flop their legs around taunting the other person to approach their guard. Until one of them grabs the other guys leg for a heel-hook. Now of course this isn't every match but it's become often enough that its expected and even joked about in the grappling community. What's next for jiujitsu? Will we ever go back to the more brutal days of sweeps and rear naked chokes in every match? Or will the butt scooting evolve into something even more odd?


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