Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is the largest and most popular martial art in the Army and Defence. It is a ground based fighting system designed to neutralise a physically bigger and stronger opponent and is open to absolutely everybody regardless of ability, age or gender. The ability to control and neutralise the threat posed by an adversary without causing them long term harm makes it a highly desirable capability for our soldiers, with many Army units training regularly. Jiu-Jitsu is also a highly completive combat sport, it applies the takedowns and throws from wrestling and judo and combines them with a highly complex ground fighting system where each opponent looks to submit the other through either the application of a choke hold or attacking any joint on the body.

The outcome of a contest can be based on you outscoring your opponent, but ideally submitting them. There are a growing number of on-garrison clubs, with multiple civilian clubs established in most towns. The Army Team regularly competes at national and international level and boasts a large number of British, European and World Champions. We would love to see you regardless of whether you aspire to be a future world champion, or just to learn some self-defence.

Individual Association members practising martial arts in civilian clubs are required to be affiliated to the national governing body of their respective disciplines. The rules for competition, for insurance and medical requirements of these governing bodies are adopted by the Association and are used as standards from which Army MAA events are organised. The respective governing body is British Ju-Jitsu Association (BJJA).