Eddie Bravo presents Combat Jiu-Jitsu (with video)

Eddie Bravo, the most innovative man in BJJ, talked with BJPenn.com about his latest concept – Combat Jiu-Jitsu (CJJ), which is a grappling contest that allows ground striking.

James Emerson: How did you get started with Combat Jiu-Jistu?

Eddie Bravo: You know, it was just an idea, I just thought that theres so many good Jiu Jitsu guys out there, so many that won’t do MMA because they don’t want to learn kickboxing. So we never really get to see what their Jiu-Jitsu looks like when there are punches. A lot of great Jiu Jitsu players don’t need to learn kickboxing… they don’t need to do MMA. (With CJJ) you don’t have to learn kick boxing, Just punching on the ground, no elbows.

If you look at it from the MMA world, looking down, it looks like real tame MMA, but if you look at it from the Jiu Jitsu world it looks like extreme grappling. Could you imagine watching Abi Dubai and dudes are punching the ground? How cool would that be?

JE: The rules are said to be similar to those from the ADCC, what are the differences in the rules?

EB: Well, it is considered an amateur sport so really on the ground once one person hits the ground you can start punching. So a guy could be on his back with his legs up and if the other guy is standing that guy can throw a superman punch because his opponent is down. As long as one dude is on the ground you can start punching. Standing it is just wrestling, but it’s amateur MMA rules on the ground so there are no elbows on the ground. Just punches to the head.

And there are no heel hooks, because they don’t allow heel hooks in amateur mma. I really really pushed for it man I really wanted heel hooks bad. But you know, I really wanted one-ten-minute round but all they would give me is three-three minute rounds. It is not exactly what I would have wanted it but we just wanted to get CJJ accepted and rolling then go back and tweak it some… We didn’t get a lot of s— we wanted and again, no heelhooks or toe holds…thats not what I want, I want all of that s—… but at least you can punch!

I think that this sport would be perfect for these jiu jitsu match masters that don’t want to learn any striking… This would be like the ultimate form of grappling you know what I mean? The ultimate form… or the weakest form of MMA (laughes). You can look at it either way.

It is also great for people preparing for MMA because grappling in Combat Jiu Jitsu will prepare you for a MMA career way better than like a regular grappling tournament, that’s scientific…..that’s for sure.

I think there was a big hole between grappling and MMA -that is a giant hole and that giant hole is Combat Jiu Jitsu. Obviously real MMA is the best, obviously… UFC fights, that’s the best s— of course. Im just saying this is something different. Its not as good as MMA…but it’s better than grappling (laughs)… Ultimately I do not want the fights in a cage, it doesn’t look good in a cage. It will looks like shitty MMA in a cage, it would look amazing on Abu Dubai mats, like open mats wrestling mats. Now you’re watching Marcello go at it and he’s punching on the ground?! Come on, that’s super extreme Abu Dubai, nogi extreme!

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Owner/Editor of SevereMMA.com. Writer, Podcaster, Producer of 'Notorious: Conor McGregor' film, 'Conor McGregor: Notorious' TV series, 'Ten Thousand Hours', 'The Fighting Irish' and more documentary films.

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