Like Judo, it promotes the principle that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend themselves against a bigger, stronger assailant using leverage and proper technique; applying joint-locks and choke holds to defeat them.

Jiu Jitsu can be trained for self defense, sport grappling tournaments and mixed martial arts.

Jiu Jitsu - literally meaning the "art of softness," or "way of yielding" - is a collective name for Japanese martial art styles including unarmed and armed techniques. Jiu Jitsu evolved among the Samurai of feudal Japan as a method for defeating an armed and armoured opponent without weapons. Due to the ineffectiveness of striking against an armoured opponent, the most efficient methods for neutralising an enemy took the form of pins, joint locks and throws. These techniques were developed around the principle of using an attacker's energy against him, rather than directly opposing it.

An art essential for females as a self defence tool, this art has been made famous by Mixed Martial Arts and the Ultimate Fighting Championship where you will see this type of ground fighting at a high level.

You can never guarantee combat will not go to the floor and it is not always appropriate to strike an opponent, so Gary believes Jiu jitsu is an essential component to the rounded Mixed Martial Artist.