By Elisabeth Clay So, I think one thing we have started seeing a rise in is thetopic of "American" Jiu Jitsu, at leastpeople saying they do "American"jiujitsu (Lis rolls her eyes). I have been asked a few times what I think about itandhave even been automatically lumped into the category of"American" Jiu Jitsu. Before I dive into it,tomakeit short and sweet, I think it isabsolutelyridiculous. It's still the exact same sport.

My Opinion: It's a Marketing Strategy

People start by saying well it has evolved;jiujitsu in America has evolved.WhileJiu jitsu has evolved,ithas evolved all over the world. It's a dynamic martial art unlike most of the othermartial arts with theirtakatas. Americanjiujitsu is still the exact same thing;it isjiujitsu. Each player's game is specific to that person,andthey each look very different. It is all the art and principle of jiu jitsu. What separates it from the old school Japanese jiu jitsu is the static nature of Japanese JJ, which came from judo(again with thetakatasand rigid rules). BJJ,or jiu jitsu,is its ownsport. Regardless of how it evolves,the fact that itcan evolve makes it jiu jitsu.

Fracturingthe Sport

Whenpeople divideor fracturethe sport, we lose everything we have fought for years to accomplish, especiallywhen it comes tobeing seen as equal to the Brazilians we were competing against. Whyare wetrying to divideit? Americans are doing the exact same thing we've said we didn't wantand have foughtagainstforyears. We are putting a divide in the community. It isjiu jitsu regardless of what nationality does it or how it develops.We should embrace each other. Don't getme wrong,I am American, born and bred. I love my country, but I am so grateful to the Brazilianswho brought jiu jitsu to us and shared it. For those who were willing to share the sport, my life has been changed forever.

It's Not a Different Sport

Just because someone slaps American on top of the Brazilian before jiu jitsu doesn't make it a different sport. And for people saying, well the Americans have added more wrestling to it, ithas a different style to it. Okay fine,so the Americans in jiu jitsu tend towrestlemore,butthatdoesn't make it a different sport. So, by this token, the Russians in judo have a very differentstyle then the Americans,and they have a different style then the Japanese, but it is still judo.They still compete in the Olympics together. Let's take this argument to a whole other level. If our overall style in America makesit"American Jiu Jitsu," then in Australia it must be "Australian Jiu Jitsu" and,in Korea,"KoreanJiu Jitsu."We each change the rulesand fight over who is right or wrong, butwhere do we draw the line?It is all just jiu jitsu, but if wemustput something in front of it,it's Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.Why should it be "Brazilian?" Easy, it'sout of RESPECT.They created this dynamic,ever growing, changing,and developing art. I love this artsomuch,andit has made my life what it is. I will forever be grateful for those who were courageous enough to share this art withAmericans, with me, andultimatelywithyou.\

StopTrying toDivide theSport

Even in mydecade of practicingjiu jitsu, I think we were almost to thepoint of earning respect from the Brazilian masters of jiu jitsu. Now,hereareAmericansstarting the rivalry. Stop trying to have people think Americans are doing something crazy andnew;we aren't. We might be adding new things, but so have many other people (from all over the world) over the years. I cannot change anyone else's mind.As for me, there is no such thing as "American Jiu Jitsu." We are a worldwide communityof jiu jitsu or Brazilian jiu jitsu. I love this sport, I love this community, I love the respect weshow on and off the mats. See you out there on the mats. Become your lion or lioness!

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