Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a traditional martial art that is steeped in history. From its origins in Judo and earlier days in Brazil, to more recent times there have been certain traditions and behaviours that have come out of the art as a result. Whilst BJJ is still relatively new compared to certain other martial arts – it still has its fair share of traditional traits that make it unique and stand out. Here, we will talk about these traditions, what they mean and where they originally come from.
Table of Contents
1. Bowing
Whilst most schools don’t really do bowing anymore, this is still a thing in certain, traditional BJJ gyms which usually involves the use of the Gi. Bowing is a form of respect that originates from Japan. As Judo originates from Japan and eventually lead to BJJ, this is probably where the habit of bowing came from. Usually bowing is done when entering the mat or acknowledging your teacher.
Whilst some people argue this idea is outdated and leads to hero worshiping of your teachers, others argue it is merely a sign of respect and gratitude. In short, it may be a bit of both. Having said this, it doesn’t hurt to be humble and mostly a tradition surrounding the cultural origins of Japan.
2. Fist bumping before a roll
Rolling is a key part of training and this begins with a fist bump. By fist bumping your opponent or slapping hands, it symbolises the beginning of the roll. Whilst the origins of this are fairly vague, it is universally accepted as the time a roll begins. A benefit of using this method is that it doesn’t allow your opponent to try and sneakily rush you. Another positive is that even if you can’t understand the language of your opponent; it doesn’t matter with a fist bump. By fist bumping you are both clear that the roll is set to begin.
3. Respecting the tap
This idea is also found in gyms everywhere. Whilst it may sound obvious, it’s a simple philosophy to live by and shows respect to others. If a practitioner is too wild and doesn’t respect the tap from their opponent then it can lead to injuries such as broken bones. With this said, not respecting the tap is seen as one of the worst things to do in a BJJ gym.
By disrespecting the tap and holding onto a submission, you are effectively ignoring the pain of your opponent which shows great disrespect. In many cases, the practitioner is told to leave the gym for good if they are caught doing this. Similarly, if they are caught holding onto submissions then a higher belt enforcer may be called upon to teach them a lesson. Not only is respecting the tap a tradition, but it’s also common decency and basic respect shown to your training partners.
4. Not washing your belt
This is a controversial one that divides opinions. Most people these days will wash their belt and keep it clean. The benefits of this are that it avoids germs and infections such as staph and MRSA. If you don’t wash your belt then imagine the dirt and bacteria that linger on the belt, especially if it stays in your bag for days. By washing the belt you are keeping it clean which is good for you and also respectful towards your training partners.
However, some people follow the tradition and superstition that washing your belt brings bad luck. It is often joked that if you wash your belt then you ‘wash away your skills’. Of course, this is not possible but as a result some people genuinely don’t wash their belt. As far as traditions go, this is a bit of a stupid one as it’s unhygienic and quite odd.
5. The belt gauntlet
Also known as ‘running the gauntlet’, this involves getting whipped by belts when you are newly promoted. For instance, if you get promoted from blue to purple then you can walk through the gauntlet. This involves taking your top off and getting whipped by the belts of your training partners as you walk through a tunnel composed of your teammates.
Some argue this isn’t necessary as it may hurt a little and cause bruising on your back for a few days. However, others say that it’s harmless and is used to promoted bonding and unity within the gym. Mostly, it is done as a bit of fun and doesn’t seen as a sacred act, however. Having said this, the act is starting to die out though which may be due to new health and safety laws or a general shift away from macho culture.
6. Shark tanks
Shark tanks are when a practitioner has a minute or two of rolling with their training partners without stopping. For instance, you will spar someone for a minute and then your opponent will be next in the queue. This goes on until everyone has sparred you meaning you don’t get any breaks in between.
For instance, if there are 15 people in the class then you may spar for 15 minutes straight against fresh opponents. This tradition is often used to promote a strong mentality of the individual. By pushing through they are seen as tough and it can be done to celebrate promotions or birthdays. In more practical terms, it is also done by competitors looking to improve their cardio and endurance.
7. Pineapples
This is a modern meme that was created on the popular forum Reddit. The idea was that newcomers should bring pineapples to class as a sign of appreciation. Whilst this was completely made up and wasn’t ever a tradition; it still caught on. To this day, some people willingly play up to the gym and others more unwillingly. Regardless, it is now considered a part of BJJ culture. However, this is not common and most people outside of the loop probably find the behavior odd more than anything else.
8. The stripes tab is tied to the left on your belt
A lesser-known tradition, the tab on your belt is meant to hang to the left. For example, the red patch on a black belt should fall to the left of the person who is wearing it. Similarly, the stripes on someone’s belt should also be towards the left. Whilst the origins of this are unclear, this is how a belt is meant to be tied in terms of the correct form.
However, most people are unaware of this custom. In many cases, even black belts won’t be aware of this or bothered enough to correct their belt if tied wrongly. In most cases, no one really knows or cares about this tradition and it isn’t a big deal at all.
9. Shaking hands after training
Whilst not all gyms partake in this tradition, it is actually a good idea to get behind. By shaking hands with your team mates it promotes unity and the sense of a team. Even if you don’t particularly like a training partner, shaking their hands at the end of class and acknowledging them is good practice.
One benefit of this is that it doesn’t discriminate. You won’t find higher belts avoiding lower belts doing this practice and it brings people together.
10. Lining up in grade order
Typically found in more traditional gyms, this is a method of rank and order. At one end of the queue are black belts and at the other end are white belts. Supposedly this is a sign of respect to the higher belts who have put the time in. It also allows the higher belts the first pick when sparring as they get to choose first.
Whilst some may argue this method segregates belts, others will argue it’s merely a tradition and martial arts are steeped in a hierarchy as part of its culture. Although this may be an outdated custom, it’s relatively harmless as everyone starts as a white belt anyway so it’s nothing to get upset about.
11. The term ‘Oss’
Originating from Japan, this term is usually used by Brazilians when training. In short, it’s a term of encouragement without a specific meaning. For instance, if someone pulls off a cool move then one may say ‘oss’ as a compliment. Usually, it is said in an excited manner and is said in a complimentary tone.
There are various slang terms used in BJJ, most being Portuguese. However, ‘oss’ is probably the most common and can be heard in gyms all over the world.
12. The Shaka hand gesture
This gesture is borrowed from surfing culture which is loosely linked to BJJ (some practitioners train both). The Shaka is like a thumbs up gesture but instead uses the thumb and the pinky finger instead. This basically means the same as the thumbs up and is also used as a physical expression to greet someone.
You will often see The Shaka being performed in photos and it is quite a common sight. Universally used in a positive way, it is similar to ‘oss’ but is physical rather than verbal.
