Brazilian Jujitsu, also referred to as BJJ, is attracting more and more practitioners in North America, the UK, and Australia as both a sport and a viable self-defense martial art. Its rising popularity is due to many factors, but the primary reason is because it has been used with terrific results in mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions and vale tudo matches.

BJJ is unique in the martial arts realm in that it is both offensive and defensive at the same time, from the same positions. This leads many people to believe that a BJJ fighter is in danger when he might actually be on the attack.

The underlying principles of BJJ enable a small practitioner to overpower a much larger practitioner by applying leverage, and using his stronger muscles to attack his opponent's joints, neck, or weaker muscles. Early vale tudo videos (Brazilian for "anything goes") show many of these tactics in action.

BJJ fighters can also end a fight through traditional means (punches and kicks), but these attacks are often opened as a result of traditional BJJ attacks, leaving himself vulnerable in the process; or directly through the application of BJJ attack techniques. BJJ attack techniques are engineered to render an opponent unable to continue a fight, either by inflicting damage to a joint or limb, or rendering him unconscious or immobile.

Most attack techniques can be organized into three categories:

1) Joint Locks: a fighter will isolate one of his opponent's joints or limbs and use leverage to move the joint beyond its intended range of motion. Some examples are knee bars, arm bars, Kimura, Americana.  

2) Chokes: the word "chokes" is sometimes mistakenly used for "strangles," but the two are represent completely different types of attack, thought they both focus on the neck. A choke occurs when a fighters attacks the windpipe of his opponent to cut off or restrict air flow. 

3) Strangles: with a strangle, a fighter attempts to cut off the supply of blood to the brain by constricting the carotid arteries. Strangles are seen more often when fighters are wearing gis (rear naked choke being a large exception), which are the traditional training and sparring uniform. You can view BJJ gi videos to see what these look like.

BJJ is a fascinating martial art. It takes years or even decades to rank, but even inexperienced BJJ practitioners fare very well against expert practitioners from other arts like karate or tae kwon do. There are many vs videos available which demonstrate one art vs another. These videos will provide a glimpse into why BJJ is so effective for self defense.

'Living philosophy', is what Wing Tsun Kung-Fu, which is one of the chinese arts, used to be described as by the ancient masters.

With reaching the highest levels of teaching in Wing Tsun, you will be taught how to understand yourself as well as how to interact with other human beings. The aim of the etiquette of Wing Tsun is to enshrine significant ideals in its followers , the basis of which is provided by the amalgamation of Taoist, Buddhist and Confucian principles. These include a true appreciation of honour, loyalty, dignity, respect for other human beings and control of ones ego, emotions and temper. Without these a person can never master himself, or the art of Wing Tsun, as these two are synonymous.

The art has been widely regarded as 'the noble Wing Tsun' due to these unique characteristics. The ultimate aim of Wing Tsun, is the development of the student. In fact, 'Si-Fu' translates as 'Father-Teacher', signifying the role of the Master as he takes on the responsibility of his 'todai' (son). This in unlike most other Martial Arts, such as Karate where 'Sensei' simply means 'Teacher'.

Physical, Spiritual and Health, Wing Tsun also has three sides to it. It’s regrettably infrequent to find schools to teach these three together. Spiritual guidance and understanding can only come from a true Master, whereas physical technique can be emulated. As he/she develops as a person, this is one of the most important teachings in Wing Tsun as well as developing students physical techniques.

To truly comprehend the Martial Art does not require you to be or become Chinese, you simply need to understand the teachings of previous and current masters of the system. Logically, however, this is only possible if you appreciate the historical and social background to it. It undermines the foundation of the Martial Arts, when parts are changed or just ignored without properly learning them.

Removing etiquette or culture leads to the exclusion of history. What are you learning, if you take away the history of the martial art? It is a just a series of moves with no principles or any understanding behind them. This differs from what is considered a true martial art.

It is not uncommon for people to want to understand all forms of Martial Arts just as some people want to understand the Solar System and how politicians think. It is necessary to gain an insight into the history, politics and political philosphy which underpin the constitution, it is an essential component without which the structure, law and policies of the state cannot be understood.",Hilaire Barnett was clear on this point in her book Constitutional and Administrative Law stating "to study the UK's constitution successfully.