Does Gracie Jiu-Jitsu include striking techniques?
Although the sportive practice of the art does not include punches or kicks, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is a complete system of self-defense that includes striking techniques. The difference between the striking techniques we use and those used in other martial arts is that we only strike when there is little or no chance that the opponent can strike back. In other words, we don’t trade strikes with our opponent, instead, we use the strikes to setup other more reliable means of victory. In the Master Cycle, we will cover how to strike while standing as well as the most effective striking strategies from each position on the ground. To learn and properly implement the striking techniques of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, you must first learn the techniques and principles that will keep you safe from your opponent’s strikes, and this is why we chose not to include any striking techniques in the Gracie Combatives course.
