No-Gi Jiu Jitsu Lake St. Louis, MO

No-Gi Jiu Jitsu in Lake St. Louis, MO. While usually Brazilian jiu jitsu has been played by martial artists wearing a kimono-and-pants combination called a gi, in recent years interest in jiu jitsu conducted in a different uniform has grown exponentionally. The emergence of mixed martial arts, the need for a more “functional” form of BJJ for self-defense, and increased cross-training with other combat sports has demonstrated the need for a type of Brazilian jiu jitsu that can be more appropriate for these situations. As a result, no-gi Brazilian jiu jitsu was created, and has experienced wide popularity, with several events and competitions created solely for grapplers who elect not to wear the traditional gi when playing Brazilian jiu jitsu.

At Gracie Barra O’Fallon, our teachers recognize the merits of Brazilian jiu jitsu played both in a gi and in more athletic clotrhing. While most of our jiu jitsu classes in Lake St. Louis, MO are conducted in the traditional gi, we offer no-gi jiu jitsu for teens and adults regardless of skill level every week. Take a look at our schedule or contact us by calling 636-544-3655 or online for more details on our full complement of Brazilian jiu jitsu classes, including no-gi jiu jitsu in Lake St. Louis, for all ages and levels.

What Makes No-Gi Jiu Jitsu Special?

For much of its existence, Brazilian jiu jitsu has been practiced by martial artists wearing a loose jacket and pants, the jacket being cinched by a belt whose color denotes its wearer’s rank. This tradition can be attributed to to BJJ’s origins in judo: that sport has always been practiced in a gi, which is historically white although international competitions now mandate that one person in each match must wear a blue gi. The use of a gi also influenced much of BJJ’s style as a martial art, with many takedowns or submissions made possible using leverage one gained from holding the gi.

While jiu jitsu in more regular sporting attire has long been practiced in less formal circumstances, it has exploded in popularity over the last 20 years in Lake St. Louis, MO. This is partially because of the creation of worldwide no-gi Brazilian jiu jitsu tournaments like the ADCC World Championships and the addition of a no-gi division at the IBJJF Mundials, but arguably the bigger catalyst for its development has been the creation and worldwide popularity of mixed martial arts. Early MMA events had no rules regarding on what uniform participants could wear — indeed, a Gracie family member won the first two UFC tournaments wearing a gi — but the creation of the Unified Rules of MMA meant that the only permitted clothing for male fighters is shorts or trunks. Thus, a substantial number of Lake St. Louis, MO Brazilian jiu jitsu students who also were interested in MMA began no-gi grappling, which is practiced in shorts, a compression shirt called a rashguard, and occasionally compression shorts or tights called spats.

The difference in uniform is not the only thing that distinguishes no-gi Brazilian jiu jitsu from its older brother, either. Multiple submissions common in competitive gi BJJ, like the Ezequiel choke, loop choke, and lapel choke, are hard if not impossible to achieve in no-gi BJJ. This is due to the fact that these chokes require use of the gi top to offer leverage. To compensate for the loss of these submissions, most no-gi competitions permit competitors to {score|achieve| submissions using heel-hooks or kneebars, which are both illegal in gi Brazilian jiu jitsu.

Who Benefits From No-Gi Jiu Jitsu?

No-gi jiu jitsu in Lake St. Louis, MO is an exceptional way to not only sharpen your skills as a Brazilian jiu jitsu player, but also to practice for other combat sports or martial arts disciplines. A substantial amount of Lake St. Louis athletes can benefit from no-gi Brazilian jiu jitsu, including:

• MMA fighters: since as previously mentioned MMA is contested in attire similar to that of no-gi jiu jitsu, learning takedown defense, submissions, and ground control without a gi is quite advantageous if, for instance, you are more of a Lake St. Louis, MO kickboxer or pure striker interested in MMA.
• Amateur wrestlers: a key element of no-gi BJJ is based around takedowns and defending them using sprawl, which is naturally beneficial for Lake St. Louis high school or collegiate wrestlers. Additionally, many accomplished wrestlers have transitioned to MMA successfully after the end of their amateur careers, and beginning your Brazilian jiu jitsu journey as soon as possible is an excellent platform for this transitionmove.
• BJJ players training for competitions: a substantial number of Lake St. Louis, MO Brazilian jiu jitsu tournaments, both locally, nationally, and internationally, either have both gi and no-gi divisions or are only no-gi.
• You: not only is Brazlian jiu jitsu a great way to build fitness and meet new people, no-gi jiu jitsu in Lake St. Louis, MO is also an excellent method of self-defense.

Learn No-Gi Jiu Jitsu In Lake St. Louis, MO | Gracie Barra O’Fallon

When you come to Gracie Barra O’Fallon to learn Brazilian jiu jitsu, you can expect to not only experience no-gi jiu jitsu in an enjoyable and friendly environment, but also to {learn skills from|be taught skills by| a Lake St. Louis, MO no-gi jiu jitsu expert. Our lead instructor, Mike Buckels, is a BJJ black belt under Marcio Feitosa, a former winner of the ADCC World Championship, considered by many to be the world’s most elite no-gi jiu jitsu competition. He and all our teaching staff regularly compete — and win — in no-gi events and understand what it takes to be a successful grappler at any level. Our teachers relish sharing their knowledge with Gracie Barra students, whether they are just beginning their BJJ journey or experienced grapplers, and helping them become better both on the mat and off of it.

Gracie Barra O’Fallon provides Lake St. Louis, MO no-gi jiu jitsu classes for both teens and adults. They are open to all, regardless of your belt level or experience, and are conveniently scheduled to complement your busy life and any other sporting commitments you might have. Talk to us today at 636-544-3655 for more details, or contact us online to discover more about how you can schedule a free no-gi jiu jitsu class in Lake St. Louis to see for yourself how Gracie Barra O’Fallon is Lake St. Louis, MO’s finest no-gi jiu jitsu gym.