MMA/Jiu-jitsu

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a combination of ground fighting and different combat styles. Styles include boxing, wrestling, kick-boxing, jiu-jitsu, and also mixed fighting in which they can do more then one fighting style. A boxer can also wrestle, or a kick-boxer can also be a jiu-jitsu fighter. People use these fighting style not only for sport, but also to defend themselves and other people. 

I interviewed Professor Jay Lynch, one of my trainers at the gym, for more information on jiu-jitsu and MMA.

EBT: What is jiu-jitsu all about?

Lynch: Jiu-jitsu is all about having a future and trying to have a better life. It changes you, and it changes people from having a negative to positive influence and it helps us built confidence. Learning the moves that will you use when you go in to a fight, is also a benefit.

EBT: What do you expect from your students?

Lynch: What I expect from my student is to come in calmed and ready for what is store for them, and to keep learning their throws and take-downs. Then there are submission holds. Basically, I want my students to keep achieving their goals.

EBT: How long have you done you done jiu-jitsu? And how long does it take to earn a black belt?

Lynch: I began four years ago. And it really depends. Starting from scratch, it can take 10-20 years to earn a black belt. Most of my students have some previous martial arts experience, and get it in five years, because they know the take-downs and the moves and how to finish their moves. Most people enter tournaments for their black belts.

EBT: What the purpose of jiu-jitsu?

Lynch: The purpose of jiu-jitsu is to have confidence and to defend yourself and other people. It also lets people not have fear. If people want to achieve things in life, they should not let fear in the way.

EBT: How does jiu-jitsu help people?

Lynch: Jiu-jitsu helps people in a lot of ways. One is by giving them a positive feeling, and another is in helping them become a better person. It helps them to overcome fear and to think that they can do a lot of things in life. Jiu-jitsu helps people keep moving forward in life. Jiu jitsu helped me become a better person, a better boss, and a better husband. If it can change me, then I know it can change other people.

Jay Lynch is an instructor at Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, located at 7603 13^th Ave in Brooklyn, and found on the web at http://www.brooklynbjj.com/.

BY:Adrian Paredes