Frequently Asked Questions
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- What is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
- What are TEAM LLOYD IRVIN and 88 BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU?
- What are some of the benefits of belonging to TEAM LLOYD IRVIN?
- What are submissions and how dangerous are they?
- Does age / gender / etc. matter?
- What protective equipment do I need?
- What's the deal with Belts and Promotions?
- Do I have to compete?
- How can BJJ change my life?
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What is BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU?
In a nutshell, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an ever-evolving martial art that focuses on ground-fighting. The goal is to end a fight on the ground with a submission hold. What most people don't know is that learning the submissions is the easy part; it is the positioning and getting to the submissions that is the hard part. The nature of the art allows for intensive training with very little risk of injury, which is an obvious advantage for the practitioner. For this and other reasons, the style has had lots of success in Mixed Martial Arts events such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Pride.
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What are TEAM LLOYD IRVIN and 88 BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU?
Team Lloyd Irvin is one of the best teams in the country. From Mixed Martial Arts to No-Gi Grappling to straight Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, no other team in the Mid-Atlantic has ever matched the success of the Team Lloyd Irvin program even in a single area. Names like Brandon Vera, Mike Fowler, Ryan Hall, Brad Court, Leo Dalla, Mike Easton, Amie Turton, and many more are recognized nationwide for their grappling and mixed martial arts abilities. 88 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an affiliate school of Team Lloyd Irvin run by Purple Belt Julius Park. We first opened in May 2005 and have since garnered tremendous competitive success.
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What are some of the benefits of belonging to TEAM LLOYD IRVIN?
Team Lloyd Irvin is truly a "Team" and we are here to support you and take you in as family. We want you to be as good as you can be because your success is ours as well. If you go to a competition and people see your team patch on your kimono, they will respect you because of the road we have paved for you. It is up to you to take this opportunity and to further mark out a path for others to follow. Teammates from other affiliate schools will cheer you on, and trust me this is a huge help. I can tell you from personal experience that belonging to a group of individuals that share your goals and work together to achieve them is an unbelievable opportunity.
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What are submissions and how dangerous are they?
Submissions include ankle locks, knee bars, heel hooks, arm bars, chokes, shoulder locks, etc. In a real situation they are devastating to an opponent as you use stronger body parts against a much weaker one (your legs against their elbow joint, for example). For this reason, a much smaller opponent can easily take a much stronger one. Nevertheless, submissions are very safe when practiced in a controlled training environment.
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Does age / gender / etc. matter?
No. We currently have Mike Atkin, who lost over 70 lbs to become World and Pan-American champion after breaking his neck in a car accident. If he can do it, anybody can.
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What protective equipment do I need?
Mouthpieces and groin protectors are mandatory. Wrestling-style headgear and knee and elbow pads are also recommended.
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Whats the deal with Belts and Promotions?
Belts go as follows: White, Blue, Purple, Brown, and Black. One of the main differences between BJJ and other martial arts is that it is hard to get promoted. At a blue belt level, you can almost be considered a lethal force. It will take commitment because we are committed to producing students with real ability. We do have a curriculum we go by to help you and once you exhibit competency in the techniques acquired you may qualify for a promotion.
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Do I have to Compete?
While there are many positive reasons for competing in tournaments, you will never be forced. However, over the years we have noticed that students who compete make huge improvements in their BJJ.
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How can BJJ change my life
It is an awesome habit to develop. The benefits are just too many to list. My best advice is to enjoy it and let it grow in you. You will be forever thankful you had the opportunity.