There are many schools and training centers that teach Brazilian jiu-jitsu in the United States. There are also Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academies scattered around the world. However, many students learn their techniques at home through instructional DVD packages and online tutorials. There are several advantages and disadvantages to learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from DVDs and from online sources.
The first advantage to learning Brazilian jiu-jitsu through instructional DVDs is the convenience of learning at your own pace. Since you can watch a DVD whenever you have time, you can repeat a technique over until you've perfected it. Many people start out with only a few techniques learned in a BJJ class, and this can become very boring very quickly. By learning from a comprehensive and high quality Brazilian jiu-jitsu DVD, you can continue to advance your martial art in your own time and at your own pace.
Another advantage to learning Brazilian jiu-jitsu from instructional DVDs is the diversity that it provides. BJJ is predominantly practiced in the ground environment, so there aren't many opportunities to engage in MMA like there are in Judo. However, the Judo training that you receive in a BJJ class will focus more on stand up striking techniques, which many people find to be more effective in a self-defense situation. Moreover, even though the majority of Brazilian jujitsu classes will not feature a sparring component, there are still some striking sequences that can be demonstrated during a BJJ class. This diversification provides Judo martial arts students with a good understanding of the physical differences between Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Judo, and the differences that exist within the principles of each martial art.
Finally, BJJ can provide you with an excellent opportunity to learn about the psychology of fighting. There is no doubt that the principles of jujitsu far outweigh those of traditional mixed martial arts. However, there are many components to Judo that make it very different from traditional jujitsu. For example, while the focus on ground attacks is common in jujitsu, Judo focuses almost exclusively on throws. Learning about the differences between Judo and BJJ will give you an opportunity to better understand what you're up against, and prepare yourself for a confrontation.
Many top level practitioners of both BJJ and Judo make it clear that they draw their philosophy from a common background of combat, and that they share many of the same goals. However, many top level practitioners of either martial art fail to recognize that BJJ also has a strong background in grappling. Through analysis of the various systems of grappling used by the different branches of the sport, BJJ specialists have been able to develop a system based entirely upon ground fighting techniques.
Most top level practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu will agree that the majority of its roots come from a combination of Judo techniques and BJJ. The two sports share many of the same roots, including joint locking, ground fighting, and choke holds (although the types of techniques arts vary greatly). During the initial days of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the two sports were complimentary and practiced together. Gradually, though, the two sports began to be practiced apart due to differences in training methods. Today, the majority of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments are only open to tournament participants who have mastered BJJ and rarely do they allow competitors to use any BJJ techniques (although there are still tournaments open to those who only know a little of BJJ).
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo have a lot more in common than their early days. Both sports require mastery of body mechanics and position awareness, as well as the application of effective techniques. Although the positions employed in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are often more complicated than those in Judo, many fighters who learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu also gain valuable knowledge and experience in applying position in Judo. Many Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners find themselves comparing their positions in Judo to their techniques in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and many say that they are the hardest positions to overcome in Judo. This is because Judo moves hinge on the placement of your body, whereas most BJJ positions rely less on where your body is positioned.