The Impact of Jiu-Jitsu on both Close-Quarter Fighting and Fitness

Abstract

The research examines the link between Jiu-Jitsu training in the UAE Armed Forces and Close-Quarter Fighting and Fitness skills. It explains if the training provided from the Jiu-Jitsu techniques improves Close-Quarter Fighting skills and Fitness. The Close-Quarter skills are broken down into (1) unarmed fighting skills, (2) improvised weapons, and (3) close combat range up to 25 meter. Fitness is broken down to (1) physical toughness and (2) mental toughness. The main research question of the thesis is: What is the perceived relationship by members of the UAE Armed Forces between Jiu-Jitsu training and improving Close-Quarter fighting skills (this consists of: (1) unarmed, (2) improvised/bladed weapon, and (3) fire armed-based combat within 25m) and fitness (this consists of (1) physical and (2) mental toughness)? As the development of the thesis the research question was breakdown into sub-questions: • What training do military personnel believe gives the greatest contribution to improving Close-Quarter fighting (i.e. (1) unarmed, (2) improvised/bladed weapon, and (3) fire armed-based combat within 25m) and fitness (i.e. (1) physical and (2) mental toughness) • What do military personnel believe has been their level of improvement since they started Jiu-Jitsu training to the present in terms of Close-Quarter fighting (i.e. (1) unarmed, (2) improvised/bladed weapon, and (3) fire armed-based combat within 25m) and fitness (i.e. (1) physical and (2) mental toughness) The methodology used in this research was qualitative and quantitative approach, which it are integrated together to provide a comprehensive understanding of the link between Jiu-Jitsu and improved Close-Quarter fighting and fitness skills in the UAE Armed Forces. The data used in the analysis was derived from survey, interviews and focus groups. The data analysis methods were statistical and content analysis. The findings output of the results, shows that military personals believe the most important contributor for improving the unarmed fighting combat skills and improvised/bladed weapons based fighting combat skills is jiu-jitsu training, but it was improving fire armed-based fighting combat skills within 25 meter to less degree, also regarding fitness, jiu-jitsu was also the most believe greatest contributor to the improvement and that answer the first sub-question. As for the second sub-question that been answered by the believe of level of improvement since started of jiu-jitsu training till the present day was improving as well for fitness, and unarmed and improvised/bladed fighting combat skills but not to the same extend regarding the fire armed-based fighting combat skills as the results provide. By answering those two sub-questions of the research question as perceived relationship between jiu-jitsu and improving close-quarter fighting and fitness was proved by answering the previous the two sub-questions it answers the main research question of the thesis. Recommendations, from the outcome of the findings indicate to the improvement of the close-quarter fighting and fitness as perceived, emphasis that we need to keep jiu-jitsu training to continue improving the close-quarter fighting skills and fitness of the military personals, as it was the greatest contributor and the level of improvements of training of jiu-jitsu shows that. Furthermore, by linking the jiu-jitsu techniques with the techniques of close-quarter fighting skills maximize the benefits of jiu-jitsu training for the military personals and that affects fitness, which indicate as recommendation for improving.

Date of Award	Jun 2019
Original language	American English
Supervisor	Athol Yates (Supervisor)