Here's a Lucas Leite highlight video to kick off the #bjj tag here on Hubski. Leite is a highly decorated Brazilian jiu jitsu competitor, famous for his half guard skills.
Brazilian jiu jitsu is a martial art, combat sport and self defence system focusing on grappling and ground fighting. Personally, I don't particularly like comparing it to other martial arts (other than perhaps judo), because unlike most traditional martial arts it is a lot more focused on active resistance and sparring.
This Lucas Leite highlight really resonates with me, because the half-guard is my favourite go-to position, and the first parts of the highlight looks identical to my own game (although he does it a lot better).
Would you like to know more?
The active resistance and sparring is indeed what makes BJJ very successful. I feel I have to nitpick though, because Boxing, various forms of Wrestling (which I actually consider BJJ to be), Muay-Thai, Kyokushin Karate, and a few others are also "traditional martial arts" but are also successful fighting systems in their own right because they too have a tradition of aliveness and pressure testing. It's all in how you train.
That said as brief former practitioner of boxing, and a fan of boxing and martial arts in general, I'm excited to see your post and can't wait to see more like it. I personally don't have a good eye for BJJ, so if you know some good videos that breakdown techniques, you should share them from time to time. I'd love to see what you think is worthwhile.
Edit: I also have to ask as it seems every bjj practitioner seems to have a preference. Which do you like more? Gi or No Gi rolling?