  I love BJJ/SW and Judo I want to take classes but since it`s grown in popularity how do you know the difference between a good school and lousy instructor trying to make a quick buck:confused:  BTW in a street fight is it wise to take a fight to the ground?  To answer your questions first:    If you want to learn BJJ just go check out a school and just observe a class or practice with them for free. Every school should let you try before you buy. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu differs from most other martial arts because competition is important along with belt rank.     Just make sure the school you go to has people who are committed towards getting you competition ready and has people who are actively seeking to compete. It means they are willing to test themselves against the best in order to improve. If they are focused on promoting you through belt ranks be warry. This is more of a problem at karate-McDojo type schools.    In a street fight however, never go to the ground. In a sanctioned fight BJJ is probably the most fundamental fighting art you can have because once the distance is closed it becomes a submission match. In the street however if you are on the ground you'll get curb stomped. Just don't get in street fights. Knives and Guns come into play and you never know who's carrying.     There is also a big difference in the philosophies of catchwrestling and jujitsu.Catchwrestling was made for real fighting .Thats why wrestlers use control and dont fall to their back.Jujitsu was devloped in dojos. Much of modren jujitsu comes from catchwrestling.American catchwrestlers dominated martial arts in the early 1900s.  In response to 45ACP you seemed to totally ignore how martial arts cross-pollinate each other. Yes Judo and Catch Wresteling BOTH are foundation bases for the development Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. You neglect to state that BJJ developed a system wholy based on submissions from any position.    Judo still focuses mainly on throws landing opponents on their back for positional control. Catch Wrestling still focuses mainly on wrestling opponents into positional control. BJJ however understands that a submission from any position is a win.    Just off the top of my head here are wins obtained in MMA recently FROM THE BACK.  Fedor Emelienko #1 HW (Sambo) def Mark. Coleman (Wrestling) Armbar  Maia(BJJ) def. Sonnen(Wrestler) (traingle)  Mousasi (striker) def. Souza (BJJ) (upkick)  Shinya Aoki #3 LW (BJJ) def Joachim Hansen(Striker) Armbar    But really in the current world of MMA grappling, wrestling, clinch, and standup are all important. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu just has a monopoly on the science of ground fighting in terms of scope and effectiveness.