What is the Jiu-Jitsu that’s being taught at Hendo BJJ?
In the past 15-20 years Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu aka BJJ has been viewed through many different lenses.
When Royce Gracie first appeared on the Martial Arts Scene the style was a no holds barred fight, pitting the various Martial Arts styles and Combat fighting systems against the other.
– [ ] Karate
– [ ] Taekwondo
– [ ] JKD
– [ ] Kickboxing
– [ ] Wrestling
– [ ] Boxing
– [ ] Judo
– [ ] Pit Fighting
There were:
NO-TIME LIMITS
NO WEIGHT CLASSES
NOT MANY RULES
IT WAS NOT: Athlete versus athlete
IT WAS: Style vs style…Mano y Mano, let the best man win. Early on, it was Royce Gracie….and then the rules changed. (Weight classes, time limits, rounds with 1 minute rest between rounds)
Here is one of the creators of the UFC, Rorion Gracie, giving context to those early days in the United States:
“After the issues* with UFC 4, my associates decided to implement time limit, rules, and weight classes, to plan the event for the TV. I understood that. Yet, I always saw the UFC as a real fight being televised, and they saw it as a TV show about fighting. I wasn’t interested in being part of the show if they modified the original concept of comparing styles, it became a comparison of athletes. The winner was no longer necessarily the better style, but often by judges outside. It was no longer the vision I had, so I do not regret walking way.”
*One of the earlier PPV’s ran out of time, and viewers did not see the finish between Royce Gracie (170lbs) and Dan Severn (260lbs)…which Royce won by Triangle Choke somewhere close to 17 minutes into the fight.
Digging in to Rorion’s comments. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu isn’t a sport fighting art. It’s not tournament play. It’s knowing how to fight or protect yourself under any circumstances.
– [ ] They don’t train for time limits
– [ ] They train to fight to the end
– [ ] Mano y Mano
– [ ] They created and teach a complete self-defense system where one does not depend on:
-Size
-Strength
-Speed
-Athleticism
The founders, Carlos Gracie and Helio Gracie were slight men at 140 lbs!!! They proved the system that they created was superior in Rio de Janiero in the ring and in the street.
The Gracie family proved in the United States in the early 1990’s which style is best under the above conditions and circumstances…and it’s Gracie Jiu-Jitsu!
Why train Gracie Jiu-Jitsu?
—Sometimes the fight comes to you and is not avoidable
—Aggressors comes in all shapes, sizes, speeds and athletic abilities
—No one ever knows how long a fight or attack might last
—There are no medals
—There are no rules
It’s only you and the aggressor. It’s go time and you must answer the call NOW. No time to pull a gun…it’s on, and how will you respond?
Most will have no idea what to do, they may panic, and they could have an immediate adrenaline dump. Not good. Will you survive and you get to go home? Will you be raped or killed or both? Unfortunately, this scenario happens everyday in the United States. Are you ready?
Fortunately, if you having trained in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, you have a weapon that most people do not have, and it’s traditional Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, and once you put in the work to gain proficiency…..you will have it forever!
I’m going to be frank with you, if you want to train for tournaments only, WE ARE NOT FOR YOU. I don’t want to waste your time or mine.
But, if you want the total package of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, and if you desire to enter a tournament or two just for grins, and be very competitive, probably medal……we may be what you are looking for.
That is what I teach at Hendo BJJ.
If this interests you for yourself and/or your children…please give me a call!
“Train hard, train smart….train for life”! ~
Professor Larry Shealy
Hendo BJJ