MARTIAL ARTS DISCIPLINES: THE ART OF BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, can trace its roots back to Japan, where the art of Judo was created. Judo was formed from japanese jitsu which was used on the feudal battlefields. Judo was mainly created by Jigoro Kano, who wanted to create an art that could be practiced without resulting in severe injuries. Many of the battlefield techniques were removed and Judo was created. Kano, adopted a way for participants to practice at full effort, while not permanently injuring competitors. This form of open sparring is known as Randori.

Esai Maeda, was a student of Kano, and had emigrated to Brazil to establish an Japanese Immigration colony. He was aided by Gastao Gracie, a Brazilian of Scottish descent. To show gratitude to Gracie for his help in the colonization, Maeda taught Gastao's son Carlos the basic techniques of Jiu-Jitsu. Carlos then passed on the knowledge to his brothers Oswaldo, Jorge, Gastao, and Helio.

As the story goes, Helio Gracie was a small and frail individual, who was always sitting at the side as his brothers taught Jiu Jitu. One day his brothers didn't show up to teach a class and Helio stepped in taught the class. The next day when the brothers returned, they were told by the students that they wanted Helio to train them. He had been studying the techniques from afar and had developed them to work on leverage and not strength. Even with his smaller body he was able to defeat opponents many times larger than him.

Helio would go on to open his own academy in 1940, located in Rio. The popular Gracie Jiu Jitsu academies were very popular and over the next 18 years, the four different locations in Rio would see over 2000 students come through there doors. The Gracie academies were not that the only places to train in judo or jiu jitsu in Brazil, but they were the most successful. With the growth of the sport Helio Gracie created the first federation of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 1967. It was from this Federation that the belt systems for students was established. More federations would be created in later years, most importantly Carlos Gracie Jr. created the Confederacao Brasiliera in 1993. This federation had the idea of creating a world championship (the Mundials).

The art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was virtually unknown in north america. This would change with the creation of the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 1993. A one night tournament would pit different martial arts disciplines against one another. Helio Gracies son Royce would be chosen to represent the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Royce dominated the competition and the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was introduced to the masses.

Posted in Martial Arts Disciplines

MARTIAL ARTS DISCIPLINES: THE ART OF MUAY THAI

The art of muay thai is often considered to be the most devastating of the striking arts by many. Its easy to see why after one watches a full thai rules match. The combination of kicks, knees, elbows and punches can create a formidable weapon that generates power like no other martial art. A leg kick by a trained thai fighter is the equivalent of hitting someone in the leg with a baseball bat. The art of muay thai can be deadly indeed, but that is not what it is about to the people of Thailand. It is a very spiritually martial that is heavily ingrained into the culture of Thailand.

History

The early history of muay thai is hard to trace as the archives and records at Ayuddhaya where destroyed with much at the thai capital by the Burmese. It is known that a form of muay thai was used as training for the Thai army and used in hand to hand combat during battle. The art went from battle field training to more of a spectator event, that was often a big part in festivals and celebrations. Fighters would eventually use hemp rope around there hands, a precursor to boxing gloves.
During the reign of Rama V, Thailand was at peace with its neighbours and the whole country prospered. Rama V, took a keen interest to the art and its popularity was greatly increased. Training camps began to pop up, where masters of the art would train students who in turn received food and shelter. Students would often adopt the camps name as there own surname as everyone one at the camp was seen as family. It was not until the reign of RamaVII that rules where written down and adopted. The first boxing rings were built and referees where placed in the ring with the fighters. Rounds where timed and more modern muay thai gloves were used as well as cotton ankle protectors.
The modern age of muay thai, has seen a growth of the art through the sport of mma, but purest of the art would say that mma has diluted the true form of muay thai.

Famous Muay Thai Practitioners

• Buakaw Por. Pramuk - Two Time K1 Max Grand Prix Champion
• Yodsanklai Fairtex - Three Time Lumpinee Stadium champion
• Ramon Dekkers - First foreigner in Thailand to be chosen as the "Muay Thai Fighter of the Year"
• John Wayne Parr - 10 time World Champion
• Anderson Silva - 10 title defenses for UFC middleweight tiltle.

Posted in Martial Arts Disciplines