There's Nothing New About Jiu-jitsu

This month's feature will act as both a review of the Kosen Judo Tapes and a short History Lesson. Before sending any emails asking questions about additional historical information or how to order the Kosen Judo tapes, please visit these links: Jiu-jitsu History, and Kosen Judo Info. The information for this article and the History section on this site can be viewed in its entirety by reading The New edition of The Master Text (link to handbook.shtml), which will be available in August of 2003.

This month, I will clear up a few issues that I always hear on the MMA discussion boards so that instead of having a 3,000 post argument, we can simply post a link to this and go back to training.

The Spelling of Jiu-jitsu

I am going to make this short, clear and simple: "Jiu-jitsu" is the way everyone writing English spelled it before 1950, even Kano himself spelled it this way in his earliest written works. The proof lies in books such as Jiu-Jitsu Combat Tricks-Japanese Feats of Attack and Defense in Personal Encounter by H. Irving Hancock. Copyrighted 1904 and Published by G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York and London. It was in the early 1900's that the Gracie family was introduced to Judo (which had only recently separated itself from Jiu-jitsu as Kano's version of the art), and was spelled this way in Roman Alphabet letters at this time. It wasn't until the 1950's that there was a formal system for spelling these things and many people started to use Jujutsu. To me, styles that use the spelling Jiu-jitsu (like the Brazilians) are carrying on a tradition from this peak time in Jiu-jitsu evolution. Now that we are done with this, let's move on.

Is Judo Jiu-jitsu? Or Jiu-jitsu Judo?

Read the history. Almost everything done in the art of Judo comes from one or more Jiu-jitsu styles which came before. The cliff's notes version: Jigoro Kano developed Judo out of a few Jiu-jitsu styles, like Tenshin Ryu, Fusen Ryu (where we get the groundwork), and Kito Ryu (just to name a few). Judo is a more "sportive" style that combines what Kano felt were the best elements from each of these styles. Please read the history for a complete picture instead of emailing me questions.

Nothing New

I always hear a lot about "New Moves" from Brazil or the latest techniques … Is this a reality? Yes and No. Yes, because as any art evolves, new variations and set ups are 'discovered'. No, because every single time I hear about a new move or counter, it isn't long before I see it in an old Judo book, or as I did recently, in The Kosen Judo tapes. Before I start talking about these tapes, I really want everyone to understand that I had a Black Belt in a traditional style of Jiu-jitsu and took it off to study Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (in which I am currently a Brown Belt). I felt that the 'old' style I was practicing was lacking certain dimensions and the evolution that the Brazilian style had (like comparing a Model T to a Mustang). We did all the same moves like the Triangle (sankau-jime), Armbar (juji-gatame), chokes, pins, throws, etc … But because of Kano's heavy influence and focus on stand up training instead of ground work (remember that very few styles of Jiu-jitsu put such a heavy emphasis on Newaza (groundwork) as BJJ or Fusen Ryu did), the emphasis was on setting up throws and taking people down. Its just the emphasis and I felt that since we were all trying to get each other to the ground anyway, what happened there (once on the ground) was more important, so I switched to Brazilian Jiu-jitsu; this was just a personal preference. Now you have to look at this from both sides: since the emphasis in BJJ is groundwork, and in Judo, the throw, I would bet my last dollar that a BJJ Black Belt vs. Judo Black belt match will begin with the Judo player getting the takedown. But it will end with the BJJ Black Belt getting the submission (that is, of course if there is no time limit). So it is simple a matter of prioritizing, not that the techniques aren't a part of each art. A Judo player has more set ups standing, a BJJ player has more on the ground. The BJJ guy knows a load of takedowns and throws by Black Belt, but doesn't know how to set them up as well and vice versa. It is the set up that really makes techniques happen at a high level. I have seen all kinds of people do moves, like Frank Mir and his modified Americana from the guard. I've been doing this for years and learned it in a 'classical' Jiu-jitsu class, not BJJ. But because not many people saw it (or the first time they had seen it was in the UFC), it became the "Frank Mir Armlock" on the Internet the next day. This happens to me all the time. Guys come into my academy all the time with "new moves" that I learned 10 years ago. The triangle choke was introduced to Brazilian Jiu-jitsu from an old Judo book (read the history on this site, please). All of this is quite evident once you read Best Judo by Isao Inokkuma and Nobuyuki Sato, which was written in 1979 (this book covers everything considered by most as uniquely Brazilian, like the Omoplata).

Like many others, I thought that in addition to the set-ups, BJJ did have a few things that were truly "new". I thought this right up until I saw the Kosen Judo tapes. I watched as everything I thought had been invented by some Brazilian champion was demonstrated on this old tape from before their time. It started with something as simple as a half guard pass that I learned only a few years ago from a Brazilian friend and purple belt who had just been shown 'the latest moves'. I would then respond with, "Well, DeLaRiva guard is pretty unique to BJJ!". Nope. Low and behold, there are two old-as-hell Japanese guys doing sweeps from what I had always known as DeLaRiva Guard. I'm not kidding. Then, I thought, "Spider Guard, there's now wa …." WRONG. These old bastards were right there on my TV doing the sweep from spider guard where you set up the bicep lock with one leg, your shin across his belly, roll the opponent over and get the bicep lock (chave de biceps) from the top. Unreal. They were doing it with all the sophistication and grace of a 25-year-old Mundial Champion (remember, these guys look ancient, so all that crap about Judo guys using too much strength goes right out the window). Now, don't get me wrong, I didn't start dusting off my Japanese Jiu-jitsu black belt or anything. I still wasn't seeing the kind of set ups that you see on Mario Sperry's Master Series or a Michael Jen seminar. The sequencing was simply not there. HOWEVER, there were some pretty killer set ups and entries that had me leaning close to the TV like Rainman watching Judge Wappner. I think it will be hard for the average beginner to catch these fine details, especially because the whole thing is in Japanese, but believe me, there are loads of little details, tricks, and secrets here that had me nodding with approval and grinning the entire time, the rest of the time, I was taking notes.

The tapes are available on the web from a few sources, like the one I listed above, but are not available (to my knowledge) in an English translation. They are divided in four categories, but since the language is not my own and such a wide variety of moves are covered, I'm not exactly sure about the specific organization. Because I know most of the moves in Japanese, it wasn't entirely confusing to me, but I think the average viewer will have to keep his eyes peeled and finger on the pause & rewind buttons.

In conclusion, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is a great art and one of the only styles (of Jiu-jitsu) to keep the real (or Jiu-jitsu at its 'golden age' of development) Jiu-jitsu alive. The marketing strategy of the Gracie family is brilliant and we all owe a world of gratitude to them for preserving (and of course, adding to) such a great art (the way it should be practiced), but not for inventing it.

ARANHA

Why Jiu-Jitsu?
by Brian McLaughlin

The other day I was wondering how things would be different had I decided to study a martial art other than Jiu-Jitsu. I thought about the stories I had heard from others that had trained in different styles as well as my first hand accounts of various arts. After contemplating the idea for a while, I realized that there really was no other art that could possibly appeal to me on the same level as Jiu-Jitsu. In fact, had I not found Jiu-Jitsu I don't think I ever could have even kept training in another art for more than a couple of months. So what exactly is it about Jiu-Jitsu that gives it its irresistible appeal? Why do we pour so much of our time and effort into the art and what separates it from other styles of martial arts?

The first thing that appealed to me about BJJ was its informality. In my experience, many other martial arts have a sense of ultra-seriousness. Instructors are to be called sensei. A subservient relationship with these individuals was formed in which they were recognized as your "master". Joking is to be kept outside the "dojo" and formal rituals are carried out regularly. Conversely, In Jiu-Jitsu your instructor is called by his first name and there is more of a feeling of friendliness and cooperation. Your training environment is laid back, you don't need to always have your guard up. There are no codes of honor that need to be recited, or spiritual meditation sessions. No one is shouting while executing techniques and casual conversation and humor are not only commonplace, but even encouraged. This creates a relaxed atmosphere, which helped me to focus while keeping training fun and stress free.

Although Jiu-Jitsu is studied in a relaxed easygoing environment, the training is tough; Jiu-Jitsu will push your limits both mentally and physically. When I first started Jiu-Jitsu I did not even understand what was going on or what the objective was, with other martial arts I may not have known all the techniques, but I could comprehend their training method (guy A tries to strike/throw guy B). However, the mystery of Jiu-Jitsu only served to stir my interest. This was exactly what I was looking for, something different from all the Saturday afternoon Kung Fu movies. I thought to myself, anyone can throw a kick or a punch, but not just anyone can understand the subtle nuances of grappling which make up the core of Jiu-Jitsu. An art so dynamic and yet so subtle that it could only be understood by the few who dedicated themselves to constant training. The next thing I quickly realized was that I was going to get dominated in training, for a long while. Everyday on the mat was going to be a struggle just to survive for a few minutes. This would an important crucible to overcome in order to make any progress in the art. In my situation I was enthralled by the challenge, I had never really found anything that tested abilities in the way that Jiu-Jitsu did. With each passing class I was excited by any technique I was able to execute.

I remember while researching Jiu-Jitsu I came across a quote from the Machado brothers that said, "I am a shark, the ground is my ocean...and most people can't even swim". That quote really defined my reason for training. Jiu-Jitsu was not for everyone and in fact most people would quit before their journey had even begun. I thought it would really take an extraordinary person to master this art, to persevere, to learn from defeat, and have the patience and fortitude to refine their skills over years and years and I wanted to be that person.

Aside from personal challenge and enjoyment, I, like most people, studied Jiu-Jitsu for self-defense. In terms of self-protection, Jiu-Jitsu had an appeal that few other martial arts could duplicate. Here was an art that actually fulfilled the promises of the martial arts, allow the smaller man to defeat a larger attacker and do so in a humane way. There was no mystic secret, no "dim mak" just time tested techniques that have worked in the real world. Before I found Jiu-Jitsu I had heard numerous martial artists claim they could not spar with me or show me their "lethal" techniques because they were afraid they would cripple or even kill me. Jiu-Jitsu does not hide its techniques or make supernatural claims about its effectiveness. The first day that I went to Jiu-Jitsu, I was arm locked, traingled, swept, and choked and all this was done while I fully resisted against my much smaller opponent. There was no smoke screen, I didn't have to wonder if the moves worked, I knew they did. It was also refreshing to know that Jiu-Jitsu was founded on the principle of real fighting. The stories of the Gracie family dominating all comers were not popular myth inscribed on ancient scrolls, they were reality and you could watch them for yourself.

The other truly amazing thing about Jiu-Jitsu is that although you are learning realistic self-defense, it is also sportive and safe to train everyday. You can learn to fight without spitting out teeth after each practice. After a few years of practice you see Jiu-Jitsu become a game, with constantly evolving strategies and tactics, the equivalent to a physical chess match, in which it is smart man that wins, not the strong.

The other element of Jiu-Jitsu, which set it head and shoulders above many other martial arts, was the integrity of the belts. I still get agitated when I see an 11 year old kid walking around with a black belt strapped around his waist. In Jiu-Jitsu each belt represents practical knowledge, hard work, and skill. There are no hand outs in Jiu-Jitsu, paying your bill on time won't guarantee you rank, if you want to progress through the levels then you better hit the mats. Children cannot be given a black belt to help their self esteem, if they want to reach that level then they must mature as martial artists and put in the years of intense training. A black belt in Jiu-Jitsu is a thing to be admired and respected, like a doctoral degree from a prestigious university, it is something that many individuals will strive for, but only a select few will have the perseverance and ability to achieve.

For me there never could be any art that could take the place of Jiu-Jitsu. I feel very lucky to have found Jiu-Jitsu. In fact, now that I've been training it for a number of years its difficult to even imagine my life without it. Hopefully, my training in Jiu-Jitsu will be a lifelong journey, but even if it ends tomorrow I will feel incredibly fortunate that I was given the opportunity to study the world's greatest martial art.

Bonus Product Review

Dengue Fever
Rating: A, Length: 120 min.
by Brian McLaughlin

Dengue Fever, named after the devastating mosquito carried disease that hit Brazil, profiles Brazil's best grappling matches in the summer of 2002. The tape begins with a tour of the Gracie camp, headed by Marcio Feitosa, it gives an excellent overview of the training done by those fortunate enough to have the opportunity to train at Gracie Barra.

The video then jumps into the Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling tournaments. The matches feature some of the biggest names in the sport including Jacare, Pe de Pano, Shaolin, and Terere. There are 15 matches in all, each one is fast paced, non-stop action, there is no stalling and everyone is going for the finish. The competition is fierce and you're guaranteed to witness techniques you've never seen before.

The video also shows Alvaro Romano demonstrating his routine of Ginastica Natural, the fluidity and gracefulness of these exercises is very impressive. The on the mat guys then give you a tour of the amazing beaches and beautiful women of Brazil.

This is a video no true fan of sport Jiu-Jitsu and submission wrestling can be without. Do yourself a favor and check it out!

Megaton Diaz Workshop

The Modern Combat Academy is proud to once again host a workshop with multiple time Mundial and Pan Am's champion Megaton Dias on Saturday, June 14, 2003, from 12:30PM to 2:30PM.

The cost is only $60.00 per person.

Megaton will also be available for private and semiprivate instruction on Friday, June 13 and Saturday, June 14, 2003.

Call Rosendo Diaz at 267-476-1858 to reserve your space today.

Royler Gracie-David Adiv Jiu-Jitsu Team, USA
Modern Combat Academy
810 West Main Street
Lansdale, PA 19446
www.ModernCombat.com
heelhook21@aol.com

Pargon Brazilian Jiu-jitsu
Ricardo "Franjinha" Miller Is Proud to announce
The First Pargon BJJ Championship

9:30qm to 5pm
Dos Pueblos High School
7266 Alameda Ave
Goleta, CA 93117

For more info, call 805 252 3624

GRAPPLERS QUEST NEWS:

Grapplers Quest/Copa Atlantica BJJ Shootout

When: Saturday, June 7th (only 13 days away)
Where: Marist High School - Bayonne, New Jersey

***FREE T-Shirt*** Save $15 with June 7th GQ-North American Shootout Pre-Registration.

Register online. Register with check or money order, please download an event package now.

Grapplers Quest West 4 - Las Vegas

Date: Saturday, November 8th, 2003
Where: University of Las Vegas - McDermott Complex (Building 49)
4505 Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV 89154

Download The Grapplers Quest West 4 event package now.

NOTE: Online registration will be available after June 7th

Las Vegas Grappling And Jiu-Jitsu Championships

62 different weight divisions!

Register for only $45.00 before May 31st and receive a FREE tournament T-Shirt! You can register and pay on line now! Over 60 No-Gi divisions. Click Here To Register.

SUPERFIGHTS and ABSOLUTE DIVISIONS:
Super Fight 1: David Terrell vs. Saulo Ribeiro
Super Fight 2: Marc Laimon vs. Xande Ribeiro

8-Man Tournament featuring: Travis Lutter, Todd Margolis, Renato Sobral, Jamie Cruz, Bobby Southworth, Val Ignatov, Jason Miller, and Nakapan Phungephorn

Sponsors:

Grapplers Quest and Brian Cimins, SPRAWL, TRIBE, On The Mat, TAPOUT

We are proud to sponsor the Las Vegas June 28th Grappling Championships. Visit our booth to pick up Information and Applications for Grapplers Quest West 4 (November 8th), Grapplers Quest Rashguards, Vale Tudo Shorts, and New Style T-Shirts, all at discount event prices.

See you all on the mats soon!

This Saturday, June 7th, "Midevil's Mayhem" will return to Newport, Kentucky to host
Midevil's Mayhem: "Tournament Of Champions"!
On this night we will crown 3 Champions and award 3 Championship Belts! The winners of this show will not only be the new title holders for their individual weight class, but will have their first title defense at our next show entitled Midevil's Mayhem: Night Of Champions!

If you did not make it to our first show, then you missed an 'Action Packed' evening! Don't let it happen again! Come witness some of the best 'Up & Coming' MMA Fighters in the Mid-West!

The show will be held at:
Y.M.C.A.
400 West 6th Street
Newport, Kentucky 41071

The doors Open at 7:00pm, & the show will start at 8:00pm. All tickets are $20, and are FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE! Tickets can be purchased at the door!

Fight Card (as of June 3rd):

Welterweight Tournament

TBA vs. Chris Martindale (Charleston, WV)

Jason Halderman (Cincinnati, OH) vs. Jeremy Neese (Nashville, TN)

Light Heavyweight Tournament

Donald Comley (Lexington, KY) vs. TBA

Tierre Hall (Cleveland, OH) vs. Jimmy Vaught (Oak Hill, WV)

Heavyweight Tournament

Michael Napier (Hazard, KY) vs. Adam Rivera (Salem, WV)

Josh Shockman (Nashville, TN) vs. Pat Mulvale (Ontario, Canada)

Single Bouts

Andrew Debnar (Washington, PA) vs. Mike Coley (Louisville, KY)

Leremey Johnson (Oak Hill, WV) vs. TBA

****CARD SUBJECT TO CHANGE*****

For more information about this show, or to find out how to be a part of a this or any future "Midevil's Mayhem" events, please contact:
Dustin Ware (Match Maker)
rdware@cloh.net
304-412-1604

World Grappling Games

2nd National Championships of Jiu-jitsu and Submission Grappling

June 21 & 22, 3003

Fountain Valley H.S. Fountain Valley, CA

For more info, email info@worldgrappling.com