Hirosaki, Sao Paolo, Woodbridge: Martial Arts Have Gone A Long Way!
America is the great melting pot, and it truly is amazing how many different cultures
with their own traditions and ways of life have found their way into this great land. In fact, it would be hardly surprising to find a takoyaki stand just as youd see in Tokyo in a place like Woodbridge. Martial arts from Asia too have found their way into the U.S., with many schools teaching the Asian fighting disciplines.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one of those well-traveled disciplines that have found their way from Asia (Japan), by way of Brazil, to American cities like Woodbridge. Martial arts instructors all around the world recognize the value of this judo descendant as a modern equalizer, where frailer and weaker people stand a chance against bigger and stronger opponents by using leverage and techniques.
Japanese Roots
Jiu Jitsu, and its mother form, Judo, started in Japan before landing on the shores of American towns like Woodbridge. Martial arts like Judo (jiu do) and Jiu Jitsu are a method of close combat based on using the opponents strength and force against them. In fact, the root word, jiu (ju) means gentle, flexible, pliant and yielding. The difference between Judo and Jiu Jitsu is easily found in the second word and syllable: jitsu means technique, while do means way of life.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is closer to its mother discipline, Judo, in that it is viewed not just as a combat style but as a sport a discipline as a means to keep fit and as a way of life. Whether still in Japan, Brazil or the U.S., in Hirosaki, Brasilia or Woodbridge, martial arts studios teach this as a form of discipline that is indeed a way of life for its practitioners.
Mitsuyo Maeda, the man credited for bringing Jiu Jitsu to Brazil, was one of the heads of the second generation of Kodokan judo. He was a top graduated professor of Waseda University, who gained recognition for Judo by combating practitioners in other disciplines while teaching the art.
Growth In Brazil
After travels to United States, Europe, Cuba, Mexico and countries in Central America, Maeda landed in Porta Alegre, Brazil, where he fought more combatants in other disciplines most notably a capoerista whom he allowed to use a knife during their bout. Brazil was also where he met his student, Carlos Gracie, who, with his younger brother, Helio Gracie, established Gracie Jiu jitsu, the more popular form of what is now known as Brazilian jiu jitsu. This is the kind taught these days in American towns such as
Woodbridge. Martial arts studios teaching Brazilian Jiu Jitsu often teach one of the four variations of the discipline all emanating from the original Gracie Jiu Jitsu.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu In America
Machado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (Machado BJJ), is an offshoot of Gracie Jiu Jitsu, named after Carlos Machado, one of Carlos Gracie Jrs students who moved to Los Angeles. Instructors in the US favor this style, highly promoted by movie star Chuck Norris. BJJ often emphasizes groundwork and submission holds as opposed to throws and strikes in the more traditional forms.
by: Pat Tray
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