DFW Jiu-Jitsu presents the Brazilian Style Training Program

Currently Scheduled weekly Monday through Fridays from 6:00pm - 7:30pm and Saturdays from 1:00pm to 2:30pm.

Pricing: $100.00 per month for Unlimited membership is available allowing training access to all 6 classes per week. Our drop in price is $20.00 per class, and with a six month commitment you will receive a free Howard Combat Kimono (White uniform). Private instruction available at $100 per hour. Call for reservations.

In 1914 a Japanese Judo and jiu-jitsu master named Mitsuo Maeda (called Count Koma) came to Brazil. In return for help from the Brazilian politician Gastao Gracie, Koma taught jiu-jitsu to Gastao's son Carlos. Carlos in turn taught his brothers (most notably Helio). The Gracie Brothers went on to further refine the art via constant no-rules competition, developing what is known today as "Gracie Jiu-Jitsu". Also, the Machado brothers (cousins of the Gracies) sometimes call their style "Machado Jiu-Jitsu". Any of these names refer to basically the same art which is known in the United States as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or "BJJ".

Instructors:

ROBERT DEFRANCO - With over 12 years experience in BJJ, Robert received his black-belt from Carlos Machado in 2005. Also holding a Karate Black belt that he received in just 3 years, Robert is a five time competitor in World Jiu-Jitsu championships. Three time bronze medalist Pan American Jiu-Jitsu championships Silver medalist American international Jiu-Jitsu championships Four time Gold medalist Texas BJJ championships Two time silver medalist TX BJJ championships. Second place GracieJiu-Jitsu open

Description:

Possibly the premier ground-fighting martial art, made famous by Royce Gracie in the early UFCs in the mid-1990's, it specializes in submission grappling when both fighters are on the ground. Techniques include positional control (especially the "guard" position), and submissions such as chokes and arm locks. There is a heavy emphasis on positional strategy, which is about which fighter is on top, and where each person's legs are. Positions are stable situations, from which a large variety of techniques are available to both fighters. The primary positions include: Guard: The person applying the guard is on the bottom with his back on the ground; his legs are wrapped around his opponent's hips (who is said to be "in the guard"). Side control: Chest-on-chest but without the legs being entangled. Mount: On top of his opponent (who "is mounted"), sitting on his chest, with one leg on either side of his torso. Back mount: Behind his opponent, with his feet hooked around his opponent's hips and upper thighs. Specific techniques taught are designed either to improve one's position (for example, to "pass the guard", by going from being "in the guard" to getting around the opponent's legs, resulting in side control); or else as a finishing submissions. Most submissions are either chokes (cutting off the blood supply to the brain) or arm locks (hyperextending the elbow, or twisting the shoulder). Belt ranks start at white belt, and progress through blue, purple, brown, and then black.

Origin & History:

Refined in Brazil but originated in the mid-1800's in Japan were there was large number of styles ("ryu") of jiu-jitsu (sometimes spelled "jujitsu"). Techniques varied between ryu, but generally included all manner of unarmed combat (strikes, throws, locks, chokes, wrestling, etc.) and occasionally some weapons training. One young but skilled master of a number of jiu-jitsu styles, Jigoro Kano, founded his own ryu and created the martial art Judo (aka Kano-ryu jiu-jitsu) in the 1880's. One of Kano's primary insights was to include full-power practice against resisting, competent opponents, rather than solely rely on the partner practice that was much more common at the time. One of Kano's students was Mitsuo Maeda, who was also known as Count Koma ("Count of Combat"). Maeda emigrated to Brazil in 1914. He was helped a great deal by the Brazilian politician Gastão Gracie, whose father George Gracie had emigrated to Brazil himself from Scotland. In gratitude for the assistance, Maeda taught jiu-jitsu to Gastao's son Carlos Gracie. Carlos in turn taught his brothers Osvaldo, Gastão Jr., Jorge, and Helio. In 1925, Carlos and his brothers opened their first jiu-jitsu academy, and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was born in Brazil. At this point, the base of techniques in BJJ was similar to those in Kano's Judo academy in Japan. As the years progressed, however, the brothers (notably Carlos and Helio) and their students refined their art via brutal no-rules fights, both in public challenges and on the street. Particularly notable was their willingness to fight outside of weight categories, permitting a skilled small fighter to attempt to defeat a much larger opponent. They began to concentrate more and more on submission ground fighting, especially utilizing the guard position. This allowed a weaker man to defend against a stronger one, bide his time, and eventually emerge victorious.