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Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu at Advanced BKJ
Advanced
BKJ features
the only certified coaches from Royce Gracie in West Virginia.
Jiu-Jitsu and the Gracie name go hand and hand because it was the
Gracie's who invented the art that we all practice in America
today. So, to have the incredible, and unique, opportunity
to be ranked, as well as train with, the legendary Royce Gracie and
his family is truly amazing!
You
will not have this opportunity anywhere else!
Helio
Gracie states, "As the person
who caused the major impact in the Jiu-Jitsu that is now practiced
all over Brazil and increasingly throughout the world, I want to
make clear to the practitioners worldwide that the only
method of Jiu-Jitsu teaching that I endorse is the one practiced by
my sons Rorion, Relson, Rickson, Rolker, Royler, and Royce."
See
what else Helio Gracie has to say
At
Advanced BKJ jiu-jitsu is the focus of our training. 95% of
all fights will end up on the ground so you must be able to defend
yourself once the fight enters this area. However jiu-jitsu is
not only ground defense as it incorporates all areas of self-defense
and combat.
Origins
of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
MITSUYO
MAEDA - "CONDE KOMA"
In
1914, a Japanese Jiu-Jitsu and Judo master named Mitsuyo Maeda, (AKA
Count Koma) stopped in Brazil during his World Judo tour.
Maeda decided to prolong his stay and help a Japanese colony
settle in the North of Brazil.
A
Brazilian diplomat named Gastão Gracie helped the colony with land
and cattle. In return Koma, went against the Japanese tradition and
volunteered to teach real Jiu-Jitsu to a non-Japanese, Gastão's son
Carlos.
THE
BIRTH OF GRACIE JIU-JITSU
Carlos,
who was the oldest of five brothers, became so fascinated with
Maeda’s techniques that in 1925 he opened the first Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Helio,
Carlos’ youngest brother, was physically frail and would
constantly faint when doing any type of physical activity. The
family doctor advised him to avoid any kind of exercise.
Consequently, Helio
would sit on the side of the mat watching Carlos teach classes.
He did that for a couple of years.
One
day, when he was 16 years old, a student showed up for class, but
Carlos was not around and Helio
said, “My brother is not here, but if you want, I can go through
the techniques with you. I’ve been watching my brother for so long
that I memorized all the moves.”
Helio
went through the moves with the student.
He was so excited and enthusiastic about pleasing the student
that when Carlos arrived and apologized for being late the student
said, “I’ve had a class with your brother and if you don’t
mind from now on I’ll continue taking classes with him.”
From
that day on Helio
became an instructor and soon after he was teaching the vast
majority of the classes while Carlos became more involved with the
development of the Gracie Diet and managing the fighting careers of
his brothers.
In
spite of his small frame and weight of only 140 pounds, Hélio
became the mastermind behind the development of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu,
adapting the techniques of Japanese Jiu-Jitsu so that they depended
entirely upon leverage, rather than strength and explosiveness.
He was driven by a constant determination to find effective
ways to deal with every possible aspect of a real fight.
Daring
to break away from the traditional Japanese style, he began
experimenting, modifying and perfecting simple techniques that would
be effective regardless of stature.
That
is how he developed this style of Jiu-Jitsu. Though Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
descended from the ancient Japanese style, the differences are quite
apparent. Many of the Japanese facets of the art, which depend on
physical prowess and stiff motion, were tossed aside, leaving only
pure technique
.
Royce
Gracie
Royce
Gracie was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 37-year-old
Gracie is one of nine children, seven of whom are boys. His training
in Jiu-Jitsu began at a very early age as a game with his father
Helio.
Royce
began competing in tournaments at age eight. He received his
blue belt at age 16 and was promoted to black belt in less than two
years. Royce moved to the United States at age 18 to live with his
brother, Rorion. They began teaching private classes out of their
garage, sometimes for more than ten hours a day. Rorion and Royce
opened the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy eleven years ago in Torrance,
California. Today it is one of the largest martial arts schools in
the country.
Royce’s reputable career as a fighter began in 1993 after
defeating three opponents in the first Ultimate
Fighting Championship. His brother Rorion came up with this
innovative challenge as a way to show Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to the world.
Discipline after discipline was defeated by the slight 6’1”, 180
pound Royce Gracie. His opponents consistently outweighed him by
more than 50 pounds. He went on to win 3 UFC
titles and today is the only man in the history of no holds
barred matches to successfully defeat four opponents in one night.
Royce is still very active in the fight world with most recent
fights in the PRIDE
Grand Prix held in Japan in 2000. Royce’s success has opened the
eyes of many disbelievers to the importance of leverage and
technique in grappling.
The legend of the Gracie family began in Brazil with Royce’s
father, Helio
Gracie. Today Royce is privileged to spread the techniques
perfected by his father all over the world. Throughout his busy
fighting career Royce has maintained a rigorous travel schedule of
seminars and classes. His list of students is enormous.
Royce
has taught many of the big screen greats like Chuck Norris, Ed
O’Neal, Guy Ritchie and Nicholas Cage. He has also been very
active with the CIA, FBI, DEA, Secret Service, Army Rangers, Army
Special Forces, Navy Seals and many sheriff and police departments.
To
inquire further about the jiu-jitsu program, please contact:
Butch
Hiles
304-549-9370
advancedbkj@yahoo.com
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