Helio Gracie is shown performing a move that was done by Jon Jones in UFC 172. Photo: Valente brothers

Grand Master Pedro Valente Sr., father of the Valente brothers of GMA Gracie Miami, has a message about the self-defense in Jiu-Jitsu. Using the UFC 172 fight between Jon Jones and Glover Texeira, he attributes Jones’ success to the self-defense techniques that are no longer prevalent in sport Jiu-Jitsu academies today.

Take a minute to read what the red belt has to say:

“Many martial artists, for reasons which include absence of knowledge and lack of experience in Helio Gracie’s self defense Jiu-Jitsu (the backbone of the curriculum taught at all Valente Brothers academies) question the effectiveness of self-defense in a fight.

In the bout between Jon Jones and Glover Teixeira the importance of self-defense was once again proven.

The Brazilian fighter started off well, charging, and quickly making Jones feel the weight of his hand. However, in the very first clinch, during round one, Jones surprised Teixeira applying a fundamental technique of Jiu-Jitsu’s self-defense system. He took advantage of Glover’s semi-stretched arm and instead of pummeling his arm under, he over-hooked the Brazilian’s elbow and applied the lock. A typical defense used in Jiu-Jitsu. This immediately injured Glover’s right shoulder, who asked his corner to ice his articulation between rounds one and two.

Therefore Jones, utilizing a classic move of authentic self-defense Jiu-Jitsu, forgotten by many, neutralized the knockout power precisely from Glover’s heavy right hand and largely reduced its firepower and his ability to win the fight via knockout. Fingers to the eye also helped destabilize the Brazilian. But that is another story.

At the height of the campaign against Jiu-Jitsu “hooligan fighters,” in Brazil, I published an article in 1995 titled “Jiu-Jitsu” in the prominent Brazilian publication, Jornal do Brasil. In this article, written 24 years ago, I foresaw that the Jiu-Jitsu developed by the Gracies was being mischaracterized and that within a few years would be largely forgotten in its foundations. Sure enough today, Jiu-Jitsu that as Grand Master Helio Gracie said is not a sport but a weapon of attack and self defense, has been distorted by sports tournaments that prioritize rules for points, neglecting its self defense base, altering the genuine gentle art into a limited competitive sport that became vulnerable in MMA .

It is time, especially for sport Jiu-Jitsu teachers to reflect rather than to consider pre-sport Gracie Jiu-jitsu outdated, as many think. I believe they need to learn and teach authentic Jiu-Jitsu, which is not based on simple competition rules, but rather in the ancient techniques of stand-up fighting, ground fighting, traumatic blows, self defense, and mainly in its philosophy that comes from the Samurai.

Today, interestingly, what we see in MMA is the rediscovery of these fundamentals of Jiu-Jitsu by some fighters: elbows, the pisão kick, throws, grappling submissions and even self-defense techniques, typical of the “old” Jiu-Jitsu (to which we remain loyal) as we saw in the main event of UFC 172.”

Roger Gracie will fight again in Asia, and may return to the UFC with two good wins. Photo: Strikeforce

Without renewing his contract with the UFC after a decision loss to Tim Kennedy last July 6, Roger Gracie, 31, is closer to One FC, an organization based in Singapore.

He, who had a good first round before losing stamina following a 15 kg drop in weight for the bout, should now return to his home, the light heavyweight division (under 93kg).

“In the next fight he will return among the light heavyweights,” said Jorge “Joinha” Guimarães, in a conversation with Brazilian news portal R7. “I talked to Dana White and Joe Silva, and it was agreed that, if he wins two fights, he’s back to the UFC. Even so, we are closing with One FC, where he will not be bound by the contract,” said the manager.

Changes around Roger do not stop there. The Gracie should spend more time during the year in Los Angeles to train with Lyoto Machida, Glover Teixeira and other athletes of Black House MMA.

The three-time world absolute Jiu-Jitsu champion talked to GRACIEMAG about the new direction, and dismissed the possibility of returning to competitive BJJ: “I knew, even before my fight with Tim Kennedy, that it was my last fight under that contract (there was only one fight left in my old Strikeforce deal). I knew, therefore, that there was nothing certain after that bout. But I did not get where I am in Jiu-Jitsu only with victories. I did not achieve all I did in the gi by winning every fight, and I did not win ten world titles at black
belt without losing any fights. Now I have decided to devote myself to MMA, and that’s what I will do till the end of my career. No matter where I fight or for what promotion. I train to be number one. That defeat at UFC 162 was just a setback; a lot has yet to happen,” Roger assured us.

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