With over 30 years of experience teaching Jiu-Jitsu, França presents two pure breed techniques when it comes to the origin of the gentle art as a self-defense system.

Watch and enjoy.

He does not fight back, but only dodges the punches with head and body movement.

Do you think you would be able to hit him?

Brawl at baseball game in US: acts of aggression can happen anywhere, as Professor Ryan Hall found out. Photo: Site Banned in Hollywood.

Jiu-Jitsu requires dedication; that’s why it’s so good for the mind and soul.

Jiu-Jitsu requires effort, and that’s why it’s so good for your physical form and has helped thousands of people lose 20, 30, even 40 kilos.

Jiu-Jitsu requires a master and partners; that’s why it makes you lifelong friends.

The best of all: everything Jiu-Jitsu demands of you is paid back in full, almost always with interest and adjusted for inflation. A high-yield investment, that is.

“When you’re down and have suffered a loss is when you really feel the good Jiu-Jitsu does you,” Marcio Feitosa often says, the teacher at and director of the Gracie Barra school network having practiced the art since he was a kid.

MARTIAL ARTS FOR WHEN YOU’RE DOWN IN THE DUMPS

“The art and constant learning in schools get you back on your feet after taking one of life’s hard knocks much quicker than non-Jiu-Jitsu practitioners do. I’ve seen that thousands of times,” adds Feitosa.

It is, thus, during life’s darker moments that Jiu-Jitsu shows its might. Moments we avoid, that we battle to never let happen, but that happen when we least expect it nevertheless. Like what happened to the black belt Ryan Hall during what up until then had been a pleasant dinner.

Ryan Hall, though, had the good fortune of having practiced Jiu-Jitsu for years on end. What do you say, gentle reader: when the shit hits the fan for real, are you ready to stand tall? Are you ready to defend yourself? What about your sons and daughters? If you don’t have the answer to these questions on the tip of your tongue, it’s time to give Jiu-Jitsu a chance in your life.

(Writer’s note—I beg the forgiveness of anyone offended by the four-letter word in the title, but there just wasn’t any better way of putting it, was there? Either way, I only published the obscenity after reading it in an article by the respected Brazilian anthropologist and professor Roberto DaMatta in Wednesday’s O Globo newspaper. If a master can use the word “shit” at the right time, we’re free to do it too, just in moderation. Again, sorry.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJX9QnrZtfc

Jon Jones soars at Ryan Bader, in another smooth-sailing one-on-one in the UFC. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC publicity.

It’s a classic question that has been around throughout the history of MMA, vale-tudo or whatever the next name denominating the sport to arise is.

All is takes is for a monster like Fedor Emelianenko, Anderson Silva or Jon Jones to show up on the scene and fans get worked up into a frenzy and some hyperbolic commentator states, “He can’t lose even with both his hands tied!” Or, “It would take two opponents at the same time to beat the champion!”

Fighting in twos (or more) is the stuff of Bruce Lee flicks, or pro wrestling. But it really does happen in real life.

Last decade, word of an epic altercation involving Carlos Newton got around. As the story goes, the former UFC and Pride FC star was left alone to defend himself against 12 aggressors, even seeking refuge behind the counter of a restaurant, flinging kitchen items to protect himself, according to witnesses—just like in the movies. And also like in the movies, the Canadian submission ace survived relatively unscathed.

Now as for layman fights, everyone has had their own experience. The question here has to do with Jiu-Jitsu as self-defense. As salvation in extreme cases, and for curiosity’s sake too, of course.

For example: Could Jon Jones, the best light heavyweight in the UFC today, easily overcome a pair of skinny guys like, say, the brothers Rafael and Guilherme Mendes in a real fight situation.

To MMA coach and Jungle Fight-promotion kingpin Luis “Bebeo” Duarte, Jon Jones wouldn’t stand a chance in a Jiu-Jitsu match. In MMA, though, things are a lot hairier. “The first one would fall with his ribs caved in within seconds, and the other would have to get out of there quick,” quips the Carlson Gracie black belt.

“I CAN’T SEE A WAY TO BEAT JON JONES”

To the brothers such a task would be a tall order indeed. That’s right, Rafa and Gui’s money would be on Jones for this one. “Shoot, I can’t see how we would beat him—not even the both of us together!” says Rafael with a laugh. “That would be a tough strategy to put together. The thing to do would be for one of us to get in the line of fire and get knocked out while the other one latches on to his legs. Maybe a back take or footlock might come of it. One is the decoy, the other tangles up with him.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_EHjfIgnm4

Would it really be all that easy for the darling of the UFC? To at least one Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu teacher, no, it wouldn’t. Quite the contrary.

“To give Jones his props, out of ten fights, I’d say he’d win one of them. The Mendeses would win nine.” That’s the take of Claudinho Arrais, a Rilion Gracie student and co-promoter of IBJJF tournaments in Southern Brazil. He means what he says. And he has experience backing him up.

“TWO USUALLY BEATS ONE” SAYS THE TEACHER

In 1996, Claudinho accompanied Rilion on a visit to Royce Gracie’s academy in Torrance, California. A post-training debate arose, whether a seasoned black belt could beat two less experienced practitioners. There wasn’t a question about it in Rilion’s mind at all. He called his nephew Igor Gracie and a partner over to take on an incredulous big guy, who thought putting away two 13-year-olds would be child’s play. The lumbering fellow donned boxing gloves. The fledgling pair were forbidden to hit, just grapple.

The first clash saw the two hovering around, one on each side, adrenaline pumping. When one would close the distance on one side, the other would dart onto the hulking fellow’s back. The young duo won by rear-naked choke. The defeated said he only lost because he was afraid to hurt them, promising to make it count the second time around. That time, it was even quicker and easier—another loss via choke.

“When your attack is focused on one, the other has loads of room to grab on. It’s not all that easy to knock someone out. Between two experienced fighters, two always beats one, no matter how big he is. Jon Jones wouldn’t stand a chance,” asserts Claudinho.

What’s your take, gentle reader? How many Mendes brothers would it take to beat one Jon Jones?

Eric Butterbean celebrating win in Japan / Publicity photo

Eric “Butterbean” Esch is a phenomenon. Be it for his part in “Jackass—the Movie”, be it for his kickin’ little bod—the 45-year-old American pugilist is all the rage on the internet, between MMA fans and the just-plain curious alike.

But whether his fights are freak shows or thrilling displays of skill is not the point here. The point in question here has to do with Jiu-Jitsu as self-defense, and so we’re asking our readers: what would you do if someone Butterbean’s size freaked out and tried making a meal of you?

Trying to talk him down and running are two good options. But there’s never a guarantee the situation will permit. So have you figured out what you’d do yet? Crying is a no-no—keep yourself together.

Helio Gracie practicing his double flying kick on Carlos Gracie / Photo: José Medeiros/GRACIEMAG.com archives

KICKING—YES IT’S A JIU-JITSU OPTION

We cheerfully relayed the question to Professor Guilherme Valente, an Helio Gracie student. The answer was on the tip of his tongue:

“Look, as unbelievable as it may seem, a little Japanese guy has already put it to practice against the very Butterbean—a strategy Helio Gracie would use when facing really big and heavy boxers,” said Valente. “He liked launching a double flying kick to the chest. At worst, you land playing guard already and can attack the foot, throat or even take back right away. Professor Helio Gracie worked on that double kick precisely for that. ‘You should never underestimate the strength of a good puncher,’ he’d teach.”

Truth is, there were two Japanese guys who came up spades using the technique: Genki Sudo and Ikuhisa Minowa. Check out how Sudo the Jiu-Jitsu black belt did it in his MMA fight with Butterbean back in 2003.