'Martial art is very grounded' - Gracie Jiu-Jitsu

Reviews, Videos, and Everything Else Martial Arts in the News
1

Martial art is very grounded
Getting an opponent down is a key focus of style of fighting called Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.


Instructor Greg Elred (top) demonstrates a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu move on student Chris Keidel. – Rebecca Koenig / For The Star

By Paul Shepherd
Star correspondent

July 10, 2003

In certain circles, Royce Gracie is known as the dominant fighter in the pay-per-view bonanza known as the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Those in-the-know know that Gracie’s three UFC championships in the past decade have been earned fighting in the style of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Gracie’s popularity has transcended into a mass demand by fans to learn the style that is also referred to as Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

“I have requests for more classes,” said Greg Eldred, who trained for three years under the Gracie family and now teaches classes Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at the Indianapolis Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Team Caique studio at 335 W. Main St. in Westfield. There are no other known studios in the Indianapolis area teaching the martial art, although Eldred said there are branches of home studios. Participants can pay $60 per month or $12 a session to train at Eldred’s studio. Gracie, whose first name is pronounced Hoyce, is one of Helio Gracie’s seven sons who brought the style from Brazil to the United States nearly two decades ago. Helio Gracie’s oldest son, Rorion, started the UFC in 1993 to showcase the style.

Leverage and technique are the key elements in a form that caters to those of small size. The primary objective is to take down an opponent regardless of size. A series of moves can provide escape and counterattack positions. “I used to wrestle in school, so I was pretty used to grappling and stuff,” said Chris Keidel, a purple belt. “Seven or eight years ago, I was watching the UFC and I saw Royce, and he’s this little, skinny guy using all these smooth techniques to beat guys. I was thinking, ‘Hey, I could do that.’” Eldred’s argument for learning the style is its practicality. "The other styles are good for what they are, but when it comes to what might really happen in a fight, it’s guys (clenching) and getting on the ground. “If I’m a Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, because I’m skilled on the ground, I’m going to want to take the fight to the ground.”

There are five belt systems – white, blue, purple, brown and black, with various stages of stripes on each belt. Eldred is one of two known brown belts in central Indiana. There are no known black belts in the state. Eldred said he has about 50 students enrolled, with a typical class size of 10 to 12 students. Eldred has one female student, Kim Jackson. She said that while it took her time to overcome the idea of grappling on the ground with her male counterparts, she sees benefits for women. “One of the strongest positions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the classic rape position,” said Jackson, 26, who has a daughter and has studied the style for more than five years with her husband.

“This teaches you how to get away. It’s just wonderful self-defense for women. I just stuck with it because of that.”

http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/6/056748-5316-036.html

2

“One of the strongest positions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the classic rape position,”

LOL

“If a man was to tell me he wasnt God I would have to ask him what he was.” Warcloud

3

“It’s just wonderful self-defense for women.”

As long as they train it properly, yes it is. I’m afraid a lot of women don’t though.

>Greg Eldred, who trained for three years.

He made brown in three years ?

Space may be the final frontier,
But it’s made in a Hollywood basement.

4

this story scares and frightens me…

It is not a dog eat dog world…it is much worse. It is like ‘a dog does not return another dog’s call’ word.

Guns…the fifth range

5

Why ?

Space may be the final frontier,
But it’s made in a Hollywood basement.

6

"The other styles are good for what they are, but when it comes to what might really happen in a fight, it’s guys (clenching) and getting on the ground. “If I’m a Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, because I’m skilled on the ground, I’m going to want to take the fight to the ground.”

This may lead to a false sense of security for many

Eldred has one female student, Kim Jackson. She said that while it took her time to overcome the idea of grappling on the ground with her male counterparts, she sees benefits for women. “One of the strongest positions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the classic rape position,” said Jackson, 26, who has a daughter and has studied the style for more than five years with her husband.“This teaches you how to get away. It’s just wonderful self-defense for women. I just stuck with it because of that.”

:It is not wonderful self sefense for a woman…

It is not a dog eat dog world…it is much worse. It is like ‘a dog does not return another dog’s call’ word.

Guns…the fifth range

7

btw…i do BJJ, i love it, but the article makes it sound like BJJ is the end all and be all of self defense

It is not a dog eat dog world…it is much worse. It is like ‘a dog does not return another dog’s call’ word.

Guns…the fifth range

8

I see your point, as I said though, I think it can be very good for women if they train properly.

Becoming competent at taking someone’s back and choking, and taking mount and scraping the guy’s eyes out for example.

Now imagine your pain is a white ball of healing light, that’s right, your pain, the pain itself is a white ball of healing light… I don’t think so!

9

but with weight distribution and stress, most women are not going to be able to do complex maneuvers.

It is not a dog eat dog world…it is much worse. It is like ‘a dog does not return another dog’s call’ word.

Guns…the fifth range

10

" but with weight distribution and stress"

Not to mention the hard as balls hits she’ll be taking from the maniac psycho high on PCP.

11

“He made brown in three years ?”

I think it means he trained with the Gracie family directly for 3 years. Not 3yrs total BJJ training…

12

>Not to mention the hard as balls hits she’ll be taking from the maniac psycho high on PCP.

Do you know what “taking the back” means ?

And unless she is armed (which I would adivise) what’s the alternative ?

Now imagine your pain is a white ball of healing light, that’s right, your pain, the pain itself is a white ball of healing light… I don’t think so!

13

SLJ, what would “training properly” entail? Should she roll with men who outweigh her by at least 50 pounds while they ground and pound her to “soften” her up?

~
danny

“That baby better watch his mouth. I rape kids like him as part of my warm-up for raping teenagers, grown men, and eventually charging rhinos.” - Boyd

14

Well not ground and pound, but rolling with men yes.

As I said, taking the back, the triangle choke, anything that will KO the guy. Build up the resistance as she becomes more competent.

I agree most women would not have what it takes.

When the shit’s hit the fan what is the alternative anyway ?

Now imagine your pain is a white ball of healing light, that’s right, your pain, the pain itself is a white ball of healing light… I don’t think so!

15

How is rolling with men going to help if all that training leaves her mind the moment she gets caught with a backhand?

~
danny

“That baby better watch his mouth. I rape kids like him as part of my warm-up for raping teenagers, grown men, and eventually charging rhinos.” - Boyd

16

Are you suggesting she trades strikes with the attacker ?

Now imagine your pain is a white ball of healing light, that’s right, your pain, the pain itself is a white ball of healing light… I don’t think so!

17

You have to experience violence in order to know how to weather the storm. You have to embrace it, and control it, and when the time comes, unleash it.

~
danny

“That baby better watch his mouth. I rape kids like him as part of my warm-up for raping teenagers, grown men, and eventually charging rhinos.” - Boyd

18

I’m suggesting that she know how to take a hit. Hell, I’m suggesting she knows how to take a beating…and still be able to think.

~
danny

“That baby better watch his mouth. I rape kids like him as part of my warm-up for raping teenagers, grown men, and eventually charging rhinos.” - Boyd

19

You are right, but how many women do you know who would put themselves through that ?

Now imagine your pain is a white ball of healing light, that’s right, your pain, the pain itself is a white ball of healing light… I don’t think so!

20

Not many. But my point is that BJJ training is a straw crutch to women who think that it will be adequate for self-defense with no limitations.

However, some training is better than no training. And I believe 100% that women should attempt to fight back. I’m not saying traing BJJ as self-defense is wrong, just that it has it’s limitations and in order for it to WORK in that context, there has to be certain factors included in the training, to MAXIMIZE effectiveness.

In truth, if a woman wanted to learn how to get some basic self-defense skills, I’d recommend MMA because of it’s toughening nature (and many other fringe benefits :wink: ).

~
danny

“That baby better watch his mouth. I rape kids like him as part of my warm-up for raping teenagers, grown men, and eventually charging rhinos.” - Boyd