Legends of the Octagon

[oneinchpunchmaster]

Hey all.As i join the BJJ World, i lack in its history as i am new to the art. In the video "UFC - Legends of the Octagon: Royce Gracie", Royce explained that his father made the style just by watching fights.He didnt participate in any classes, he just watched fights, then developed the style in his head, and later started teaching it. Now, ive heard many people say that BJJ was similiar to Judoka except it had the hidden and forbidden techniques. After hearing Royce say something else, it makes me wonder. Is BJJ actually similiar to Judoka? Or was the Martial Art based off Judoka, with some of the techniques borrowed from Judoka, the rest created by the founder of BJJ. It would be great if someone could clear me up on this.


BTW, I really recommend this video. Its very interesting and shows Royce Gracies fights as well as Royce Gracie and Mike Goldberg commentating on them over what happened etc.

Gracies first fight was the funniest. Royce just took the opponent down to the ground and the guy started shouting "Get off me!Get off me!". He tapped out!!!Royce commentated that he didnt even do ANYTHING! He just went ontop of him and the guy tapped out. The refferee didnt know what to do, so after a while the opponent just pushed Royce off him and Royce was declared a winner. Was a very interesting fight :P

[Cliff Hargrave]

Hey all.As i join the BJJ World, i lack in its history as i am new to the art. In the video "UFC - Legends of the Octagon: Royce Gracie", Royce explained that his father made the style just by watching fights.He didnt participate in any classes, he just watched fights, then developed the style in his head, and later started teaching it. Now, ive heard many people say that BJJ was similiar to Judoka except it had the hidden and forbidden techniques. After hearing Royce say something else, it makes me wonder. Is BJJ actually similiar to Judoka? Or was the Martial Art based off Judoka, with some of the techniques borrowed from Judoka, the rest created by the founder of BJJ. It would be great if someone could clear me up on this.




Well I guess Helio is the only one that knows for sure since all of his brothers are dead.

The story goes that Helio never trained but hung out in the academy everyday because he talked his mother into letting him quit school. One day, when Helio was a teenager, someone came in for a private lesson and Carlos was late so Helio offered to teach the man. The man liked Helio's teaching so much that he wanted him to teach from then on. From that day forward Helio did train and eventually took over the teaching from Carlos.

Carlos learned from a Judoka, Meada, who had traveled the world engaging in prize fights and challenge matches.

[Luebbers]

Cliff pretty much nailed it. Helio didn't invent the art just from watching people fight. He learned the art by watching his brothers train. His main contribution was emphasis on technique over strength. Because he was very small and sickly, he had to use leverage to overpower his stronger opponents.

Also, Royce's first fight in the UFC was against boxer Art Jimmerson. They wanted to get a boxer for the UFC to represent the style, but it was difficult to find a willing participant. To get him to fight, the UFC had to offer Jimmerson a win or lose purse. For everyone else, they were competing for the prize. Once he got taken down, he knew that he wouldn't be able to do anything, and since he's was getting paid anyway, he just tapped out to avoid injury.

[Jeff C.]

I highly recommend the book "The Gracie Way."

Jeff Cook

[James O'Neill]

"...To get him to fight, the UFC had to offer Jimmerson a win or lose purse. For everyone else, they were competing for the prize. Once he got taken down, he knew that he wouldn't be able to do anything, and since he's was getting paid anyway, he just tapped out to avoid injury."

That is pathetic :( - For all I know that dude is tougher than all get out but it is irrelevant; he is a sissy-boy with no heart.

There was a boxer in one of the first Extreme Fighting challenges if I remember correctly. He was no contender & looked very out of shape - still, he did okay. And he didn't throw in the towel like a sissy.

[moogong]

I highly recommend the book "The Gracie Way."

Jeff Cook

I second that. It's a highly motivational book if you are into BJJ.

[oneinchpunchmaster]

I second that. It's a highly motivational book if you are into BJJ.


Whats the book about?

[moogong]

Each chapter is a biography of various Gracie family members. It details their training and fights in both MMA and BJJ and provides insights how each helped shape the art.

[Luebbers]

The Gracie Way is a very enjoyable and informative read. It's a little bit propagandized (is that a word?), so just consider the source when you read it.

I would also recommend "Brawl." This is a book about the early days of the UFC (and a little bit of the MMA world as a whole); it's got a lot of great behind the scenes info about some of the early events and fighters. When I bought it, I rented and watched each UFC as I read the corresponding section in the book. It's a cool way to experience the early fights and I highly recommend it.