Training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Brazil

The strategy is two-fold: one, nurture a skill you can apply in life, and two, create a balanced routine which is important for staying sane when living alone in a new place without a social circle.

When I was living in Rio, I applied this strategy by training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu almost every day.

The Gentle Art

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art that emphasizes ground game, and uses joint locks and chokes to subdue an opponent.   It focuses on the use of leverage so that (in theory) a smaller opponent can subdue a larger opponent.  It was actually developed hundreds of years ago in Japan for samurais to use in combat, but in late 19th century a Japanese master brought it to Brazil, and Brazilians took it and refined it further.

While you may be already familiar with Judo, an Olympic sport that showcases some beautiful throws, keep in mind that Judo and Jiu Jitsu are not the same thing.  Judo is actually derived from Jiu Jitsu.  The main difference is that Judo focuses on stand up (throws), while in Jiu Jitsu, ground game is more important.

There are five belts in BJJ: white, blue, purple, brown, and black.  With regular training, taking various factors into account, it takes about 7-10 years to achieve the coveted black belt.  I’ve been training for about two years, and recently received my blue belt.

Rio Training

Brazil, being the home and mecca of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is an amazing place to train.  You can train pretty much anywhere in Brazil, from Florianopolis in the south to Belem in the north, but Rio is unique because of a dense concentration of world-class academies and a great beach climate to reinforce your motivation, unlike for instance Sao Paulo which is chillier and greyer.

There are many schools in Rio with various styles of BJJ.  Some give more preference to having good technique as opposed to brute strength.  Some strive to produce top competition teams; others are more relaxed.

On my first month in Rio, I checked out a couple of schools, ultimately settling on the Ricardo De La Riva academy in Rio’s Copacabana neighborhood.  De La Riva is a living legend in the sport, known all around the world, with franchise schools all over the world, and even several competitions bearing his name.  His style is more technical than other schools and the environment is relaxing and ego-free; both factors which were important when choosing a school.

Benefits

The best thing about training BJJ in Rio is that there’s always tons of higher belts who are happy to assist and answer any of your questions.  Typical classes were about 20-25 people, and sometimes half of them were black belts.  You simply would not be exposed to such high talent in either US or Europe, where most students are beginners or intermediate.  I also felt everyone was friendlier and more encouraging in Brazil.

BJJ is an awesome physical workout.  During training you’re utilizing most of your body’s muscles, and even some that you didn’t know you had (the soreness will remind you the following day).  It’s also a great workout for your brain because, just like in chess, you and your opponent make constant moves, and if someone makes a mistake, the other can capitalize and submit the opponent.

Of course, when you’re not training you’re socializing.  I’ve met some great people across all kinds of backgrounds: from the rich kids living in huge mansions in Rio’s South Zone all the way to poor kids living in various favelas (slums) scattered across Rio, and everyone in between.  It was the perfect immersion into the culture and a great way to promote friendships.  Many people did not speak English so my Portuguese [link] quickly improved.  I had a couple of good friends in the class who would always correct my Portuguese and teach me new slang so that every time I went back home, my roommates (foreigners) always asked me if I learned any new interesting words.

All in all I believe having such a solid hobby on the side helped me a have a balanced life while living abroad for well over a year.  So regardless if you’ve never been on a mat, or regularly compete, definitely look into doing this on your next trip to Brazil.  You cannot get a more authentic experience, while learning one of the most fulfilling and rewarding martial arts in the world.