In the beginning, there was no real separation between jiujitsu and vale tudo. Training jiujitsu meant being ready to fight, in the street or in the ring, against anyone at any time. That's how it was when I joined the ranks.

Over time, it has become an unhealthy division between modern tournament jiujitsu, mixed martial arts, and self-defense. Development in any system always comes with specialization, but at what point do we need to step back and understand that fractured systems are damaged. That something once designed to be expressed in many contexts has disintegrated into isolated pockets of knowledge.

The true art of jiujitsu is found in techniques that require minimal or no modification, whether for self-defense or tournament play.

The true mindset of jiujitsu is budō. Be prepared to fight or compete at any time, under any established rule, without weight classes or time limits, and if necessary to the death. It is also about living like a warrior and facing all the adversities of life with courage and honor. Without these ideals jiujitsu is nothing.

“Our fears don’t stop death, they stop life.”

Rickson Gracie