Students Learn Self Defense
By Jacquelyn Allder
Broadside Staff Writer

Jennifer Whited, a sophomore, calls it a “martial art without punching,” yet even though Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu does not incorporate classic hand-to-hand fighting techniques, it does teach participants a number of useful self-defense techniques. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a program that stresses a person’s ability rather than his or her size, is one of the newest martial arts programs that George Mason University’s Aquatic and Fitness Center offers to students, faculty and members of the Fairfax community. As its name implies, the program began in the South American country of Brazil.

According to the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Web site, when Mitsuo Maeda, a master of judo and jiu-jitsu, emigrated from Japan to Brazil, Gastao Gracie, a Brazilian politician, contacted him to teach jiu-jitsu to his son, Carlos Gracie. Carlos Gracie subsequently taught the art to his brothers, who then refined the program. After opening their first jiu-jitsu academy in Brazil in 1925, the Gracie family popularized Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which soon became known as ‘Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.’ It was Helio Gracie, one of the smaller Gracie brothers, who made Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu what it is today. He created a program that emphasized how smaller people might defend themselves against much stronger and larger opponents. Rather than relying on brute force, the program teaches leverage techniques designed to force opponents into submission.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is primarily a ground-fighting art; however, the program also provides cardiovascular and strength-building exercise. One of the main goals of the program is to teach self-defense. Whited, who began the course this semester, said that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu teaches “good self-defense for women,” since the techniques in the program do not rely primarily on strength. Police departments, the FBI, CIA and many military groups, such as Marines and Navy SEALs, practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The program is especially useful for the police department, as, unlike other fighting techniques, it allows officers to control offenders without the risk of injury and liability for injuries.

by Adisa Banjoko, ‘The Bishop of Hip Hop’

In the realm of Hip Hop, cross cultural exchange is a common thing. One of the greatest of those exchanges has been the infusion of martial arts philosophies into Hip Hop. While most people just think that the sound bytes from kung-fu flicks and references to the UFC in rap tracks are just for the hell of it, some cats are out there really training.

Rakaa Iriscience of the world famous Dilated Peoples is one of them. He trains in Gracie Jiu Jitsu, also known as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Unlike the Brazilian style of Capoeria, this is a grappling art. It focuses on technique over speed and strength. It’s perfect for women’s self defense and has devastating effectiveness in street fights. If you are unfamiliar with it, you can visit www.bjj.org for more information.

Oral poetry and martial arts are two truly ancient ways of expressing the spirit. Most people don’t know that the martial arts were born in Africa. It’s documented in “African Presence in Early Asia” by Professors Runoko Rashidi and Dr. Ivan Van Sertima. The Kemetians, commonly known as Egyptians, have hieroglyphics of martial arts grappling moves, many of which are still used today. So it is quite natural that these paths would blend. Almost every country on this planet has a fighting style of some sort. Martial arts, like Hip Hop, transcends race issues, religious doctrines and political platforms. It is a true expression of the spirit.

I really hope more urban kids of all races get into Gracie Jiu Jitsu and other martial arts because I think it could really stop all the gun play. I believe a lot of school violence would die down if kids were taught martial arts in schools. It builds people’s mental and physical as well as the spiritual. I think a lot of brothas especially gravitate toward gats ‘cause they’ve lost their fighting spirit. They forgot how to be men of conviction. Many are just cowards hiding behind pistols. It’s sad.

Nevertheless, Gracie Jiu Jitsu is sweeping the nation. I was lucky enough to find out via the rapper Encore, writer Ethrina Gotico and Hip Hop photojournalist Vivian Oh that Rakaa was into Gracie Jiu Jitsu (GJJ). Encore was kind enough to lace me with the number, and we got to talk about his migration towards martial arts and what it has given him inside and out. Rakaa Iriscience is a truly cool, real humble brother. So here’s how the talk went.

Adisa Banjoko: How long have you been training GJJ?

Rakaa Iriscience: I’ve been training since 1999.

AB: How did you get started?

RI: I became aware of the art after watching Royce compete in the first UFC. I’d studied Tae Kwon Do and other arts when I was younger, but Jiu-Jitsu seemed to fit my personality better. A friend of mine, Glen Flojo, began to train at the Gracie Academy in Torrance and later invited me to take a free intro class. After the first class I was curious. After the second class I was hooked!

AB: What has jiu-jitsu given you personally or otherwise?

RI: First and foremost, it’s one of the most effective combat proven martial arts ever. It was developed to be an equalizer, then neutralizer, in combat and self defense. Jiu-Jitsu has helped me to get in shape and develop balance, mentally, physically and spiritually. Beyond that, the Gracie Academy is an extended family and support system.

AB: I know Ryron and Rener are your main teachers. Are they into Hip Hop?

RI: Actually, Ryron is my main instructor. He left for a summer to train with his grandfather, Helio, and suggested that I train with Rener while he was gone. They are both extremely skilled as fighters and teachers. I still train primarily with Ryron, but I enjoy Rener substituting sometimes or supplementing with his perspective. As for Hip Hop, they are both into it. They’re even on the inside cover of “Expansion Team!” They come to the shows and hold it down and party like everyone else, but they’re disciplined cats and have their priorities straight. I represent Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in music and they represent Dilated in tournaments. If you listen to my lyrics, you’ll hear about Rickson, Pride, certain moves, etc. If you watch them fight, you can feel the Hip Hop ... Not to mention them being known to rock a Dilated patch on their Gi!

AB: What do you do to stay on top of your game while on the road?

RI: It’s difficult to train regularly while on tour, so I stretch and breathe to stay sharp physically and meditate and visualize to stay sharp mentally. I just got Renzo and Royler’s book, which is really good, and I watch a lot of tapes. “Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Episode One” has been very helpful in trying to balance training and touring.

AB: I know that the dancer from Electric Boogaloo, Steve DaSilva aka “Suga Pop,” is a Nova Uniao black belt. I HEARD Will Smith is a purple belt under Royce Gracie (but that was NEVER confirmed). I do know that Will has two dogs, rotts, named Tyson and Gracie, though. I think Saafir used to do Muay Thai. Tajai from Hiero does Japanese Jiu Jitsu, and Rass Kass did or does the Filipino stick fighting art of Eskrima. I know Ghostface and RZA train with Shaolin Monk Shi Yan Ming from time to time as well. Do you know any other Hip Hop cats who grapple or do any fighting arts?

RI: Uli from Ozomatli trains at the Gracie Academy. Afu Ra studies Tae Kwon Do, DJ What?! from The Beat Junkies studies JKD and BJJ at The Inosanto Academy. I just saw Sugar Pop (Steve DaSilva) at a concert with Dilated and the Rocksteady Crew. Ed O’Neil, who plays Al Bundy, also trains at the Gracie Academy. I know that he’s not Hip Hop, but it shows that GJJ is continuing to make its mark on the entertainment community.

AB: OK, it’s plug time. Tell me about the “Dilated Peoples” album.

RI: “Dilated Peoples” is continuing to tour and record. “Expansion Team,” which features Alchemist, Premier, Black Thought, Tha Liks and many others, is in stores now. The album is still Dilated doing what we do, just being better at it. We just started the rough sketch for our third LP release, due early 2003. I’ll keep you updated on the progress.

AB: Who are some of your favorite fighters right now?

RI: John Lewis, Nogueira, Renzo, Royler, Vanderlei Silva, Sakuraba, Jean Jacques Machado, Carlos Newton, Royce, Ralph, Frank Shamrock, Yuki Nakai, Tito Ortiz, Vitor Belfort, Shonie Carter, Marco Ruas and of course Rickson Gracie. Ryron and Rener are devastating in Jiu-Jitsu tournaments and will surprise some people in NHB (no-holds-barred fights).

AB: Tell me about the surprise across the street from D&D.

RI: Studios in NY (for those that don’t know, D&D is a popular place for many rappers to record) D&D Studios in Manhattan is where we worked on about a quarter of “The Platform” and over half of “Expansion Team.” I’ve spent hours, even days, passing time while working at that studio and wishing that I could train. The last time I was in New York a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to pass by Renzo’s school. When we got there, to my surprise, it was right across the street from D&D! Not that I needed a reason, but that was a very good one to continue recording there. Next time I’m taking classes.

AB: Any last words?

RI: I would like to congratulate you on getting your blue belt, and Ryron and Rener on their victories at the Copa Pacifica. I would also like to thank you for continuing to fight for progress and for helping to build bridges between the arts. Peace.

Adisa Banjoko is a proud student of Charles Gracie. For more info on Gracie Jiu Jitsu, visit www.charlesgracie.com, www.ralphgracie.com, www.onthemat.com and www.adcombat.com. Email Adisa at adisa@myhiphopstory.com.

by Jen Strawn
Staff Writer
jennifer.m.strawn@ohiou.edu

Jiu-Jitsu — a form of martial arts new to Athens —looks more like a street fight than a traditional martial art, because the discipline stresses techniques students can use while grappling on the ground.

"It's what a lot of people would consider a true fighting style," said Todd Collier, owner/founder of American Jiu-Jitsu. "It's not something you would learn on the basis of tradition like a lot of your martial arts. It's a more disciplinary style of learning."

Collier teaches his students chokeholds, joint locks, throws and takedowns. Chokeholds demobilize an opponent by restricting blood flow to his brain and joint locks such as the arm bar, which overextends an opponent's arm, Collier said.

He has taught his American Jiu-Jitsu style for over three years while living in eastern Kentucky. It incorporates the traditional method he was taught while adding more aggressive strikes, he said. His style also decreases an opponent's ability to counterattack.

"In some of the ways I was taught I've seen what I consider too many weaknesses where an opponent had the ability to do a countermove, get out of it, or do something in turn against you," he said.

Like other traditional martial arts, Jiu-Jitsu ranks students by a belt system, defined by the United States Jiu-Jitsu Federation. The levels range from a white belt to a black belt. Beginning students start with the fundamentals, which include hip throws and single leg takedowns, Collier said.

In order to earn the next belt color a student must have both knowledge and experience obtained by entering tournaments. Collier takes his students to tournaments throughout Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky, and these competitions range from traditional — with few or no strikes allowed — to full contact, which has few or no rules.

The Jiu-Jitsu classes are offered through the Athens Martial Arts Academy, 8 North Court St. The academy also teaches a range of martial arts disciplines such as Karate and Thang — a Burmese martial arts system that emphasizes bare-knuckle boxing.

The academy did not have a full-time ground-fighting instructor for 18 years, so they encouraged Collier to teach, said Kevin Martin, chief instructor.

Collier's Jiu-Jitsu classes only have been taught for a few weeks, but have attracted Ohio University students and community members. OU sophomore, Matthew Baker, has studied martial arts through the Athens Martial Arts Academy for three years and has considered studying Jiu-Jitsu.

"The martial art that I'm studying is on your feet, and they don't go to the ground," he said. "It's my understanding that (Jiu-Jitsu) is more like wrestling on a mat or on the ground."

Jiu-Jitsu attracts students because the discipline can be used in real-life situations, Collier said.

"It is useful in everyday life if you actually need to defend yourself, whereas a lot of martial arts are based on the origins of a particular style," he said.