Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt instructor Charles Dos Anjos gives his perspective on how MMA may becoming too big for it’s own good, and how the sport of wrestling relates in the whole mix. Also, see notes below on former Iowa Hawkeye Eric Juergens and his foray into MMA as well as previews on upcoming big fights and a Grappling 101 reading list.
By Jeremy O’Kasick – TWM Freelance Writer
Diehard fight fans must have mixed feelings about how MMA has gone big-time corporate and commercial.
On one hand, the sport has arrived, offering more top-notch televised bouts and fast-rising leagues than ever before. After years of being far from the mainstream spotlight, traditional martial arts, like wrestling, judo, Muy Thai kickboxing, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, are finally earning high respect from all sports fans, and their top practitioners are finding a way to make a living.
On the other hand, now MMA is becoming all about the money. Furthermore, whereas traditional martial arts have an ancient foundation of tradition and respect, now all you have to do is flip on the idiot box to endless MMA trash talking and hype. Besides longtime MMA fans, the consequences of that image has also drawn concern from traditional martial arts instructors and coaches.
“The sport grew too fast in the United States,” said Charles Dos Anjos, vice president of the International Kid-Jitsu Association. “It was not assimilated very well as a traditional martial art. They jumped steps. The sport needs more tradition and respect so that it can grow with more education for the beginners.”
The 35-year-old Dos Anjos fought for years in Brazil before coming to the United States. A decorated black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and karate, Dos Anjos has focused on training his own teenage and adult students with Team Wolfpack in Sarasota, Florida and developing training jiu-jitsu regimens for kids and youth programs with Kid-Jitsu. The Wrestling Mall caught up with Dos Anjos while he was leading a jiu-jitsu and MMA seminar in Minneapolis, Minnesota at Doc’s Gym where an affiliate Team Wolfpack trains as led by black-belt instructor, Junior Brasil.
“Traditional Brazilian jiu-jitsu teachers believe that many of these guys in MMA do not have respect,” he said. “It is frustrating. It is all about the money now. That’s why I am involved in the kids jiu-jitsu program. It is so important to teach kids that MMA and jiu-jitsu is not just about fighting, acting tough, and the belts.”
In Brazil, jiu-jitsu has long been the second most popular sport after soccer. The precursors to today’s MMA fights actually have roots in ancient traditional styles and popular modern day contests all over the world. The prevalence and development of such styles and contests in Brazil, however, have had few equals. Dos Anjos started training in Brazil’s capital, Rio de Janeiro, in 1985 under MMA legend Royce Gracie in the Gracie jiu-jitsu system. Just as jiu-jitsu spread from Japan to Brazil a century ago, Brazilians popularized the martial art in the United States in the 1990s. After the success of Royce Gracie in the early days of the UFC, jiu-jitsu caught fire in America and teams started rising up in great numbers nationwide.
“Jiu-jitsu is very important to our society,” said Dos Anjos. “It is not a rich country but there is great spirit. Jiu-jitsu will always be a part of Brazil.”
High school and collegiate wrestlers have naturally taken to jiu-jitsu as another grappling form. Although, Dos Anjos has some advice for wrestlers starting out in the martial arts.
“First, forget about the wrestling when you step on the mat,” said Dos Anjos. “You are here to learn jiu-jitsu. You can mix in the wrestling later on. Second, look for a qualified instructor who has respect for you. Find someone who has respected school. Look for a place where you can be more than a fighter. You can be a brother.”
Dos Anjos also has some wise words for wrestlers eager to step into the cage without truly getting a foundation in technique.
“Sometimes, guys just take one year of training or less. That is not enough. They only think about fight, fight, fight,” he said. “It takes more time if you truly want to learn the technical aspect and develop.”
“We hope to develop a strong jiu-jitsu community and system across the United States that will give a good future for everyone involved,” he added.
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