Monday, 8/25/97 Wooden Center hosts Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament MARTIAL ARTS: Rickson Gracie's family dynasty of Jiu-Jitsu masters offers a martial arts focused on strategy and self control
By Steve Kim Daily Bruin Contributor Chokes, kicks, flips, grapples, joint-locks and plenty of other fight moves will take place in UCLA's John Wooden Center from August 30 thru 31 in the First International Rickson Gracie American Jiu-Jitsu Association Tournament. Martial artists from all over the world will contend to be the elite fighter. Participants in the tournament, age 18 and up, will be divided into age and weight divisions for two days of action-packed jiu-jitsu competitions. The tournament is headed by Rickson Gracie, a Brazilian native who is considered by many as the best fighter in the world. As the official ambassador of DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Brazil, Gracie will donate the full amount of admission proceeds to DARE America. Admission fee is $5 and tickets can be bought at the door or through Ticket Master. Similar to the traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, Rickson Gracie's Jiu-Jitsu is a modified, if not a dramatically different form of the ancient martial art. Brazilian Rickson Gracie (pronounced "Hickson" in Portuguese-Brazilian) has greatly influenced the art. In the 1920s a Japanese Jiu-Jitsu master immigrated to Brazil and taught the martial art to the Gracie family. From then, the Gracies have evolved the sport to "more practical and realistic" specifications and passed the tradition on to their children. Today, the Gracie family is regarded as a Jiu-Jitsu dynasty. Rickson, who currently resides in Southern California, has been the middle heavy-weight and open weight division World Jiu-Jitsu Champion. Also, Rickson has won numerous no-holds-barred tournaments, including the Vale Tudo (meaning 'everything goes') Fighting Championships. His younger brother Royce has won the similar, American version - Ultimate Fighting Championship - three times. They have taught their fighting techniques to law enforcement officials, SWAT teams, FBI agents, and SEAL commandos. They both conduct Jiu-Jitsu studios in Southern California, while their brother, Royler, teaches in Brazil. Not many realize the strength and strategy that go into martial arts such as Jiu-Jitsu. Kevin McKay does. At 29, he's been with the sport of Jiu-Jitsu for three years and is convinced that there is no better martial art. He actually began his training with different forms of martial arts for four previous years, but refuses to even mention them after having committed to his favorite discipline of Rickson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Almost any fighting move is allowed in Jiu-Jitsu, with the exception of very few disqualifying violations such as biting, hair pulling, and traumatic strikes. Jiu-Jitsu most closely resembles wrestling and the martial art of judo. Not at all like repeating a set of traditional moves and drills, it relies more on free-sparring, which is getting on the mat with an opponent and refining moves on each other. Instead of kicking and punching from a distance, Jiu-Jitsu fanatics insist that their sport emphasizes more practical, realistic moves, such as choking and throwing the opponent from a much closer distance. McKay describes jiu-jitsu as just that. "It's more of a natural activity than just kicking and punching. It's never like going through set motions - stuff that's hypothetical. By training it, there's no room for something to be theory." With much enthusiasm for his sport, McKay shares his experience with many on campus by teaching UCLA Recreation's Jiu-Jitsu classes. He says all types of people - women and men - learn from his classes. One of the things he noticed is, "Engineering students seem to catch on quickly because because it deals with leverage and mechanics." Besides the obvious motive to learn self defense, McKay says jiu-jitsu students come for other benefits. He says, "It's fantastic for physical conditioning, and great for both mind and body." He adds that another lesson learned is, "Self control. All the practice and free-sparring experience teaches you to think calm and clearly, not let your emotions and adrenaline take hold of you." Mario Lemos, a childhood friend of the Gracies, practices and teaches jiu-jitsu in Rickson's studios. With more than thirteen years of Jiu-Jitsu experience under his belt, Lemos, 36, feels a certain dedication and loyalty to his sport. "Jiu-Jitsu is the greatest martial art," Lemos boasts. Though not a small person himself, Lemos says, "You don't have to be bigger or stronger to be an opponent if you take advantage of the technique and leverage." Lemos is one of many jiu-jitsu masters who will compete in the upcoming tournament. As a 13-year-old, and as a girl, Kauan Gracie will not be entering the tournament because of the age and sex requirements. However, the association is planning to include females in future tournaments. Kauan is one of four siblings of the younger-generation Gracies who continues the family Jiu-Jitsu tradition. Rockson, 15, Kaulin, 11, and Krom, nine, also continue the tradition. Kauan and her little sister, Kaulin, don't have to worry about boys teasing or picking on them. They can fend for themselves. Kauan, who can easily crush boys her age, says, "I only used Jiu-Jitsu once when I was like three. I never use it unless I have to." She says her father, Rickson, and other masters are strict about that. With Rickson and his brothers as current fighting champions, and Rickson's son Rockson, a steadily rising Jiu-Jitsu star himself, the Gracie family continues to make a strong presence in the world of martial arts. Previous Daily Bruin Story Martial Arts challenge students