Last weekend, Amersfoort BJJ traveled to Weesp to attend a seminar by Gui Valente.
Valente was schooled in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Grandmaster Helio Gracie, the founder of BJJ, who is also the father of my teacher, Rickson Gracie. The Valente brothers could just as well have been named Gracie, as they adhere precisely to the principles of Jiu-Jitsu taught to them by Grandmaster Helio in terms of training, nutrition, and philosophy.
The BJJ seminar was divided into two parts: the first part, the 5 elements (headlock defense), and the second part focused on the closed guard. A headlock is more commonly known than a guard. The guard is a position where someone defends themselves from their back when an attacker is between the defender's legs, and it is a proven effective technique in both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA. The effectiveness of this technique became known through Royce Gracie in the early stages of the UFC.
We at BJJ Amersfoort look forward to implementing these techniques in our daily classes and training sessions!
My thanks go to Yamato gym and Eric van Looijen for annually organizing these fantastic seminars.
Finally, some words from the Valente brothers that resonate deeply with BJJ Amersfoort.
The practice of jiujitsu transcends the execution of chokes, joint locks, immobilizations, throws, and strikes. A true understanding of the jiujitsu philosophy prepares men, women, and children for life, showing them paths to a healthier life and the most efficient use of physical, mental, and spiritual strength.
Developing mental strength is jiujitsu ; taking care of your body is jiujitsu; striving to become a better person is jiujitsu; living in harmony with nature is jiujitsu.
This article was originally published in Dutch. Read the Dutch original.
