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Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art that has taken off over the past decades. Thanks to its popularity growing from the early days of the UFC, BJJ has become almost universally known. While at its core it teaches self defense, BJJ is afterall an art, and it takes time to master and learn the movements associated with that art.
Essential in mastering the martial art is an effective teacher, such as Brazilian born coach Rodrigo Stanisci. Stanisci first became enamored with BJJ when watching the famous Royce Gracie dominate the first ever UFC event. “I think it proved at the time that BJJ is the most effective martial art, and I fell in love with it right away,” he says. That love has not worn off over time, as he has achieved his black belt and helped train at the highest level for many years.
At the heart of BJJ is a dedication to both focus and respect, it is important to approach each training session with an open mind, and have respect for your training partner. It is this type of atmosphere that helps practitioners to improve their overall level while gaining confidence in themselves. “One of the biggest benefits of training is learning to never give up,” says Stanisci who has had to coax individuals back onto the mats before.
“Getting back on the mat and trying to improve your level only helps you feel better,” the Brazilian born coach is adamant that training helps improve mental health. There are even some gyms that offer lessons to those striving to find purpose and an alternative form of therapy.
For Stanisci, it is more natural, divide the groups up by skill level and teach them the basics. As with life, having a strong base provides a platform on which to grow. This is the core of the coach’s training philosophy, “master the basics and then add your own flare.” He stays true to his teachings despite the continued evolution of the art over time.
Much like Stanisci, many people tuned into UFC 1 and were shocked when the diminutive Gracie came out victorious. This sparked a BJJ fever pitch that led to gyms popping up all over the place. What started as a blend of Japanese and Brazilian culture has taken on a whole new level now. The universality of BJJ has allowed for people and cultures to put their own spin, or flare on the basic movements advancing the difficulty when facing an opponent.
While he has enjoyed watching the growth of the martial art he loves, the coach is reluctant to change his training style. “The more you learn the basics the better you understand what to do in any situation,” he describes how muscle memory helps when escaping certain locks, or knowing which move to make next to submit your opponent. It is Stanisci’s belief that no matter how much the art evolves the building blocks remain the same.
That being said, the Brazilian coach has watched the growth of BJJ, from being practiced mainly in gyms in Brazil to being a worldwide phenomenon. Thanks to the international popularity of the UFC combined with celebrity endorsements for such as Joe Rogan and Mark Zuckerberg, gyms have sprung up everywhere. This has been a revelation for practitioners of the art as they are now able to make a living doing and teaching what they love.
“There are so many more tournaments now, and that has brought in a lot of sponsors,” says Stanisci who himself has trained people internationally and experienced this rapid expansion. The tournaments have grown to include many regional circuits throughout the US with people coming from all over the world to compete.
As the sponsors and money continue to come in it allows those that love BJJ to share it with more people. The gyms have grown bigger, and the spaces have become nicer, once dimly lit basements have turned into full spaces where training sessions go for most of the day. “I love watching how BJJ has grown since I fell in love with it at 16,” Stanisci believes that this expansion is far from over, with the mainstream media continuing to push it forward.
Practicing a Martial Art is no longer just a way to learn self defense. It has evolved into a pathway of exploration, allowing those who practice it to better understand themselves. From the beginners’ classes all the way up to the competitors BJJ continues to instill people with new found self confidence.
It is largely thanks to coaches like Rodrigo Stanisci that this Martial Art has grown in popularity. His dedication to the basics and building up his students is a testament to his coaching ability. We look forward to watching BJJ continue its international growth knowing it’s in the safe hands of those who love and want to pass on all its beauty to others.
