Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a martial art and combat sport system that focuses on grappling with particular emphasis on ground fighting. Brazilian jiu-jitsu was developed from Kodokan judo ground fighting (newaza) fundamentals that were taught by a number of Japanese individuals including Takeo Yano, Mitsuyo Maeda, Soshihiro Satake, and Isao Okano. Brazilian jiu-jitsu eventually came to be its own defined combat sport through the innovations, practices, and adaptation of judo.
Submission wrestling or combat wrestling, is a form of competition and a general term for martial arts and combat sports that focus on clinch and ground fighting with the aim of obtaining a submission through the use of submission holds. The term "submission wrestling" usually refers only to the form of competition and training that does not use a gi, or "combat kimono", of the sort often worn with belts that establish rank by color, though some may use the loose trousers of such a uniform, without the jacket.
The Chute Boxe Academy opened as a Muay Thai academy in 1978 in Curitiba, Brazil. Head trainer Rudimar Fedrigo later expanded the program in 1991 to include Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and other aspects of modern mixed martial arts. By 1995, the Chute Boxe team was considered a prime training ground for Vale Tudo fighters. In 2004, an American branch, Chute Boxe USA, was established in Los Angeles, California.
The Brazilian Top Team (BTT) is an academy specialized in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and mixed martial arts. It established in April 2000 by Murilo Bustamante, Ricardo Libório, Mário Sperry and Luis Roberto Duarte, former members of the Carlson Gracie Academy, to develop and create new training techniques for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, submission grappling and mixed martial arts.
Forrest Griffin is an American retired mixed martial artist and a UFC Hall of Famer. Since 2005, he has been signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Griffin, a former Georgia police officer, first rose to prominence after winning the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. In the tournament finals, he fought and defeated Stephan Bonnar in Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar, which is widely credited as sparking the current success of the UFC. He went on to serve as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter 7 opposite Quinton Jackson.
Carlos Newton is an Anguillian-born Canadian retired mixed martial artist and one of the original MMA pioneers. He is a former UFC Welterweight Champion and Pride FC Japan MMA Legend. Known as "The Ronin", he competed worldwide in the biggest MMA organizations including UFC, Pride FC, IFL, K-1, Shooto and most recently W-1. He is a 3rd Degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt alongside his coach Terry Riggs under Renzo Gracie, at Warrior MMA in Newmarket, Ontario. Newton has always been considered a fan favourite and a "Submission Master" and has dubbed his personal fighting style — an amalgam of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, judo, wrestling and boxing — as "Dragon Ball Jiu-Jitsu" in tribute to Dragon Ball, a Japanese manga series. As a testament to his worldwide popularity, Newton is one of only a few MMA athletes to ever be allowed to compete in the UFC and Pride FC at the same time. He currently manages his own gym in Pickering, Ontario, Newton MMA.
Kalib Starnes born January 6, 1975) is a Canadian mixed martial artist. He was a semi-finalist on SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter, training under UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock. He holds notable victories over Chris Leben and Jason MacDonald. Starnes is currently under contract with World Series of Fighting, fighting in their light heavyweight division.
Lyoto Carvalho Machida is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist, currently signed with Bellator MMA, competing in the Middleweight division. He formerly competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he was the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, as well as a UFC Middleweight Championship title challenger.
Jake Sequoyah Shields is an American mixed martial artist, currently fighting in the welterweight division for the PFL. He was the last Rumble on the Rock Welterweight Champion, the only Elite XC Welterweight Champion, a former Shooto Welterweight Champion and former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion. He also fought for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Rory Michael Singer is an American mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt. Although Rory had made a name for himself as a 185-pound prospect; his big break came after meeting the producers of TUF. They were filming Forrest Griffin at The HardCore Gym for his fight against Stephan Bonnar in the finals of season 1. Forrest went on to win Season 1 and Rory was approached soon after to appear on Season 3.
Jason Tan is a retired English mixed martial artist and currently a head coach of MMA Liverpool. He formerly competed in the welterweight division.
Bret Bergmark is an American professional mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Welterweight division. A professional competitor since 2002, Bergmark has formerly competed for the WEC, Strikeforce, and Pancrase.
Arthur Alvin A. Aguilar is a martial artist and Mixed Martial Arts promoter better known as "Alvin Aguilar". He was born on April 28, 1974 in Bacolod, Philippines. He is the president and founder of the Universal Reality Combat Championship ; He is also the founder and head coach of DEFTAC Ribeiro Jiu-jitsu Philippines and now currently serving as the president of the Wrestling Association of the Philippines. He started training in martial arts at the age of 9, first in Karate, Arnis and Greco-Roman Wrestling. Having spent over 30 years of his life to the study of multiple martial arts forms including Sari-an, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Yaw Yan, Pekiti, etc. He has developed his own unique fighting style specializing in grappling, knife and street fighting. He is also known for being the first home-grown Filipino Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Black belt.
Braulio de Oliveira Estima is a 4th degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He received his black belt from Carlos Gracie Jr. on January 4, 2004. Throughout his grappling career, he has won in many Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments across the world, such as the Mundials, ADCC, Pan American Championship, and European Championship. His long list of accomplishments has made him well respected among other Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners, such that some consider him one of the top Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners in the world.
Eduardo "Morpheus" Maiorino was a Brazilian professional kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He was a three time Brazilian Heavyweight Muay Thai Champion, the K-1 Brazil 2004 Tournament finalist and champion, and a World Muay Thai Association (WMA) Super Heavyweight World Champion.
Anthony "Tony" Bonello is an Australian former professional mixed martial artist and grappler. A professional competitor since 2000, he competed for EliteXC, King of the Cage and Pancrase. Bonello is the former King of the Cage Middleweight Superfight Champion, the former King of the Cage Light Heavyweight Champion, and the former King of the Cage Cruiserweight Champion.
Phil Ryan Cardella is an American mixed martial arts fighter. He formerly fought as a lightweight in the World Extreme Cagefighting organization. All but one of Cardella’s triumphs have come by first-round submission.
Evolve Mixed Martial Arts is a chain of martial arts academies and home to one of the leading teams in mixed martial arts. Founded by Chatri Sityodtong, it opened in January 2009. In December 2016, Chatri Sityodtong was named the Most Powerful Person in Asian MMA by Yahoo! Sports.
James Jarvie is a Scottish actor from Dunfermline in East Scotland. A trained martial artist, Jarvie's acting career began in 2010. His film debut will take place early spring 2014.
Ryan James Gruhn is an American Martial Artist, MMA Coach, Dog Brother and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt.
