Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art and combat sport based on ground fighting (ne-waza) and submission holds. It focuses on the skill of taking an opponent to the ground, controlling one's opponent, gaining a dominant position, and using a number of techniques to force them into submission via joint locks or chokeholds.
Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incorporating techniques from various combat sports including boxing, kickboxing and martial arts from around the world. The first documented use of the term mixed martial arts was in a review of UFC 1 by television critic Howard Rosenberg in 1993. The question of who actually coined the term is subject to debate.
Vale Tudo, also known No Holds Barred (NHB) in the United States, is an unarmed, full-contact combat sport with relatively few rules. It became popular in Brazil during the 20th century and would eventually evolve into modern Mixed martial arts (MMA). For years "Vale Tudo" was used as a synonym for MMA in Brazil, but the term fell into disuse due to the emergence of stricter rules and the influence of the media to have a more "civilized" name. It is now used to refer to an early, more rules-free stage of the modern sport.
Submission wrestling, also known as Submission fighting, Submission grappling or Sport grappling, 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. Not using a gi has a major impact on the sport : there are many choke techniques which make use of the lapels of the gi, thus rendering them un-usable and grappling in general becomes more difficult when the opponent doesn't have a gi to grab hold of.
A combat sport, or fighting sport, is a competitive contact sport that usually involves one-on-one combat. In many combat sports, a contestant wins by scoring more points than the opponent, disabling the opponent, or attacking the opponent in a specific or designated technique. Combat sports share a long pedigree with the martial arts.
Carlos Newton is an Anguillian-born Canadian retired mixed martial artist. 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 and anime franchise. 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. In Canada he is respected as a mixed martial arts pioneer, he was the first Canadian UFC Champion at UFC 31 (Welterweight) defeating Pat Miletich.
Deborah Ann Purcell is a retired American female mixed martial artist. She was formerly an assistant coach to the Southern California Condors of the International Fight League.
The Gracie Family is a prominent martial arts family from Rio de Janeiro Brazil, known for their creation of the self-defense martial arts system of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu also known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Kyra Gracie Guimarães is a member of the Gracie family and a former world-champion Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) practitioner.
Dean Richard Lister is a retired American mixed martial artist. A professional from 2000 until 2015, he fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, PRIDE Fighting Championships, and California-based promotion King of the Cage, where he rose to prominence as a Middleweight Champion. Lister's sparring partner and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Tito Ortiz, invited him to be his assistant grappling coach on the third season of the Spike TV reality show, The Ultimate Fighter.
Shungo Oyama is a Japanese former professional mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 2001 to 2014, he competed for the PRIDE Fighting Championships, Pancrase, RINGS, DREAM, K-1, and King of the Cage. He is one of four fighters to defeat at least two members of the Gracie family, and also holds notable wins over Denis Kang and former UFC Welterweight Champion Carlos Newton.
Felicia Linda Oh is an American submission grappling competitor and martial arts instructor. Oh earned her black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under senior instructor Jean Jacques Machado.
Alberto Lewis Crane is an American mixed martial artist. He currently fights as a lightweight. He has fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and is a former King of the Cage and Ring of Fire lightweight champion.
Rodrigo "Comprido" Medeiros is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and submission grappler. His nickname, Comprido, is Portuguese for "long" - a reference to his tall stature. Rodrigo began BJJ at the age of sixteen. He received his black belt from one of Rolls Gracie's students, Romero "Jacaré" Cavalcanti. He trained under Fernando "Magrao" Gurgel, and is one of the few who have won the prestigious World Jiu-Jitsu Championship openweight titles twice. Rodrigo has been a Jiu-Jitsu instructor to mixed martial arts fighters such as former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar, former Bellator Heavyweight Champion Cole Konrad, Pat Barry, and Chris Tuchscherer.
Stephen Maxwell, better known as Steve Maxwell, is an American fitness coach, physical educator, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor. Maxwell was named one of the top 100 trainers in the United States by Men's Journal.
Cynthia Ann “Cindy” Omatsu is a Japanese-American black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under senior instructor Rigan Machado and Leka Vieira. She is best known for being the first Asian-American and first woman outside of Brazil to be promoted to black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Hillary Williams is an American grappler and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner.
Jayson Patino is an American Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner who holds a black belt under Ricardo Liborio of American Top Team. He is known for his competitive achievements in FILA Pankration Submission, ADCC, IBJJF, and other grappling tournaments. He is also owner of American Top Team East Orlando.
Ffion Davies is a Welsh submission grappler, mixed martial artist and a world-champion Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) competitor. A member of Wales Judo National team when she was a junior, Davies holds a black belt in both BJJ and judo. Davies is the first World No-Gi Champion from the UK and the first European to win the Brazilian Nationals.
