Posts Tagged red belt council

Grandmasters Joao Alberto Barreto and Flavio Behring

Jiu-Jitsu International is a non profit organization created to grow Jiu-Jitsu into an amateur sport and a well managed martial art governed by Grand Masters who have legitimate rank with the experience and knowledge to guide the development of Jiu-Jitsu.

Jiu-Jitsu is a word that has many meanings and definations. Here we are specifically talking about Jiu-Jitsu that evolved as a result of the teachings of Jiguro Kano as he taught his student Mitsyou Maeda.

It was Maeda that came to the United States, opened schools in New Jersey and ultimately turned to MMA in the early 1900′s in order to earn a living.

He traveled the world proving the effectiveness of his art and skill. Ultimately he moved to Belem, Brazil, where he established his schooland lived the remainder of his life in this Brazilian city.

Grandmaster Alvaro Barreto

When Jiu-Jitsu, as it is defined by way of the Brazilian experience, exploded upon the world via the rapid growth of MMA, (which in-turn resulted from excitement generated by the UFC), many martial arts enthusiasts began to embrace the concept of Jiu-Jitsu.

The problem was that many of these individuals had little experience specially in Jiu-Jitsu.

Their background was in other “kindred” forms of martial arts and fighting skills. And while they were often able to establish themselves as Jiu-Jitsu figures by acquiring a few skills and/or simply tying on Black Belts, it is time to bring order and discipline to Jiu-Jitsu.

Until now there has not been an international non-profit organization to organize and further Jiu-Jitsu.  JJI was formed with that very mission, as an all-inclusive organization. And while free enterprise efforts are to be encouraged, it is time for an organization that is truly non-profit, oriented toward establishing an accurate ranking system, standard competition rules and that serves as an organization providing a voice for everyone in the sport.

JJI Grandmaster Francisco Mansur

That is the mission of Jiu-Jitsu International.

To establish Jiu-Jitsu as an Internationally recognized amateur sport.

That goal requires a non-profit governing organization, scores of member organizations in countries around the world, and acceptance by the world of Amateur Sports.

Ultimately, of course, it is the goal of Jiu-Jitsu International to establish Jiu-Jitsu as an official Olympic Sport.