In a social media post, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and world champion Joao Miyao inadvertently stirred controversy within the BJJ community. Miyao’s comments, which appeared to question the effectiveness of a self-defense technique associated with Helio Gracie, have sparked a debate about the evolution of BJJ and the role of traditional techniques in modern practice.
Miyao’s post, intended as a cautionary message to BJJ practitioners, advised against attempting techniques seen on social media without proper instruction. He wrote, “Don’t try to do everything you see on Instagram, look for someone qualified to instruct you!” The post included an old school clip of Helio Gracie showing a self defense technique against an armed opponent. The technique is akin to something you would see on McDojo nowadays.
The controversy arose when Miyao’s message was interpreted by some as a critique of a technique attributed to Helio Gracie, one of the founding fathers of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Realizing the potential misunderstanding, Miyao quickly clarified his stance in a follow-up post: “This post is just a warning not to react against a firearm and not to try to do things you see on Instagram without the instruction of a qualified person! At no point did I want to ridicule Master Hélio.”
This incident highlights the ongoing discussion within the BJJ community about the relevance and effectiveness of traditional self-defense techniques in modern contexts. It also underscores the respect and reverence still held for the Gracie family and their contributions to the art.
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The debate is not new to the BJJ world. Recently, other high-profile practitioners have voiced similar concerns about the effectiveness of certain traditional techniques. Keenan Cornelius, another renowned BJJ black belt, made waves in the community when he suggested that the skill level of revered Gracie family members like Helio and Rickson might not match up to modern standards.
See also: Keenan Cornelius On Helio & Rickson Gracie: ‘Their Level Was Probably Tough Purple Belt’
Miyao’s posts and the ensuing discussion reflect the broader conversation about the evolution of BJJ. As the sport continues to develop and new techniques emerge, practitioners are increasingly questioning the efficacy of some traditional methods, particularly in self-defense scenarios.
