In a candid reflection on Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, legendary martial artist Andre Galvao shared his unique perspective on how the sport is perceived by different audiences to Jocko Willink.
“Jujitsu is the ugliest sport for those who doesn’t know Jujitsu, but it’s the most beautiful sport for those who know,” Galvao explains, highlighting the stark contrast between outsiders’ and practitioners’ views of the martial art.
The multiple-time world champion recalls his own initial reaction to the sport. “I remember when I saw Jujitsu’s first time, I was like, uh, this is weird,” he admits. However, his perspective transformed dramatically once he began training.
Galvao describes this transformation as “opening my third eye,” referring to his growing understanding of the sport’s intricate mechanics and feeling. This deeper comprehension led to what he describes as an addiction to the martial art.
What sets Brazilian Jiu-jitsu apart, according to Galvao, is its unique characteristics. “You can smile and then you don’t get concussion,” he notes, emphasizing the sport’s safety aspects while maintaining its effectiveness. “It’s quite hard every day. And it’s very real.”
The martial arts master emphasizes that while the sport might appear incomprehensible to observers, its beauty reveals itself through understanding. “It doesn’t look real when you look from the outside or people who doesn’t know what is happening,” he explains in video. “Once you understand, it’s like the most beautiful thing. You know, it’s incredible.”
Through Galvao’s insights, we get a glimpse into how this martial art transforms from an seemingly awkward display of ground techniques into what practitioners consider an artistic and strategic pursuit.
A while ago, Andre Galvao criticized the growing trend of premature promotions within the sport.
“I think if the changes are positive to sports, then great. I think competitions with different rules is nice, I see no problem with that. But what denigrates the sport must be neutralized. I do not agree with the way they belt promote people for nothing today.”
“That I do not agree, but if these teachers want to have more students and think that’s the way, what can you do? What will count in the end is the knowledge of each. Without knowledge there is no credibility. The more this happens, the better for my students.”
He argued that financial pressures, particularly the need to attract and retain students, have led many instructors to abandon the traditional merit-based system. Galvao lamented the devaluation of belts, emphasizing that true credibility stems from knowledge and hard-earned progression, not business-driven shortcuts. His concerns echo sentiments expressed by others in the BJJ community, including Kron Gracie and Lucas Lepri, who have decried the rise of online belt certifications and commercial motivations.
