Art of Jiu-Jitsu (AOJ) co-founder Gui Mendes has shared insights into the evolution of music during Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training, revealing how his perspective changed after moving to the United States.
“In Brazil, when we were growing up in training, we never listened to any music,” Mendes recalled. “I remember my professor saying that it was important for us to hear the person getting tired and like breathing really heavy.”
The multiple-time world champion explained how the training atmosphere at AOJ transformed after relocating to America. In the academy’s early days, Brazilian music, particularly O’Rappa, dominated the playlist with songs like “Rez a Vela” “Minha Alma” and “Rodo Cotidiano” creating a distinctive Brazilian ambiance that early AOJ students came to associate with their training experience.
Today, the musical selection at AOJ has evolved significantly, with Green Day becoming a staple during competition preparation. Mendes particularly favors three tracks from the American rock band: “Basket Case,” “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life),” and “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.”
Interestingly, Mendes revealed that his brother and fellow AOJ co-founder Rafa Mendes has his own unique musical preferences during training sessions. “When Rafa ‘s training, it’s different. He always has to change the music. He always plays Michael Jackson,” Mendes shared. “I feel like he’s the only one that can kind of roll with that style of music… and it matches good with his movement.”
The preferred Michael Jackson tracks during Rafa’s training sessions include “Smooth Criminal,” “Beat It,” and “Billie Jean.”
Despite initially being someone who “would not even play anything in the music” during training, Gui has embraced the role of music in modern BJJ culture. He concluded by expressing interest in expanding AOJ’s training playlist, inviting suggestions from the BJJ community to enhance the academy’s training atmosphere.
This perspective offers an interesting contrast to recent controversies within the BJJ community regarding music during training, demonstrating how even traditional practitioners can adapt and embrace new elements in their training methodology.
