Why is a Chinese Guy from Texas Writing about Brazilians Fighting?

"I tried to punch him--I tried to punch him! And he literally moved his head out of the way and looked at me like I was stupid for doing it. He looked at me like, 'Why would you do such a stupid thing?' ...And then he punched me. I felt like a kid trying to wrestle his dad."

-Forrest Griffin, former UFC light heavyweight champion, on fighting Anderson Silva.

One summer, my friends and I saw a grainy video of a Brazilian fighter named Jose “Pele” Landi-Jons. He threw grown men around with reckless abandon and fought like his every limb had a personal vendetta against faces. Pele combined a violent, animal explosiveness with the grace of a dancer. By the end of the video, he seemed ten feet tall and immortal.

My name is Andre. I love the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and, being a career weekend warrior, I punch things and wrestle sweaty men in my spare time. After seeing Pele’s highlight reel, I started studying Brazilian fighters and the way they fought because I wanted to be able to do what Pele did in the ring.

(Beating up heavy bags for lunch money.)

Brazil produces the most talented and most aggressive sport fighters in the world. Champions like Mauricio Rua, Wanderlei Silva, and Anderson Silva (no relation) absolutely dominated the fight game at one point or another, inspiring fear and respect in their opponents by literally knocking out the competition.

Brazil is also the birthplace of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), a style of fighting that allows its practitioners to disable much larger, stronger opponents. It sounds like an urban legend, but Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu proves itself in the thousands of fighters who employ it in MMA matches all around the world. In this day and age, being a complete martial artist means knowing how to defend against the style and how to use it to your advantage. If you’re still scoffing at BJJ and like to pick fights, I’d suggest carrying a pillow around so that you always have a soft place to be unconscious.

Brazilian fighters, past and present, have a reputation for changing the way people punch each other in the face. I will write about the fights, the fighters, and the fighting styles of Brazil and their impact on the world.ride, ufc, strikeforce, vale tudo, chute box). Perf. Jose "Pele" Landi-Jons. YouTube, 2006. Film. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMBzXJbEQoU>.


   Forrest Griffin talks about Anderson Silva fight. Perf. Forrest Griffin. YouTube, 2010. Film. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1R50LpFh_M>