Fight Club

Behind soccer and volleyball, Brazil's fastest growing sport is Vale Tudo, or what is more commonly known in the English-speaking world as MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). For those who are unfamiliar with MMA, it is currently threatening to make boxing, formerly known as the most physically brutal sport, obsolete. Mixed Martial Arts, as the name suggests, requires that fighters are skilled in a number of techniques including jiu-jitsu, wrestling, judo, muay-tai and boxing, to name a few.

Now with that brief introduction taken care of...

Vale Tudo is very strong in Brazil, though this phenomenon is not as new as in other parts of the world such as, for example, the United States. For some time Brazil has been world-reknowned for the quality of jiu-jitsu and judo training and as Vale Tudo/MMA has become more popular as an international sport, Brazil has played a major role. Many of the world's top fighters are Brazilian or have studied in Brazil, which speaks to how this international fighting community views the country that is still more well-known for soccer, samba and beautiful beaches.

During my time in Brazil, and more specifically Salvador, I have had the opportunity to become intimately acquainted with this "fight club" as Junior (the eldest sibling in the household) began taking Jiu-Jitsu in August and claims to have aspirations in the world of ultimate fighting (though no one really believes (or wants) that he will follow through on that). His training everyday brought him a lot of pride as well as a bunch of new friends with whom he trains. During the beginning of my stay in Salvador the "new friends" element was a bit sensitive because there are major differences between Junior's galera and his fight club crew. Fortunately for all of them, as they are all Brazilian, this tension did not last long and I soon found myself hanging out (via Junior) with a group of people that was, on the whole, incredibly diverse in their interests and aspirations.

One of the most interesting aspects of the growing group of friends is getting to understand this fight culture that exists in the world of Vale Tudo and (more generally) martial arts specifically in Brazil. That said, I put together a list, which might be helpful if any of you ever make it to Salvador:

7 Ways to know if your new friend is a part of Brazil's “Fight Culture”

1.They've got some massive tatoo on their back, arm or torso of a dragon, “Jiu Jistsu” or “Vale Tudo” (Yes, it happens...a lot).
2.Short haircut (long hair is a liability in ultimate fighting) and deformed ears (from being hit and placed in different submission holds).
3.You'll be shadowboxing and they'll actually hit you. Or maybe you won't even be shadowboxing, they'll ask if they can show you something and the next thing you know your arm feels like its about to fall off.
4.They walk around in tight shirts that either have their Academia's (Dojo's) name on it, or just “Jiu-Jitsu,” “Judo” or “Vale Tudo” printed across the front.
5.Their handshakes are a little too firm.
6.They've got no leg hair on or around their shinbone (Muay Thai experience).
7.Everytime you go out and start drinking with them, they want to show you the various types of arm and leg locks.