Sylvio Behring Association
Jiu-Jitsu, a martial art with roots tracing back to Japan, has evolved into one of the world's most popular combat sports. Originally developed by the samurai as a method of defending against armed opponents without using weapons, it emphasized leverage, joint locks, and throws. In the early 20th century, Brazilian jiu-jitsu emerged when Mitsuyo Maeda, a Japanese judoka, brought the art to Brazil. There, the Gracie family refined it, placing a strong focus on ground fighting and submissions. The result was Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), known for its emphasis on grappling, positional control, and submission techniques.
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In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), "lineage" refers to the historical line of instructors who have passed down their knowledge of the martial art. It establishes the connection from one generation of practitioners to the next, tracing back to the origins of BJJ. Lineage is important in BJJ because it reflects the transmission of techniques, philosophies, and training methodologies directly from one teacher to their student, maintaining the integrity and authenticity of the art.
OUR LINEAGE
Mitsuyo Maeda (1878–1941)
Mitsuyo Maeda, also known as "Count Koma," was a Japanese judoka and a direct student of judo founder Jigoro Kano. He was one of the earliest practitioners to bring judo to the international stage, demonstrating its effectiveness in challenge matches. Maeda traveled extensively, demonstrating judo and competing in numerous fights around the world. In 1914, he settled in Brazil, where he taught judo to various people. Among his most famous students was Carlos Gracie. Although he primarily taught judo, the art's techniques included many aspects of ground fighting that would later become the core of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Carlos Gracie Sr. (1902–1994)
Carlos Gracie, inspired by Maeda's teachings, began his martial arts journey at a young age. He was the eldest of the Gracie brothers and played a significant role in establishing the Gracie family's involvement in martial arts. Carlos, along with his brothers, adapted Maeda's techniques and developed their own fighting style that placed a stronger emphasis on ground fighting and submissions. He helped create the "Gracie Challenge," a series of open invitation matches to test the effectiveness of their system against practitioners of other martial arts.
Hélio Gracie (1913–2009)
Hélio Gracie, the younger brother of Carlos, was physically smaller and weaker compared to his siblings, which pushed him to modify techniques to rely more on leverage and technique rather than strength. Hélio is often credited with refining Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu's techniques to make them more effective for smaller individuals. He focused on maximizing leverage and using an opponent's energy against them, which became core principles of BJJ. Hélio famously fought in numerous challenge matches, often against larger and stronger opponents, to prove the effectiveness of BJJ. His philosophy was deeply rooted in self-defense, making the art accessible for anyone, regardless of size or strength. Hélio is widely considered one of the founding figures of BJJ, helping to popularize the art and establish the principles that continue to define it today. His teachings heavily influenced generations of practitioners, including his children and extended family.
Flavio Behring
Flavio Behring started training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the 1950s under Hélio Gracie. Flavio became one of the senior practitioners of BJJ, earning high-level black belt rankings and recognition for his technical skills and teaching methods. He is known for his detailed knowledge of both self-defense and sport BJJ. Flavio's approach is comprehensive, focusing on practical self-defense applications as well as competitive aspects of BJJ. He has traveled the world to spread BJJ and promote its values, including discipline, respect, and resilience. Flavio has played a significant role in developing future generations of BJJ practitioners, including his own son, Sylvio. He has helped maintain the close connection between traditional Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and modern practice.
Sylvio Behring
Master Sylvio Behring, a significant figure in the BJJ world, trained under Grandmaster Flavio Behring, his father, and Grandmaster Hélio Gracie, one of the founders of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Sylvio Behring is renowned for developing the "Progressive System," a structured approach to teaching BJJ to students of all levels, incorporating self-defense techniques that can be learned progressively and adapted to various real-life scenarios. He holds a 9th-degree red belt in BJJ and has played a vital role in promoting the martial art worldwide, dedicating his life to teaching, mentoring, and contributing to the growth of the jiu-jitsu community. Beyond teaching, Sylvio has worked to expand the reach of BJJ globally. His 9th-degree red belt reflects a lifetime of dedication to the art. He has been a strong advocate for incorporating jiu-jitsu into law enforcement and military training, emphasizing the practical self-defense aspects of the art. His approach blends traditional techniques with modern adaptations, making jiu-jitsu more accessible while preserving its roots. Under the Sylvio Behring Association, students learn a comprehensive curriculum that emphasizes not only competitive success but also self-defense, discipline, and respect. This lineage represents a direct line from the original roots of BJJ in Japan, through its evolution in Brazil, to the teachings passed down to Sylvio Behring, who continues to honor and develop the art.
Jesse Richardson
Professor Jesse Richardson is a 5th degree Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt. He has trained in martial arts for over 30 years. Training under Master Sylvio Behring and Professor Shah Franco, he lived in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and trained with the some of the best in the world, including Professor Royler Gracie, Professor Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza, and the Gracie Tijuca Vale Tudo Team. Jesse continues to train with professional fighters and world champions on a daily basis. Jesse has taken this valuable knowledge of the Progressive System and has evolved it once again to a new level of understanding and teaching methodology. This method of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can be used with the traditional gi, no-gi or with normal street clothes. Jesse has adapted his Jiu-Jitsu using basic modifications and variations that you can apply to almost every situation in self defense or sport Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
