Please wear a white gi if possible. This is a great opportunity to train, learn, and gain insight from a true master in the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu lineage. All levels welcome. Don’t miss it—see you on the mats! 屢
Master Luiz Palhares is a highly respected Gracie Jiu-Jitsu instructor and 8th-degree coral belt, trained directly under the legendary Helio Gracie lineage. With decades of experience in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Master Palhares is known for his deep technical knowledge, dedication to teaching, and commitment to preserving the art’s traditions. He has trained generations of students, emphasizing discipline, skill, and respect on and off the mat.
The other day at my academy, I had a young 14-year-old and his older brother helping me clean up. As we worked, he stumbled across a pile of my old, worn-out belts—white, blue, purple, and brown. They were stained, frayed, and clearly had a lot of miles on them.
He picked one up and asked, “How much would these belts cost?”
I smiled and said, “A lot of hard work.” He paused, then clarified, “No, I mean if I wanted to buy one, how much would it cost?”
I told him the truth. “About $15 on Amazon. But why would you want to buy a belt that isn’t worth anything? That’s like buying a high school or college diploma online.”
That moment stuck with me. In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the belt isn’t the achievement—the work behind it is. Every belt I’ve ever earned represents years of showing up, failing, getting frustrated, getting injured, doubting myself, and coming back anyway. The sweat, the losses, the lessons, and the discipline are what give that belt its value. Without that process, it’s just a piece of fabric.
And it made me wonder about the world we live in now.
Have we lost our determination to earn things the hard way? Do people still have the patience to stick with something when it stops being exciting or starts becoming uncomfortable? When progress slows, when motivation fades, when results aren’t immediate—do we stay, or do we quit and look for shortcuts?
In martial arts, as in life, there are no shortcuts that actually lead anywhere meaningful. You can’t rush growth. You can’t fake experience. And you can’t buy credibility. Whether it’s a belt, a diploma, a career, or a relationship, the value comes from commitment over time.
Those old belts on the floor weren’t trophies. They were reminders—of persistence, humility, and staying the course when quitting would have been easier.
You can buy a belt. You can buy a certificate. You can buy the appearance of success.
But you can’t buy the journey—and without the journey, none of it really matters.
And as the sport has evolved and more people are watching it, more and more people are getting ideas of what it is and what it isn’t. Well someone who has been around this sport for awhile I have seen the pendulum swing back and fourth. At first the grappling part of Mixed Martial Arts was really neglected to the point that just being a good grappler was enough to win Mixed Martial Arts matches.
Then everything swung the other way, then you have to be good at other styles of striking like kickboxing, and have a good base in a grappling style.
But now I am seeing a dangerous trend. There are so many Mixed Martial Arts matches to never get to the ground. Fighters are more content to keep things standing up and win by knock out, or by decision. And that is good, but when the new generation of fighters are inspired by what they are seeing in Mixed Martial Arts, they are getting maybe the wrong idea.
When Anderson “The Spider” Silva was knocking people out, a lot of people I was talking to about his style and ability didn’t know he had a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. And when I was with a group of people watching some of his fights, they were so excited when he was taken down, and I would say “just wait and see what happens.” We all know what happened.
Just because you don’t see the grappling moves and submissions don’t mean the fighter isn’t working on that part of his game. And don’t mean he is not proficient in that range of fighting.
I also think having a good Grappling game will help you in your stand up too. I have seen the stand up fighters be so scared of going to the ground that they couldn’t get that 3rd or 4th punch or kick off the finish the fight. They was always having to protect their hips and stay in longer ranges. Sometimes this is a good idea to win a judges decisions, but seldom allows you to finish the match.
Just because you have many many options when you are fighting MMA it does’t make it more dangerous. I would like to say I think that it makes it less dangerous. To the average fighter or person who practices it.
In any other single style sports what ever it is boxing, kickboxing, karate, TKD or anything. When you compete, or train and when you realized that you are over matched in something with your competitor. For the most part due to the rules they are forced to accept the situation you are in. Have a look at how jake paul fights and how much he earns as a professional boxer.
You have to face your attacker and get served up like the main course meal.
And I know yes “if you have heart!!” you can fight back and win, if you “use your mind” you can surprise your opponent. And yes that is great, but that can be used in MMA too. What I am talking about is options to be able to take your opponent out of their comfort zone. If the rules of your sport close the focus then you can just work on smaller parts of the combat. If your rules of your sport open the focus then you have to be open to work on larger parts of your combat. Less rules gives you more options.
Let me ask you this. If you had a choice to fight multiple attackers on the street but you get to choose. To fight them in an ally way in the city. Or a field in the county. Yes you would pick the field in the country. Why because it would give you options you wouldn’t get in the ally way. Mixed Martial Arts is the same way. It gives you options you wouldn’t have in other sports. Experience the best of online gaming at Betsson Casino in Chile! Join thousands of happy players and claim your bonus today. With Betsson, enjoy a wide selection of casino games, including exciting live casino options. Players can explore thrilling games with free spins and exclusive bonuses. Betsson Casino offers a top-tier gaming experience, ensuring fun and rewards. Don’t wait, join now and start playing with Betsson to make the most of your online casino adventure. вечные ссылки If you are losing the stand up you can take it to the ground, if you are losing the ground game you can escape and stand it up.
