The Myth

​Jiu Jitsu is marketed as the martial art that allows a smaller weaker person to defeat a bigger stronger person. We talk about how Hélio was this sickly 140lb man who learned to use leverage to defeat fighters of all kinds. What we don’t talk about is that he wasn’t really “weak”. Maybe he wasn’t a conventional athlete or fighter, but someone who is weak and someone who will let their limbs be broken or is willing to die in the ring is not really that weak. In Jiu Jitsu, you need to be tough, especially if you’re small or not physically gifted. I don’t know anyone who makes it to an advanced level in Jiu Jitsu that isn’t kinda crazy. You have to be. It is true that grappling will allow to beat larger opposition, but you need to develop immense skill and toughness for that to be true.