Vale Tudo (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈvali ˈtudu]; English: Everything Goes) is an unarmed, full-contact combat sport with relatively few rules. It became popular in Brazil during the 20th century.[1] It uses techniques from many martial arts.
Our usual sparring sessions take up three ten minute rounds after drills and always towards the end of class. Professor was taught old school Jujitsu with deep roots in Vale Tudo. And he shares it sometimes. Not as much as he did in his early days. Back then it seemed like we were training for a MMA fight, hour of punch and kicking of pads, focus mits, and light sparring standing to the ground.. on a daily bases. Seems like because of Father Time.. It’s now once a month for a week that we touch on Vale Tudo concepts.
Today was that day, and I was surprised. I shouldn’t have been, Last Saturday they did some ground and pound sparring. Not balls out knocking the teeth out kinda of stuff but enough to keep you honest. And today he announced “put you mma gloves on if you got em because we’re doing some light sparring from the ground”.
We did three 5 minute rounds. And the first because no one choose me as a partner..was with the Professor! Awesome. Get to workout some Old School sparring with an Old School friend of way back when.. and I mean way back. I still go t my ass kicked..LOL. But it was a lot of fun. And yes, by the four minute mark it felt like ten! It’s a different environment when punches are involved while sparring Adrenaline goes up the roof!
I did good, this old man still gots it. Always room for improvement but I’m in a good place right now.
Old Man Jitsu (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) 