World Champion Ricardo Abreu is taking time out of his busy schedule to teach the art of Brazilian Jiu- Jitsu (BJJ) to the Armenian Youth of the Orange County Community every Tuesday and Saturday. He has affectionately named his teachings “Hye-Jitsu.” According to Abreu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and ground fighting.
The art was derived from the Japanese martial art of Kodokan judo in the early 20th century. It teaches that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger assailant by using leverage and proper technique – most notably by applying joint-locks and chokeholds to defeat the other person. BJJ training can be used for sport grappling tournaments and mixed martial arts (MMA) competition or self defense. Abreu states “Most importantly it teaches the kids to have self confidence and discipline.”
The Armen Karo Gomideh’s Youth Committee organized and launched the Hye-Jitsu lessons in November of 2011. Since then, Abreu has been teaching this ancient Japanese Art Form at the Orange County Armenian Community Center to several youth many of whom attend the Ari Giragos Minassian School and the ARF Badanees. They meet twice a week and begin each class with traditional “warm up” excercises and stretches. After warming up, the kids are taught different techinques and submissions. The last portion of the class is dedicated to sparring, where the students get an opportunity to use the techiniques they have learned against each other in a controlled environment.
His students admire and respect him not only for his dedication to the art, but rather for his patience, kindness, and willingness to go above and beyond in each and every class.
When he is not at the Armenian Community Center in Orange County, Abreu is training Famous MMA Fighter Tito Ortiz and many others. He recently made his Mixed Martial Arts debut in December of 2011 where he submmitted his opponent Marcos Wilson da Silva in 61 seconds. Abreu’s nickname “Demente” in Portuguese stands for “Madman”. The reason his training partners gave him the nickname was because people would often stretch his arm to the limit, but he would more then often prevail and win. For this his coach and colleagues started calling him Madman (Demente).
His dedication to the Art of Jiu-Jitsu and to the youth of the Orange County Armenian community is teaching kids invaluable lessons not only in martial arts but “life”.
Grappler Ricardo “Demente” Abreu who has trained with the likes of Tito Ortiz (pictured far right) and Anderson Silva, made his MMA debut in December of 2011. Abreu submitted his opponent Marcos Wilson da Silva in 61 seconds in a light heavyweight bout in Brazil.
For more information and to register email the OC ARF Youth Committee at [email protected]
Ricardo “Demente” Abreu is a two time silver medalist at the World Championships in 2009 and 2010. He was also the European Champion in 2010 and in 2009 the South American Chanpion and Sao Paulo State Champion.
Glad to see Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu spreading… especially to the Armenian community– they already have produced several good boxers and Muay Thai fighters.
This is great. Martial arts in general are a good thing to be teaching kids. BJJ covers an area not taught in most other martial arts.