BY KAMERYN GRIESSER
Every Sunday, the oor mats of Six Blades in Northwest Austin become ooded with sweat as over 30 people pack the room in pairs, rolling, gripping, kicking and choking each other. This scene is a part of a growing combat sport that has all of Austin in a stronghold: Brazilian jiujitsu. The background Since the pandemic began, dozens of Brazilian jiujitsu and grappling sport centers have opened across the Greater Austin area. The martial art is a modern take on ancient Japanese jiujitsu, according to Gracie Museum. Unlike other combat sports, jiujitsu is a full-contact grappling technique that does not involve strik- ing. Instead, ghters remain close to the ground and attempt to lock the other in a compromising position until they submit. How we got here Much like the tech industry, Brazilian jiujitsu is largely an export of California, said Austin native Ryan Villalobos, who has over 15 years of experience in the local scene and is the owner of VOW BJJ. “We are in super high contact, rolling around, so during the pandemic, it was like the worst possible thing you could do,” Villalobos said. “A lot of the California gyms shut down, and they wanted to be somewhere less restrictive for business.” Six Blades, an international Brazilian jiujitsu franchise, moved its San Diego headquarters to Austin during the pandemic after co-founder Xande Ribeiro decided Austin was a more central location. “This trend emerged where all the biggest legends in jiujitsu were coming here ... and the big events followed, too,” said Ribeiro, who is a seven-time Brazilian jiujitsu world champion with over 25 years of experience. “Now, that’s why you hear people say like, ‘It’s the Brazilian jiujitsu capital of the world.’” Diving in deeper In July 2021, Danaher Death Squad, a world- famous New York City team, disassembled. How- ever, later that year, several of the members, includ- ing founder John Danaher, reassembled in Austin as B Team, attracting the attention of those who wished to train under the big names, Villalobos said. Broadcasting and event hosting company FloSpo- rts, which holds some of the most widely viewed grappling events, is also headquartered in Austin, making it a prime media asset to competitive teams, How Austin became ‘the Brazilian jiujitsu capital of the world’
Ana Plaza (left), who trains at Six Blades, said regardless of someone’s age, gender or size, jiujitsu is for anyone looking to learn self-defense and discipline.
PHOTOS BY KAMERYN GRIESSER COMMUNITY IMPACT
Six Blades, an international Brazilian jiujitsu franchise, moved its headquarters to Austin during the pandemic.
Dozens of Brazilian jiujitsu and grappling sport centers have opened across the Greater Austin area.
Villalobos and Ribeiro said. The impact
Local jiujitsu studios
Ana Plaza, who trains at Six Blades in Northwest Austin, said when she moved from Missouri in 2021, she struggled to nd a community. “I was like, ‘How do I even begin to make friends?’” Plaza said. “It’s like Xande [Ribeiro] says: ‘How can you be unhappy if you get to hug 20 people every day?’”
Six Blades Jiu-Jitsu Austin • 13642 N. US 183, Ste. 300, Austin • www.sixbladesaustin.com Gracie Barra North Austin • 8868 Research Blvd., Ste. 608, Austin • www.gbnorthaustin.com
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