Here is an interesting interview with Sylvio Behring. It talks a lot about BJJ training before it came to the U.S. One of the things I found interesting is that while many people consider BJJ just a part of BJJ Sylvio considers judo a part of BJJ.

From adcombat.com
Recently, Professor Sylvio Behring was in Canada teaching his world famous version of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. I sat down with Professor Behring while he was teaching in Toronto, Ontario at the Shah Franco Martial Arts Academy.

J.F.: You are known as one of the premiere Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructors in the world. Who did you learn from and were there any other Martial Arts you learned? S.B.: Thanks Joe, I think that anybody who has been practicing anything for so long (36 years), must do it properly. Besides that, I had the best instruction at home with my father and the best partner, my younger brother Marcelo. We grew up fighting and training BJJ everywhere we did go. I started four years old (1966) at Master Joao Alberto Barreto Academy (9th degree, red belt / under Master Helio Gracie) with feel instructors (Valverde, Carlos Alberto and Pernambuco) until 10 years old. My father was our (me and Marcelo´s) main instructor and our BJJ guide always, anywhere. We moved to Sao Paulo in 1972 and use to train at Prof. Gastao Gracie Jr´s school. My dad use to teach all classes when we visit there and I´m sure was the most important part to build my self defense skills. During the summer holidays I stayed at my cousin Digo da
Mata and we use to go train at Master Alvaro Barreto (8th degree, red / black belt) School in Copacabana. When we moved back to Rio I signed up with Master Alvaro and he gave a line of teaching and the understanding of progresive method. Under him I got my orange, blue, purple, brown and black belts. He is the perfect instructor and was easy to follow his line; perfect self defense, good Judo and very technical ground fighting ( gi or no gi ). We always trained everything and beside that I had my father, kicking our butts, to check us out. Imagine sleep at the same room with Marcelo, just mats on the floor and always with something new to show...Everyday, hours and hours and at night non stop BJJ! My Dad and Prof Ricardo Murgel made a very good work together with us in Nova Ipanema (place where Pedro Albuquerque started to train at age 8), free-style, self defense ( real self-defence!!!) and no gi. Crazy time, rough and very intensive training; always outside...rain, storm, sun, night, hot, cold, whatever!
Marcelo and I started in Judo with Sensei Helcio Gama, Ney wilson, Marco Aurelio Gama and Julio Gama. In 1982, my father felt that we were ready for the next step in Judo so he signed up for us at Sensei Mehdi´s School. It changed our lives and fight conception, old japanese style training...'better be ready'! Sensei Mehdi´s best student, Edgard Freitas was my best Judo instructor and I learned a lot of Jiu-Jitsu and Judo with him. I had the honour to have attended classes with: Sensei de Lucca, Master Helio Gracie, Master Relson Gracie, Master Rickson Gracie, Sensei Geraldo Bernardes and others. Those instructors helped to build my knowledge and my way to teach. But, I am still learning from my students and from anybody who have something to show.

J.F.: Behring Jiu-Jitsu contains many aspects from Judo. Will there be other arts, like striking, kicking or perhaps even wrestling added to the Behring style? S.B.: My father and Mastre Alvaro Barreto always taught me the real BJJ, with Self Defense, Atemis, Judo and ground fighting. We use to practice kicks and strikes for street fights and combinations with take downs and submissions. Two against one, against stick, knife and guns...all real situations we could create to be closer than the reality on our training. We use to enjoy free style training very often and I had Marcelo always looking to kick my butt, gi or no gi, always a lots of fun!

J.F.: Who are some of the BJJ World Champions you have trained? S.B.: From my team I have couple medals at worlds: Rosangela Conceicao - 1st heavy weight female world champion purple Rodrigo Munduruca 3rd place blue Marcio Corleta 2nd 1997purple / 1999 brown and world champion black belt 2001 Fabricio Werdun 2 gold medals 2000 super heavy and open blue/ silver 2001 purple open Mario Reis 1st 2000(under Mario Sperry) blue/ 2nd 2001 (Winner Behring) purple Guto Campos world champion 2001 blue Jorge Keller 3rd place 2001 blue Other teams: Garth Taylor (Claudio Franca) 1998, 1999 and 2000 / Chiquinho Jr (Gracie Barra) 1998,1999, 2000 / Luzia (Chiquinho´s sister) 1998,1999, 2000 / Judo Mark (Beverly Hills) 1999, 2000 and couple others. I still leave it open to have anybody from any team to enjoy our training.

J.F.: What is your position of Jiu-Jitsu players competing for points rather than submission? S.B.: Competition is competition, we have to look for win and all strategy involved to get there. Sometimes you fight someone 'easy to beat up' and just go for submission, but maybe there is someone better than you and it's better to find some strategic way to not loose and keep your chances to win. The problem is when they don't want to fight and the referee just let it go...if we have good referees, the competitors will look to fight under the rules and we'll have a good show. BJJ is amazing sport and very enjoyable to watch, so if you do it on the proper way, you may look to play your game and don't miss a chance to submit your opponent. Sport is a game, play to win but you must have fun.

J.F.: Are there any up and coming fighters you believe have the skills to become World Champions from your stable? S.B.: Yes, Marcio Corleta, Mario Reis, Guto campos, Jorge Keller, Bruno Corvelo, Rodrigo Marcolin, Ederson Porto, Mathias Ribeiro, Big Marco and couple others from Porto Alegre. Fabricio Werdun, Felipe Werdun, Pacale and Christian from Spain. Rodrigo Munduruca, Adam, Joe Doerksen, Bruce and Curtis Brigham from Winnipeg. Sean Pierson, Justin Bruckman, Richard Nancoo, Marco 'Lixo' Costa and Antonio 'Pato' Carvalho from Shah Franco in Toronto. For Masters and Seniors: Bob McRoberts, Glen Flamand, Carlos, Tom Theofanopoulos, Tom Prata, Tony Castaneda, Patrick Johsnton, Tino, Joey, Stuart, Shah Franco, Israel, Ricardo Silva, Igor Domingues, Briam Cyr, Joe Fournier, Scott Schilling, Danilo Rodacki and my self. I really believe that everyone who train hard and have good conditioning, have chance to win. 2002 will be a great test for Behring Team. I hope to have those guys in Brazil to give them the best BJJ workout for Mundial´s 2002.

J.F.: With no Abu Dhabi World Championships this year, many people will be solely concentrating on the Mundials. Who do you believe has a chance to become, or even repeat as a World Champion? S.B.: Ricardo Vieira, Robson Moura, Shaolin, Terere, Margarida, Cachorrinho, Saulo, Nino, Comprido, Fredson, BJ Penn, Garth Taylor, Marcio Corleta, Esfiha, Pe de Pano, Leo Leite will be there with good chances, but some new faces will come to give them a hard work. I want to see some names trying to be back on the podium, will be very interesting.

J.F: I understand there are Sylvio Behring Teams all over the world. Where are some of them located? S.B.: Brasil / Rio Grande do Sul - Porto Alegre - Winner Behring, Marcio Corleta and my self Porto Alegre - Winner Behring Parcao, Mario Reis Guaiba - Winner Behring Guaiba, Ederson Porto and Jorge Keller Santo Antonio da Patrulha - Winner Behring Sto Antonio, Rafael Azambuja and Jeferson Adam / Parana - Telemaco Borba - Behring Parana, Danilo Rodacki Spain / Madrid - Zaragoza - Albacete and Valencia - Behring Espanha, Fabricio and Felipe Werdun USA / California - Modesto - Behring Modesto, Patrick Johnston Oakdale - Behring Oakdale, Tony Castaneda and Tom Teofanopoulos / Michigan - UMIC, Rodrigo 'Bill Gates' Nunes Canada / Manitoba - Winnipeg - Behring IMA, Rodrigo Munduruca and Bob McRoberts / Ontario - Toronto - Franco Behring, Shah Franco and Pedro Albuquerque Niagara - Budosan Behring, Joe Fournier Bramptom - Budosan Behring, Briam Cyr And my father with Sao paulo, France, Belgium and Puerto \
Rio. I'll visit Chile and Peru in February to stabilish new conections and I hope to have some time for surfing.

J.F.: Many people have never heard of the name Marcello Behring. He was your younger brother I believe, and many people I have spoken to, have compared his BJJ skills to legends like Rolls and Rickson Gracie. Why do you believe this to be the case? S.B.: Marcelo was just out of this world. He was two years younger than me and a real warrior. We grew up with BJJ and fighting like usual between brothers, almost everyday until 1978/79. For me was a gift because I had to keep my self ready to get back home and be respected by a younger and tough, no fear guy. Thanks GOD!!! I really have to be thankful for this opportunity in my life...my father (98Kg and Black Belt) and my little brother (85Kg and fast!) always rolling, training or fighting! Marcelo was amazing man, big heart and pure soul...loved by everyone who had a chance to meet him. Unforgettable as a friend and with all skills to be a fighter; fast, strong, tough, thick, solid hands and no fear. He started his personal marketing before anyone in
BJJ, everybody heard about him before than the Gracie Family! But he was Rickson's best student and he was proud of that, he lived for BJJ and to put up Gracie and Behring name, and he did it very well! Guys like Marcelo, Rickson, Rolls can't be compared to anyone but themselves. I realy miss him, but I know he's happy and proud of the work we have been doing for BJJ around the world. Fica com DEUS, Marcelo!!!

J.F.: On the World Scene of Mixed Martial Arts, we see Brazilians returning to the spotlight. Fighters like Ze Mario Sperry and Rodrigo 'Minotauro' Nogueira defeating Champions like Igor Vovchanchyn and Mark Colemen respectively (And recently Murillo Bustamante's capture of the UFC Middleweight Belt ). Why do you feel we have seen a resurgence of Brazilians returning to the top of the MMA game? S.B.: Joe, it's hard to make predictions about the near future about MMA. When we started the Vale-Tudo, the idea was keep without rules and no time limit, totally different then today's events. We have all kind of tournaments with rounds, rules, etc. BJJ brought a new conception of fight, shows the world how important it was to know some ground game and gave life for tough wrestlers and all kind of grapplers, Sambo, Judo, Luta-Livre, etc. Everything is just matter of time, they got our game and strategy and trained to kill us, and it worked...but we re-started to strike, kick and work on leg locks and foot
locks, so now is an adjustment. I can say, for last five years is more about the fighter than the martial arts he came from. Everybody is doing everything, and that's the way to be ready for everything! Brazilians are good fighters and warriors, we will be winning and loosing but we'll be there anyway, so we'll always have chance to win. Congratulations for Mr's: Sperry, Minotauro, Silva, Renzo, Belfort, Ninja, etc. If you want to enjoy Vale-Tudo, is better be lucky and little crazy. Is good money and exposure but is better make sure you want to be there, if yes...just do it!

J.F.: Do you have any students that have competed in MMA events around the world? S.B.: Yes, I have some guys fighting around the world and some others getting ready for that. The two best Vale-Tudo teams under our BJJ instruction are: International Martial Arts and Shah Franco, both in Canada. I.M.A. is under Rodrigo Munduruca (24 years old, Behring Jiu-Jitsu Team member / BJJ black belt December 2001, certified instructor) and Bob McRoberts (49, Behring Jiu-Jitsu Team member / BJJ brown belt 4 stripes). Team members: Joe Doerksen, Curtis Brigham, Adam, Chris and some other good fighters. Shah Franco (36, Behring Jiu-Jitsu Team member / BJJ purple belt 4 stripes, certified instructor. 6th degree bb Karate, world Champion and 11 times Canadian Champion) and Pedro Albuquerque (28, Behring Jiu-Jitsu Team member / BJJ brown belt 1 stripe, certified instructor). Team members: Sean Pierson, Justin 'Loaf' Bruckman, Richard 'Macaquinho Safado' Nancoo, Jason St Louis, Frank Colcher, 'Monster', etc. Couple other guys will be ready very soon; Marcio Corleta, Fabricio Werdun, Felipe Werdun, Pacal, Tony Castaneda and others.

J.F.: Is there anything else you would like to say
S.B.: Yes, I want to say that I'm proud to come back to the game after start again in 1997 to build my competition team and put Behring name on the top again! I'm glad to have so many good people around, who believed in my system and gave me support to my work. BJJ is more than grappling: It's Self Defense, Atemi, Judo and grappling. To fight is easier than really understand what you are doing and have Martial Arts culture. To teach is more than prepare for competition, it's to build character and better persons with good attitude. Thank you, Master Helio Gracie to develop BJJ and give us the chance to be part of this world. Thank's Masters Alvaro Barreto, Flavio Behring, Joao Alberto Barreto, Rickson Gracie, Relson Gracie, Marcelo Behring, Sensei Mehdi, Edgard Freitas, Mauricio Sabatini, de Luca, Julio Gama, Marco Aurelio Gama, Ney Wilson, Ricardo Murgel, Shigueto Yamazaki, my friends, partners, students and family.

J.F.: Thank you for your time Professor Behring. It's been a pleasure! S.B.: Thank You, Joe.

great article.

Flavio Behring (who loves judo) told me once that while he was studying jiu-jitsu with the Gracie family, he felt something was missing in the game. Then, he went to practice judo too. After a few years, "some" Gracie asked him to stop it. Flavio answers back that if anyone there could put him down, he would stop practicing judo immediately. No one succeeded...

He also told me that he no longer teaches the Gracie self-defense curriculum as he thinks it is completely obsolete.

Does he only teach sport bjj now or does he have his own version of self defense? The training he described sounded more like vale tudo than the traditional GJJ self defense.

He still teaches self defense but not the classical bjj curriculum. In fact, yes, it looks more like vale tudo or (real ?) street oriented. The fact he no longer teaches the Gracie curriculum is because (that's what he told me) he travels a lot and meets lot of masters/practicionners from other arts/disciplines. Some of them are knife or gun specialists and so on. One day, a knife specialist asked him to do his Gjj stuff against him. Of course, if the knife had been real, he would have died right away. That opened his mind...