Considered to be the most complete historical book about the origins of jiu-jitsu and vale tudo, “Long Before MMA” (Part 1) is now available in English at Amazon.com.
The project was sponsored by UFC former contender Demian Maia, who also wrote the preface of the book, which is as follows:
I've always been passionate about history, and of course, martial arts. Since the age of 12, I consumed everything that appeared related to the theme. When the trilogy “Long Before MMA” fell into my hands at the recommendation of my good friend and journalist specialized in fights, Marcelo Alonso, I was pleasantly surprised. I soon realized that the information was supported by several sources of the time, mainly newspapers and books. However, the coolest thing was to see that — even knowing that neutrality is something unattainable — the authors Elton Silva and Eduardo Correia made an effort to maintain the greatest impartiality in the face of the facts. And we know this is difficult when dealing with history, as we are always influenced by personal judgments and passions. “Long Before MMA” helps us understand how Brazilian martial arts, such as capoeira, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and Luta Livre Esportiva, emerged, and which influences they suffered until they consolidated. An example is the peculiar path that Japanese martial arts — such as jiu-jitsu and judo — took in Brazil, until it became what we know as Brazilian jiu-jitsu. These “grappling fights”, when they arrived in the country, were already quite different from those that left Japan. This is because the Japanese fighters who immigrated to the Americas - both from kodokan judo and from other schools of Japanese jiu-jitsu - were influenced by combat sports that they had previously known in Europe and the United States. Fights like boxing, savate, catch as catch can wrestling, in addition to challenges against western fighters contributed to this transformation. In Brazil, the Japanese were still influenced by capoeira and challenged against many types of fighters. From the 1930s onwards, while in the rest of the world jiu-jitsu styles were absorbed by Jigoro Kano's Kodokan, in Brazil an endemic fighting style ended up developing. This style absorbs influences from several fights, in addition to the experiences lived by Brazilian fighters.
“Long Before MMA” shows us how this transformation story was, led by the Gracie family, especially by Carlos, Helio and George, giving rise to a new martial art, which would be presented to the world in 1993, in the first UFC. This part about jiu-jitsu is a sensational content, but the book is much more than that, as it also goes deep into the history of other fights as well. Elton Silva and Eduardo Correia went headlong into this project that greatly elevated everything we knew about martial arts in Brazil. I read it all in a very short time, eager to better understand this rich source of culture that are Brazilian fights, something I love so much, and which has shaped my life. I'm sure you will also enjoy as well.
According to the authors, Eduardo Correia and Elton Silva, English versions of Part 2 and 3 will soon be available as well.
“We are working on the translation of Editions 2 and 3. As soon as we print both we will also provide the E-book version of the trilogy,” Silva told Sherdog.com.
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