Star date: 2nd February 2014

BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU ARRIVES IN LANGWORTHY

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one of the world's fastest growing martial arts and now a new studio, Jiu Jitsu Technics, has opened up off South Langworthy Road run by Salford's Mike Dorrian, who wants to spread the word and involve local schools, youth centres and businesses in the art of self defence.

Yesterday, World Champion Manny Diaz visited the studio to give a masterclass….

Full details here…

Technique Conquers All…

Tucked away amongst industrial units on Kansas Avenue, off South Langworthy Road, near MediaCityUK, is a spotless state of the art studio specialising in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Which sounds strange because martial arts usually have connotations with the Far East.

"We're affiliated to Ciao Terra, who's a Brazilian guy, only about 26, and he's already eight times world champion" says Salford's Mike Dorrian, a purple belt who has set up the studio after learning the art in California.

"What we teach is a spin on modern techniques that he's made his own and actually used in competitions" he adds "It actually works."

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, or BJJ, was created by Carlos Gracie Snr, and designed as a self defence martial art geared towards helping a smaller person to protect themselves against a much larger opponent, not by using strength but using sound technique.

"By using technique and leverage, a smaller person could help to control a much larger opponent with minimal force" explains Mike "There is no striking whatsoever in BJJ, thus making this sport suitable for everyone, children, teens and adults alike.

"We teach BJJ not as a fighting tool but as a self defence system" he adds "We actually teach the opposite of fighting, we teach many different techniques to avoid confrontation, and how to avoid confrontation. The defence techniques used should only be used by students to defend themselves should they ever be attacked."

Already, Mike's Jiu Jitsu Technics studio has been used by a business on Salford Quays, after some of its employees were mugged on the way home from work, while there are also Kids Bully Proof programmes in operation too.

"The younger classes are designed to help children protect themselves, not only today if they was to be bullied in or out of school, but as a measure to defend themselves in the future" he says "The classes we run have been very successful so far with all of our students bringing friends along and helping spread our message to local communities. It's based around our adult programme but with the addition of lots of games to make our classes as enjoyable as possible."

As part of the studio's community project it is looking to involve local schools community groups and youth centres, by providing classes in and out of schools, and, in particular, working with young people who may have behavioural problems.

"Our kids, junior and student programme was created to provide students with an environment that allows them to experience and understand core values like focus, discipline, persistence, dedication and most of all respect" says Mike "Respect not only for there fellow students, but respect for their parents, siblings, teachers and themselves. We believe that channelling their energy into BJJ would be a great thing, not only for themselves but for the school and parents."

Currently Mike has students aged from five to 55 training at the studio six days a week, and yesterday they got to see, first hand, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Champion Manny Diaz, who came to Salford to run a masterclass.

Salford Star photographer, Gareth Lyons, who went down to take pictures, was well impressed, marvelling at how so little strength could inflict so much pain upon an attacker. Gareth says that the techniques taught certainly work!

"We just want to spread the message as to what Brazilian Jui Jitsu is, as it's relatively new in comparison to judo and karate" says Mike "In order to spread our techniques and our values to children and adults we would like to offer a free week of training to anyone interested in learning what BJJ is all about. They can just come down to the gym and train for free."

You can't get a better offer than that!

Jiu Jitsu Technics is situated at 36 Kansas Avenue, off South Langworthy Road, M50 2GL.

For further details call 0161 879 8251 or email: md@jiujitsutechnics.com  or bc@jiujitsutechnics.com

Also see the website www.jiujitsutechnics.com

Kids classes run Mon, Tues and Thurs 4:30pm - 5:30pm
£5 per class or £27 per month.

Adult classes run Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri: 6:30pm - 7:30pm, and Sat 11:00am - 12:30pm
£8 per class or £49 per month

Photos by Gareth Lyons