The Basulto Academy of Defense, located in downtwown Waynesville, has expanded the schedule of its successful Brazilian Jiu Jitsu program to include more classes in the art/sport of Vale Tudo.

Also known as No-Holds-Barred (NHB) or as Mixed-Martial Arts (MMA), the term Vale Tudo means “anything goes” and its roots are part of the Brazilian fight culture from which the world-reknowned martial art of Gracie Jiu Jitsu spawned in Rio de Janiero. 

MMA has evolved into one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, with events being televised even on national networks. Many people take up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Vale Tudo classes with no intention of ever fighting in the octagon but for the benefits of the very intense workouts.

“When the Gracie family helped create the Ultimate Fighting Championships in 1993, their goal was to showcase the effectiveness of their martial art,” says Armando Basulto, chief instructor at Basulto Academy of Defense. “What most people didn’t realize is that in Brazil, this type of MMA event already had an established history stretching back to the 1920’s. The modern sport of MMA requires a solid foundation in different disciplines including Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, kickboxing and wrestling.”

Instructor Armando Basulto is not only a professor of Gracie Jiu Jitsu, holding a black belt under Royler Gracie, but is also an experienced and fully-accredited kickboxing coach with more than 20 years experience coaching boxing, Muay Thai and Savate. In Europe, Basulto was both a boxer and coach and achieved the rank of Silver Glove in Boxe Française Savate (the highest rank in the sport) and teaching credential (Moniteur) by the Fédération Internationale de Savate in Paris, France. His boxers have fought in the USA and in Europe

Classes are currently offered at the Basulto Gracie Jiu Jitsu Club, located at GroundSwell Fitness 218 Branner Ave. downtown Waynesville. www.wncbjj.com or 828.230.5056.