People hit the mat to try Brazilian jiujitsu

If you’re going to try Brazilian jiujitsu, prepare to get up close and personal during class.

To practice this martial art, you have to be comfortable with someone invading your personal space as you’re grabbed by the shirt, pants or waist. There’s no striking or kicking allowed. Instead, the goal is to bring an opponent — even that friendly classmate you just met — to the ground.

Brazilian jiujitsu, a descendant of the ancient Japanese martial art, is designed to help a smaller person defeat a larger and stronger attacker by using leverage. Once on the ground, an opponent is immobilized with modified chokeholds and joint locks.

“It’s about causing discomfort for the other person,” said Elias Ramirez III, co-owner of the jiujitsu school Gracie Barra Kapolei.

Now a black belt, the 35-year-old Ramirez started his training at the Gracie Barra U.S. headquarters in California in 2007 as part of a weight-loss plan. At 5-foot-6, the Makiki resident weighed 250 pounds. “I’d be drenched in sweat after class and lost 70 pounds,” he said.

The self-defense aspect appealed to Ramirez, but he was shocked when a 120-pound woman put him in a chokehold. “I lost 100 percent of my power,” he said. “I couldn’t stop her choke.”

For Ramirez, who runs the school full time, jiujitsu is more than a physical activity. “My mom passed away, relationships ended … there’s always lots going on in my life,” he said. “But when I’m practicing jiujitsu, whatever is going on, I forget my thoughts. It’s therapeutic, a release.”

Myron Kamihara, co-owner of the school, began practicing Brazilian jiujitsu as a form of stress relief when he was going through law school. Now an attorney specializing in civil and criminal law, he trains for competitions.

“The beauty of jiujitsu is that the objectives can be personal,” said Kamihara, 33, of Honolulu. “Some students are competition-driven. They want to win a medal. Other people do it for health and fitness because they want to stay in shape. And another reason people come is to learn self-defense.”

Heather Tabios, a brown belt and coach, helped me learn a few basic moves during a class.

“It’s all about the hips,” she explained. “There’s a lot of wiggling involved to escape holds.”

Tabios, 29, of Ewa Beach, starting practicing jiujitsu in 2009 when she was trying to find something active to do with her husband, Brandon Tabios, a fellow instructor and brown belt. Heather Tabios now leads the women’s class, a more comfortable option for females who prefer to avoid a mixed-gender setting.

“I have gained more confidence in self-defense, especially as a woman,” said Tabios, who is only 4-foot-11. “The whole philosophy of the gentle art is to give people my size leverage and skill to defend themselves when facing bigger opponents.”

Setting

The academy, in the industrial area of Kapolei, opened in June. Blue mats cover a 1,050-square-foot area. There are three changing rooms and a family-friendly lounge area in the front.

Simple exercise equipment, much of it used to develop core strength, lines one wall of the school. During the women’s-only class on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, strength-building exercises are done between learning the jiujitsu moves.

Benefits

Increased focus, energy, concentration, self-confidence and learning self-defense are among the benefits. Weight loss and muscle tone are added bonuses.

The workout

The session began with a warm-up that included jumping jacks, crunches and an array of stretches. Next, an instructor demonstrated how to escape from an attacker or defend yourself, and then we practiced how to do it.

Knowing that you’re going to be swept off your feet or flipped over can be intimidating, but your partner is assisting in the process, which helps. I ended up with a giant bruise on my shoulder and a few others on my arms, which apparently is normal for beginners.

User review

Lance Murashige, a 34-year-old Ewa Beach resident, has been going to classes at the academy for a little less than a year. He joined soon after his 6-year-old son, Ezekiel, started. “My brother and I took martial arts when we were younger,” Murashige said. “My dad also took classes, and it motivated me to want to do better. I wanted to be able to do what he could do. So I thought it was a good idea to sign up and hopefully do the same for my son.”

Try it out?

Try Brazilian jiujitsu if you’re looking to learn self-defense skills or find an alternative workout to get in shape. The age range in the adult class is 16 to 55 years old, but “you can train as long as your body is willing,” Ramirez said.

“Tryouts” features exercise and wellness classes and other fitness activities. Reach Nancy Arcayna at narcayna@staradvertiser.com or call 529-4808.