No fighting here: Jiu Jitsu club gives members life-long skills, training

The first rule of IU’s Brazilian Jiu Jitsu club has nothing to do with the club’s secrecy. Rather, it focuses on brotherhood and camaraderie. \n“There’s no fights in (this) fight club,” Head Instructor Paul Hogan said.\nThe Jiu Jitsu club meets three times each week to teach and practice martial arts techniques. The club gives members of all ages, sexes and experience levels what it believes to be lifelong skills.\n“I hope to do Jiu Jitsu for as long as I can until I either get too old or too injured,” instructor Evan Mannweiler said.\nEach training session begins with a vigorous warm-up, which typically lasts 30 minutes. Afterward, members go right into the body of the two-hour session, which consists of elaborate holds and escapes the instructor demonstrates. The last 30 minutes of the session are reserved for sparring.\nJiu Jitsu, unlike many other martial art forms, teaches virtually no punches or kicks. \n“Jiu Jitsu consists of primarily all ground techniques because 90 percent of all fights will eventually end up on the ground,” Hogan said.\nBecause of that, many club members find Jiu Jitsu to be one of the most practical combat techniques.\n“Because Jiu Jitsu primarily consists of joint locks and chokes that are given on the ground, the techniques are transferable for defense against sexual assault,” said sophomore Jonathon Burkert.\nBesides club training, the group is involved in other events.\n“The club will usually host a tournament once a year, but many members compete in tournaments outside of the club,” Hogan said. “Caique (Carlos Elias), who holds a sixth-degree black belt, will also visit the club from his Jiu Jitsu academy in California and hold fighting seminars.”\nThrough the club, members receive an intense cardiovascular workout, learn how to properly defend themselves and meet and interact with a group of welcoming people. \nMannweiler, a sophomore, has been practicing Jiu Jitsu since high school and has made himself well-known in the martial arts community. He’s also a substitute teacher for one of the Jiu Jitsu classes on campus. \nThe club meets from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays and from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturdays in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation room 095.