In a compelling discussion on Jake Shields’ podcast, Royce Gracie, one of the most influential figures in the history of mixed martial arts, shared his insights on the limitations and strengths of various martial arts. Addressing a longstanding debate, Gracie emphasized that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu doesn’t dismiss boxing or other martial arts but critiques their limitations when practiced in isolation. His argument underscored BJJ’s role as the unifying element in modern mixed martial arts.

Boxing: Effective but Limited

“Boxing is not worthless – it’s incomplete,” Gracie remarked during the podcast, explaining how the rules of boxing limit its effectiveness in real combat situations. He highlighted that in boxing, clinches are broken by referees, which artificially disrupts the fight’s natural progression. This, Gracie argued, illustrates boxing’s incompleteness rather than its ineffectiveness.

Gracie’s perspective acknowledges boxing’s value as a discipline but underscores its need for supplementation by other skills, especially in scenarios without rule enforcement. He extended this critique to other traditional martial arts as well.

The Shortcomings of Singular Styles

“All individual martial arts styles, including wrestling, karate, and taekwondo, are incomplete on their own,” Gracie asserted. He argued that separating styles into silos creates significant gaps in a fighter’s capabilities. Using wrestling as an example, he noted, “Once you pin the guy down, the match stops, but what if there’s no pinning down? What if it keeps going? They don’t know how to finish.”

Gracie’s observations reflect the reality that many traditional martial arts focus on specific aspects of combat—be it striking, grappling, or takedowns—without addressing all the potential scenarios of a real fight.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: The Spine of Martial Arts

According to Gracie, BJJ is uniquely positioned to bridge the gaps between styles. “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu serves as the ‘spine’ that connects all martial arts together,” he explained. Unlike other disciplines that focus on one phase of combat, BJJ equips practitioners with the tools to handle striking, takedowns, and ground fighting. This holistic approach, Gracie argued, is what makes a complete martial artist.

Gracie’s perspective resonates strongly with the evolution of mixed martial arts (MMA), where fighters can no longer rely solely on a single discipline. Instead, the most successful competitors integrate striking, wrestling, and grappling into a cohesive skill set, a concept popularized by Gracie himself during the early days of the UFC.

Legacy of Jiu-Jitsu in MMA

Royce Gracie’s groundbreaking performances in the UFC during the 1990s showcased the dominance of BJJ over single-discipline martial arts. His success demonstrated the necessity of grappling and ground fighting in a sport that initially pitted practitioners of different styles against each other. His belief that BJJ forms the backbone of MMA is a reflection of his own journey and the evolution of the sport as a whole.

In the podcast, Gracie’s message was clear: no martial art is worthless, but none are complete on their own. By embracing a multidisciplinary approach with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as the core, fighters can achieve a level of adaptability and effectiveness that transcends the limitations of individual styles.