On Saturday March 8th, the old rivalry between Jiu-Jitsu and Luta Livre which has given rise to main ‘Desafios’ (challenges) in Brazilian history will happen once agin in the first edition of the Copa Grappling Stance. This Cup will will take place at the Sergio Lorenzato gym in Balneario Camboriu, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Alexandro Ceconi, whose name is marked in the history of Santa Catarina’s Jiu-Jitsu, and Gilberto Galvao, former TUF Brazil and athlete of RFT – stronghold of Luta Livre in Rio – will do a superfight as the main event.
Check out our article on the history of Luta Livre and lack of mainstream success.
The competition aims to find out who are the best grapplers in southern Brazil. Registration for the Cup Stance go until the end of Friday (7th) on the site www.stancefight.com.br . Admission is free.
Since the beginning these two grappling arts were strongly disassociated with one another and constantly clashing. Basically the main difference is that Jiu-Jitsu is fought using a gi and Luta Livre using pants or just shorts with a shirt or shirtless.
Eventually both arts seemed to be in separate social classes. Jiu-Jitsu being reserved for the middle to upper class and Luta Livre for the middle to lower classes.
The rivalry drew to a boiling in 80s and exploded in 1991 with the Desafio event in Rio de Janeiro. The legendary show featured three Jiu-Jitsu versus Luta Livre challenge matches. The goal was to find out what the best grappling art was.
The fight were: Wallid Ismail (Jiu-Jitsu) vs. Eugenio Tadeu (Luta Livre), Murilo Bustamante (Jiu-Jitsu) vs. Marcelo Mendes (Luta Livre) and Fabio Gurgel (Jiu-Jitsu) vs. Denilson Maia (Luta Livre).
A classic match BJJ vs LL grappling match, Paulo Filho vs Cacareco:
