BJJEE had the honour of interviewing a true Gentleman of Jiu-Jitsu: 8th degree red and white belt, Ricardo Murgel. He is the founder and master of Union Team and has affiliates worldwide, Croatia, Switzerland, Spain, United States (New Mexico, Texas , Georgia), and about 9 affiliated academies in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
He is currently living in the United States and resides in Alpharetta, GA ( USA ). At 71 years of of age, he is in amazing shape and still rolls with his students every day. He also has a very open mind when it comes to Jiu-Jitsu and cross training i other grappling arts. Master Murgel will be in Zurich Switzerland on April 6th at Ruckus BJJ, and in Zagreb, Croatia on April 9th at Mirkovic BJJ for seminars.
There are not many people with your experience and your rank (8th) degree in BJJ, can you tell us your path in jiu-jitsu?
I started in Martial Arts back on 1957,at a small location, named Olimpico Clube.That place was in Copacabana `s District,Rio de Janeiro-Brazil. What the Instructors taught was similar to what nowadays is called MMA-Mixed Martial Arts. A year later, 1958, I started doing Judo,under Professor Georges Medhi and Prof.Oswaldo “Guru” Simon.I did Judo competitively until 44 years old. I trained under several great Professors, in particular under the Ne-waza specialist Leopoldo De Lucca.I trained and competed in Japan(1980) and trained in Europe(1980).Besides Judo, I started in Gracie Jiu Jitsu ( a.k.a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) in 1962,by invitation of the now Grand Master Alvaro Barreto, by coincidence, his school was located in Copacabana ,Rio de Janeiro too.
My Journey in BJJ has a lot of stories,so I will do my best to summarize and focus on the most relevant ones,at least to me.At that time,,Jiu Jitsu was not popular,and really was a sort of Elite`s only martial arts,due to the high fees in comparison with the other more “trendy” martial arts, like Karate, Judo and even Kung-Fu.
GM Helio Gracie always emphasized that his (Gracie) Jiu Jitsu was not for sport,but for Self Defense only.Indeed, till the end of his extraordinary Journey of Life,GM Helio never really liked the sport oriented BJJ,despite the fact that his family fully supported the Competition`s ruled Jiu Jitsu. Therefore, I trained Jiu Jitsu to improved my ground techniques and to be ready for hand to hand real life confrontations. I used quite often the JJ moves during my Judo career as a competitor,as well as in my Judo practices. In Jiu Jitsu,we were sparring a lot, with and with no Gi,including with strikes allowed,using Boxing gloves. We competed among us and sometimes against another one of the very few Jiu Jitsu schools that existed at that time.
Next step, to be true with the facts,were the street fights against other martial arts or fighting styles,from Capoeira and Boxing, up to Karate, Kung Fu,Tae Kwon Do….
My memories at that time do not embarrass me.It was another time,,and we were young and proud to be Jiu Jitsu Fighters!
At the beginning of the 70`s, the now GM Flavio Behring and I opened what seems that was the very first Jiu Jitsu school at the Barra da Tijuca District, Rio de Janeiro. Over there,quite a few future JJ black belts started ,like Marcelo and Sylvio Behring,Jorge Pereira, among others.
In 1985, I moved to Porto Alegre,RS State, at the south of Brazil.There,in September,13th,1985, I founded de UNION TEAM, that just celebrated 30 Years last year. Thanks to the dedication ,loyalty and skills of our Warriors, we became one of the most respected BJJ Teams all over the State, with hundreds of Champions,including national and world BJJ &NO Gi champions.
Nowadays, the UNION TEAM has affiliated schools in Brazil, USA and Europe.
Our Representatives and Leaders in the UNION TEAM BJJ-Europe are Professor Bojan Mirkovic,from Croatia,and Prof.Samir Dacic,from Zurich.In Brazil, is Professor Guilherme Freitas.
Last but not least,in 2007,my wife and I got the Permanent Visa to the USA,and moved to Atlanta-Ga.
Here, I taught BJJ; No Gi and MMA,and coached hundreds of competitors.I can say that I had the privilege to have lead many of them to vitories at the main BJJ,No Gi and MMA events,like the ADCC, Pride,UFC, Mega WorldsIBJJF Worlds,Pan Ams, Brazilian BJJ nationals,and so and so.
I am now American citizen(my wife too) and just opened my own Union Team BJJ Training Center,a full time BJJ;Submission Grappling location. In a few words, we don`t sell Jiu Jitsu; we teach Jiu Jitsu!
Continuing about my path in Jiu Jitsu, I was a kind of “black sheep” among the self called “owners ” of Jiu Jitsu, due to my firm positioning with regard to the importance to have an open mind to learn from all kind of sources. Regardless if the technique is from Sambo, Judo, Wrestling,or Luta Livre,what really matters is if it efficient or not!Period!
I always believed and continue to believe that the evolution of Jiu Jitsu cannot be restricted or underestimated .For example,back on 1985,I taught my students to use the foot lock. One of them, Marcio Corleta,later on multiple times BJJ world Champion, used such technique with great success. So, the same ones that now are teaching their students to use all sort of foot locks,at that time criticized me to teach such “rude” technique….well, as the old saying stress “The time is the Lord of the Reason”…..
I prefered to hear GM Helio,that taught us that 40% of all the Jiu Jitsu submissions are from the waist down!
In 2001, I trained and coached the south african Mark Robinson,a that time already with 39 years old,for less than four months, to his outstanding win of the Superheavy weight Division at the ADCC,against all the odds(and bets….).He defeated without getting one single point scored against him ,against the BJJBlack belts, Vitor Belfort and Rico Rodriguez,plus a russian sambo champion and the powerful Jeff Monsen, at the time a brown belt BJJ .
For sure,was one the most emotional moments of my Jiu Jitsu career! Until today, no other South African fighter won the ADCC again.Besides,I was the first brazilian BJJ Coach to have won with a foreigner fighter at the ADCC,at least for my knowledge.
Over the years and the decades, I had the chance to trained and coached several great competitors, like the late Marcelo Behring,a brilliant fighter, Marcio Corleta, BJJ world Champion multiple times, Valdir “Kbeca”, Rosangela “Zanza” Conceicao, Fabricio Werdum, Nate Marquardt, Joao Assis,now an amazing BJJ& NO Gi Champion, just to mention a few.
Right now, I have some new generation`s extraordinary ,talented BJJ & No Gi competitors, like Parker Graham ,Foster Kennedy, in the USA, Joao Pedro in Brazil, and for sure in Europe we have quite a few too.
You also have military and special police background, how does that combine with art of jiu-jitsu? Are there some other skills you practice and teach besides of jiu-jitsu?
Jiu Jitsu is above all a Martial Art,developed for extreme close quarter physical confrontation.Saying that, Jiu Jitsu,or BJJ, turned to be a sport of grappling,ruled and with emphasis on the ground grappling with submissions.
A lot of articles and comments have been written about that issue.
I will very straight to the point, so to speak:Martial Art has nothing to do with sport .Rules does not apply when your life is on the stack.Legal rules, yes, and that`s why we always must be JUSTIFIED use any level of physical force,with weapons or not..
2) ….with weapons or not …
The fact is that in a real life critical situation, unarmed combat rarely is our best option.I`m involved with Law Enforcement Close Quarter Combat Training since my mid twenties,and a few military elite forces as well.
I had my share of practical experiences and I am still here.My credentials and other related details that can be exposed,are all documented ,enough to say.
Therefore, I have no doubts to affirm that a complete ,realistic ,ultimate Extreme Close Combat System must includes :
a) The Science of Human Behavior- Body , verbal, visual language , situational awareness, Avoidance &Evasion;
b) The Mind set preparation- “The Brain is the Final Weapon; Everything else is supplemental”.John Steinbeck.
c) Be always Justified- Knowledge of the applicable Laws and the legal definition of use of Force continuum .
d) Tactical and Technical Skills – Hand to Hand Combat ,and weaponry ( Firearms,Edged weapons ,Improvised weapons).
In short, Jiu Jitsu only usually won`t be enough to solve in your favor most of the unpredictable ,potential lethal ,real life physical attacks, mainly when practiced by a criminal or more than one.
I trained and still taught and practiced with all sort of weapons, from firearms up to edged weapons and improvised ones.
For many years, I trained Boxing, Aikido,Hapkido,Escrima, Knife military style CQC, Luta Livre,Wrestling and Kendo& Medieval Swords.
Sounds a little bit too much …LOL! But, in reality, I truly believe that the more you learn and train, the more prepared you are.
The Self Defense Program of the Gracie `s, copied and taught in most of the BJJ schools that have a self defense program too, is not realistic and must be updated.”modernized ” .
Therefore,what I teach at the UNION TEAM is quite different and I don`t call it “Self Defense ” ,but the “Ultimate Extreme Close Quarter Actions “, with a Format of Modules that covers all the contents listed above.
You were there on the roots of jiu-jitsu in Brazil, can you tell us a little about that part of BJJ history and your experiences from that time?
I already exposed in my #1 response most of the Jiu Jitsu background that I remember: I can add that the sport of BJJ is from the beginning of the 70`s .Before the establishment of the CBJJ( Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Confederation ) back on 1994, was a chaos,with no discipline and rules .
What is your current location where you live and teach, and how does your daily routine look like? We’ve heard you still roll with your students at age 70…
I live in Alpharetta, Georgia, and my new Union Team BJJ Training Center is located at:
1190, Tidwell Road, suite #308, Alpharetta,Ga, 30004
I teach Jiu Jitsu & No Gi(Submission Grappling ) from Monday to Monday,plus seminars all over the world,and workshops for law enforcement agencies ,as I described before.
Yes, I still roll…but not so often as I would like,due to my several injuries.I consider more relevant to be able to step on the mats on daily basis to teach and to show the techniques .
I`m over 70 now,on the way to 71, with 59 years since my martial arts Journey started back on 1957….
The aging process is inevitable,but we cannot give up! Teaching Jiu Jitsu is my Mission of Life and I would love to be on the mats when my call for the Valhalla arrives.
You have special connection with Croatia? Can you tell us something about that and about your affiliated schools in Europe?
I love Zagreb! The care and genuine respect that they have for me is priceless !I don`t have time yet to visit other Croatian cities.My trips are very short,4 to 5 days only, giving seminars in Zurich and Zagreb.I consider Professor Bojan Mirkovic and ProfessorSamir Dacic great examples for their students .I`m very glad to have them as our Brothers in arms .Prof.Bojan is the Representative of our UNION TEAM BJJ-Europe and is doing a fantastic work with his Team,besides spreading our Organization very carefully ,only for the serious,committed BJJ schools.
I am confident that very soon we will have the school of my former BJJ and MMA fighter, Valdir “Kbeca “, from Spain,affiliated with us.
On the years to come ,I am sure that the UNION TEAM BJJ -Europe will be second to none!
Ricardo Murgel in Croatia
We’ve heard from your students that you are very, very updated with new techniques in jiu-jitsu, and you are not typicall „oldschool“ Master. Also they described you as very punctional and hardcore „military“ character, not a typicall Brazilian, would you agree?
My duty with my students that like to compete and to practice BJJ sport oriented, is to keep them updated with the constant evolution of the sport Jiu Jitsu. I study every day at least one up to two hours,plus the time on the mats practicing with my graduates the techniques that we developed ( or that we never saw before..)as well as the most used and effective moves in BJJ; Nogi competitions.
Yes,very rarely I came late late for a class or missed one.Again, that`s my professional duty .I cannot lead and be respected if I not do what I say .Our example is what show who we are. About your question if I am a hardcore ,”military” style,I just can say that I am a Lover …LOL!I have great pleasure to be among my warriors,my fierce and females “amazonas”,and I believe that I have a pretty good sense of humor.That“s be said, I am the Coach ,the Professor,and they know that I want to help them to be excellent Jiu Jitsu practitioners,and competitors,if they chose that tough path.So, I push them hard,but always with respect and a friendly environment.I demand discipline,teamwork and mutual respect,regardless of the graduation.
The same for the kids and teens.I teach anti bully procedures too,as well as respect for their parents,siblings ,team mates, ,elders, and the Country.
My ultimate goal is to make each of them Champions on and off the mats, to quote the renowned Wrestling American Coach, Charlie Morris.
Old school,modern Jiu Jitsu, I already commented above about such labels….in short, a technique must be tested and must be effective!The proper term ,in my opinion, is EVOLUTION.
Now, some Masters or Grand Masters don`t like to accept the fact that Jiu Jitsu for competition has nowadays a much more high level competitors than at their time.In fact, a blue belt now has access and practice numerous techniques that 30,40 years ago were not taught or unknown.
How can they denied that the half guard,for example, is much more effective now than on their (mine) time?
And what about the number of competitions,of matches?
Just to give one example: My fighter, Parker Graham, started with me almost 9 years ago, when he was 8 years old only. Now, with just 17 years old,he has more than 370 official matches of BJJ and No Gi!!All are recorded by his Father.And he still is blue belt,adult now.His records of wins are outstanding ,including the IBJJF No Gi World`s Championships( at Open Division, Blue belt,Juvenile.
Like him, exist hundreds in all belts .On the other hand, I can assure that none of my generation and the ones of the previous generation had more than a dozen or less of official BJJ matches, ,simply because at our times not existed Jiu Jitsu sport oriented .So,unless that you had the unconfirmed ,cabalistic number of 400 streets fights, chances are that you are no match for the competitors nowadays.
What in your opinion should be the future goal of jiu-jitsu as a sport/martial art, and in what direction should it be going?
No question that the Sport part of Jiu Jitsu becomes and will continue to be the trend .The current IBJJF rules are terrible,the referees are doing a huge number of mistakes, of wrong calls and the system of advantages and points must be changed !Even Judo,not have more the Koka(advantage).The Submissions only format is my favorite by far,but I have my doubts if the IBJJF will change the current format.
The” money speaks loud” saying prevails all over the BJJ community.The numerous Federations spreading worldwide are rivals ,and each one want to be Leader of the other ones.
Despite those negatives points,the growing of the sport oriented Jiu Jitsu is extraordinary .I sugges that instead of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, the name changes for World Jiu Jitsu.That`s what it is anyway!
The future of the Martial or so called Self Defense Jiu Jitsu depends of the update of the Techniques,with a few exceptions that are ageless ,so to speak.Otherwise, the Reality Based Systems, many now, like the Krav maga, will continue to attract much more people than Self Defense Jiu Jitsu.I trained and even helped to built the contents of quite a few of those Reality Based Systems.In rule,,they are a “blender” of techniques and tactics extracted from several martial arts,including BJJ.
However, they have a very good marketing appeal,and knows as to promote themselves .Now, even more ,due to the Terror`s Threads all over the world.
What I teach in my workshops for law enforcement and law abiding citizens is what I briefly described in my Response #2.
When your Life and the beloved ones are in risk, I believe that you should learn from who had been there and prevailed.
For Practical experience and Knowledge, has no Substitute.
How do you see criteria of getting and being/ representing a black belt in jiu-jitsu?
The only “criteria” is to Earned your belt. Of course, if your school is sport oriented ,the competitors will be evaluated by their performances.The ones that are not competitors, should be tested about their knowledge and execution of the techniques required for the graduation that he or she is eligible .The sparring against at least two graduates of the same belt that the applicant is tested ,must be required,to evaluate the level under sparring situation.
Regarding the schools focused for self defense only, seems that the test will be more to demo the moves, unless that the school has a reality based format where the test is also with realistic scenarios.
Ideally, a BJJ ,Full Jiu Jitsu, should have both parts , Self Defense ( I don`t use that term,I use Ultimate Extreme Survival Actions ,from hand to hand to weapons,plus all the Mind set and Science of Human Behavior Elements) and Sport Oriented Jiu Jitsu.
Online, Business Jiu Jitsu, are a disgrace !Shame on them!
You are coming to Europe in april to teach seminars in your academies in Switzerland and Croatia? This not your first time here, what dou you think of countries you’ve been here and about jiu-jitsu level compared to USA or Brazil?
I will be in Zurich on April,6th,check with Professors Bojan Mirkovic or Samir Dacic.
In Zagreb, April 9th.Contact with Prof.Bojan Mirkovic.Both seminars are for Competition BJJ.
As I said above,I love both cities,not so much for their attractions,because my time is very short on each city,but for sure due to the friendly,warm reception of all the UNION TEAM BJJ Europe Warriors and my black belts Bojan and Samir.
About the level of their BJJ , I can say that several ones ,males and females,are excellent for their graduation,some even if compared with higher levels .They are very committed and dedicated to their Professor.Of course, money y is a serious issue,and to travel to other countries or continents,is very difficult ..
But, with the will to improve, and the amazing dedication of Profs.Bojan and Samir ,I am very confident that they will continue to bring many victories for our UNION TEAM BJJ Europe!
Any other words for our readers?
One phrase only:” JIU JITSU is like Life: it is the Journey that matters,not the Destination.Don`t worry about belts,just about your skills improvement.Be always a student of our JIU JITSU!
