With the Summer Fight Lagos (Algarve) Jiu-Jitsu Championship taking place in Lagos this month, I would like to introduce one of the participating clubs and the story “behind” the REY BJJ Jiu-Jitsu Club.
José Rinaldo de Arruda dos Santos, better known as “Master Rey”, was born in Pernambuco, Brazil. When he was just five years old, his father passed away, which led him and his mother to move to the northern region of São Paulo, to Brasilândia. As Master Rey says, “Even the people would say, this is not a favela, here it’s a community.”
In school, despite being intelligent, he was a student who “did not tolerate insults”, which led to many fights with his classmates and complaints to his mother, Maria Esperança Arruda. When he was nine years old, in an attempt to help him, Maria decided to enrol him in boxing classes with Professor José, at the Nacional Club. Up until he was 12, it was his sport.
Around that time, a social project led by Judo Sensei Milton Campos appeared in his area and, thus, Master Rey began his journey in martial arts. Over the years, alongside earning a degree in Physical Education, Master Rey trained in various martial arts, from judo to aikido. He trained with Sensei Edilson Gregório, who he considers his role model and sensei (teacher) and, to this day, he follows the same class format on his tatami. At the age of 22, he started training in jiu-jitsu with Master Igor Cavallo, who, in his words, after 20 years, “is one of the best jiu-jitsu fighters I have ever known in my life”.
Holding a purple belt, Master Rey emigrated to Portugal in 2018. Upon arriving in Lagos, he met other jiu-jitsu practitioners, Thiago Praxedes, Ivan Carvalho, and Josué Vasconcelos, and they began training in the back of an old supermarket beneath the tax office (now the Elite Wellness by Santos Gym). Being the most advanced in rank among them, and at Josué’s insistence, Rey began teaching them. And thus, “Master Rey” was born.
From that point on, Master Rey began teaching and training in jiu-jitsu, accumulating knowledge himself and advancing through the belts, until he proudly reached the rank he holds today, a first-degree black belt. In Lagos, he was officially the first master to practise the martial art of jiu-jitsu in a certified sports facility, at the Lift Gym.
He explains his motivation. “I speak for myself when I say that my focus is for children to be champions in all aspects of life. To become a good father, a good wife, a good worker, a good boss, a good leader and a good follower. That’s the focus. To have more, you need to have self-control and self-confidence, [to] study, chase after your goals, work, fight and know that life isn’t easy. Life will knock you down, but just like on the mat, I fall, I get up. I fall, I get up. That’s what will make our children champions.”
With the pandemic, some personal plans did not materialise for Master Rey, but other opportunities arose, notably the chance to work with Ricardo Sousa on his Fusion project, an association aimed at helping the community. In this role, Master Rey would teach and train jiu-jitsu as a defence against bullying, preparing children and teenagers to gain more self-confidence, self-control, and other valuable skills and abilities. Currently, the student Thiago Praxedes, who was awarded a black belt by Master Rey, proudly continues this project under the guidance of Ricardo Sousa.
“REY BJJ” opened its doors to lovers and practitioners of the martial art of jiu-jitsu, as well as its philosophy, in January of this year, supported by Master Rey´s longtime friend, Master Rodrigo Barros, who also teaches various classes. “The couch is our biggest enemy, and for children, it’s the PlayStation, the television, the computer and the cellphone,” explains Master Rey, “But the parents hold the reins. And parents are the mirror for their children. If you only do these things, don’t expect your child to do differently because that’s the example you set.”
Mr. Orlando, the current President of the Grupo de Amigos do Chinicato, is one of the major supporters of REY BJJ, providing the club’s event room so that students have a space to practise and socialise.
And for Master Rey, there are no excuses for indolence. “Those who are good at making excuses aren’t good at doing anything. If you always make excuses, you’ll never be good at doing anything. So don’t make excuses, just go and do it.”
So if you want a new focus for an adult or a child, in the words of a famous sports brand, ’Just do it’!
The Jiu-Jitsu Championship takes place on 9 and 10 August at the Lagos Sports Complex Pavilion, with free entry for the community and the general public (smoothcomp.com/pt_BR/event/11262).
Master Rey´s classes are held at the Grupo de Amigos do Chinicato every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 3.30 pm to 9.00 pm (summer schedule). REY BJJ offers classes in self-defence, jiu-jitsu, and adapted jiu-jitsu for children, adults, and anyone interested in practising the martial art of jiu-jitsu.
+351 962 747 992
Why should children train in jiu-jitsu?
Before we answer that question, let us share what Master Rey has to say about the martial art of Jiu-Jitsu: it is a philosophy of life that allows students to develop physically while also working on their psychological state in an environment conducive to decision-making and teamwork, fostering camaraderie.
The benefits include discipline and respect for rules, self-esteem, self-confidence, emotional control, motor coordination development, reflex conditioning, tension relief, anxiety control, social integration, and assistance in the development of intelligence, audacity, courage, agility and pain resistance.
In the practice of jiu-jitsu, children can develop a sense of right and wrong, which is quite valuable and can be used for the benefit of others, in addition to getting in touch and socialising with other members. With the well-prepared content and work by the Master, students can jointly share their positive experiences from the practice of jiu-jitsu.
Even though some individuals may disparage the practice and emphasise its violence, studies show that fighting helps control aggressive and violent behaviours. Jiu-jitsu has been increasingly growing in society and is being practised by all age groups, aiming to reduce aggressiveness, promote respect, and enhance psychomotor development.
The martial art of jiu-jitsu is not only experienced in practice but also approached theoretically, through historical records which explore its ethical values. Physical education plays an important role in rescuing the values of martial arts. Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which originated from Japanese judo, was adopted by the Gracie family, and later taught and practised internationally by Brazilian Masters and their disciples.
So, what do we need to work on with the children, in Master Rey´s opinion? “To have self-confidence. It doesn’t matter if they are too skinny, too fat, too tall, or too short. Regardless of how they are, they need to have self-confidence. Walk with their chin up, always looking forward. And be inquisitive but at the right times. Don’t accept just anything. Be careful with what will be offered to you, what the world will offer you, like drugs and such things. So, it’s about preparing children for life, not just for the mat. The mat is easy, life is complicated.”
