Vale Tudo and BJJ

Vale tudo, meaning “anything goes,” was a Brazilian combat sport that predated modern MMA and served as a crucial testing ground for BJJ. With minimal rules and often no gloves, these fights pitted practitioners of different styles against each other, creating a proving ground for martial arts effectiveness.

BJJ fighters often excelled in vale tudo thanks to their ability to control opponents on the ground and secure submissions. These fights helped refine BJJ strategies, highlighting which techniques worked under pressure and which needed adaptation. The close relationship between BJJ and vale tudo laid the groundwork for BJJ’s eventual dominance in the early years of MMA, when the Gracies introduced the UFC to the world.