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It provides the student with the ability to snap an opponent’s leg like a twig, while at the same time teaching the student to know their own strength and respect their opponent.

This is why the martial art of Jiu-Jitsu is known as “the gentle art.”

Junior Al Williams and sophomore Adrian Saldana, both purple belts, have brought Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to the Sacramento State campus, creating a cost-free club, open for all students.

Before taking up Jiu-Jitsu, Williams and Saldana both wrestled and practiced Judo in the Sacramento area.

Williams advanced to the state tournament as a wrestler at Sacramento City College.

“I found Jiu-Jitsu and found it to be so much better,” said Williams, the club’s president.

Carlos Gracie pioneered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, modifying the Japanese style in 1914 to fit the no-rules style of Brazil fighting.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu differs from most other fighting styles, including Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, because it is concentrated on the ground, using arm locks, leg locks, chokes and other holds to keep opponents from getting off effective strikes (punches and kicks).

Jiu-Jitsu matches run from five to ten minutes long and are won by either forcing your opponent to tap out by submission, or scoring more points than your opponent by the end of the match.

Points are earned by gaining control over your opponent.Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, led by the Gracie family, has dominated no-holds barred tournaments where all fighting styles are allowed, particularly the Ultimate Fighting Championships.

“Jiu-Jitsu has better success rates versus all other forms of martial arts,” Saldana said. “It will take a striker out of his element and render him useless on the ground.

“It’s like taking a shark onto land where he’s defenseless.”

For now, Saldana is focused on fighting strictly Jiu-Jitsu, but he remains open about fighting no-holds barred in the future.

Saldana, who has practiced the Brazilian art for six years, puts his training to use as a bouncer at Sacramento’s Club Fantasy and Tower Club.

“I train hard in Jiu-Jitsu because it is a very effective style of fighting that most people don’t know,” Saldana said.

The art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu also levels the playing field, making it possible for all fighters, big or small, to come away victorious.

“Very little is muscle, it’s all technique. It’s made for a little guy to beat a lot bigger opponent,” Saldana said.

Beating opponents is something Saldana has done a lot of lately, taking first place in the advanced division of the 180 weight class at the U.S. Open and the Capitol City Grappling Open.

Winning, however, comes at a price, as Saldana has suffered a broken elbow (bent 90-degrees in the wrong direction), four stitches on his lip, and numerous black eyes.

“You don’t want to disappoint your instructor,” Saldana said. “If I’m choking in a match, instead of tapping out, it’s better to go night-night.”

Saldana feels he can earn a black belt in roughly six-years time. His instructor, Cassio Werneck, is currently the only black belt in the Sacramento-area.

Sacramento State’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu club, which will be receiving a guest appearance from Werneck on April 12, meets every week on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 6-8 pm at Yosemite hall, room 101. The club also meets at the same time on Friday at Yosemite Hall, room 183.

The practices are low impact and safe, giving the student a cardiovascular workout while teaching a method of self-defense.

For more information call Adrian Saldana, club vice president, at (916) 224-1702.

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