August 12, 2010

Jiu-jitsu club on Flathead reservation

406 Jiu-Jitsu Club molds modern warriors

By Adrian JawortThe school started in the Fall of 2008 and is the first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu club on an Indian reservation in Montana, and perhaps nation as far as Brien knows. He recognizes there are a variety of Mixed Martial Arts schools on reservations throughout the nation. “But for me,” he said, “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is really the heart of it.”

Brien competes in MMA fights periodically, and usually wins quickly. “To me, MMA and Jiu-Jitsu are two different things. Jiu-Jitsu is what I do and it’s my hobby, it’s my sport, it’s a daily thing. MMA is the challenge for when I’m in the mood for it.”
Comment:  I'd be willing to bet that this is the first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu club on any Indian reservation.

The headline reinforces an old stereotype, of course. Every Native athlete is apparently a warrior. Or perhaps every Native is a warrior. "Native receptionist is a phone warrior." "Native dental hygienist is a tooth warrior." Etc.

For more on the subject, see "Rezdog" the Mixed Martial Artist and Martial Artist Yells War Cries.

Below:  "Aaron Brien, shown here on the Crow Reservation, is the head of the 406 Jiu-Jitsu Club on the Flathead Indian Reservation." (Adrian Jawort)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

This article is actually 'against' the stereotypes in a way. See:

“It’s hard to do without being cheesey! We come from a warrior culture, but we don’t want to be walking into our fights with feathers in our hair.” He cites a few Crow warriors like Plenty Coup and Medicine Crow. “We have the ability to be just like them, but just in a different form and fashion.”

...and he's just proud of his Crow ancestors who ARE in fact warriors....

Interesting read....