Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the fastest growing martial art on the planet and it has been proven to be the most effective martial art in a self-defense situation. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tends to rely upon proper leverage of techniques for success rather than brute strength, it is considered both self-defense and sport, making it ideal for men and women of all ages.
In fact, it’s dominance is what helped make the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) what it is today. Royce Gracie (a former coach of Butch Hiles) showed that with the use of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu a much smaller opponent could defeat a larger opponent with great ease and efficiency. He also showed Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s dominance over all other styles of martial arts, including wrestling, boxing, kung fu, ninjitsu, etc. After this public display, people have been searching for real Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gyms and teachers ever since.
Butch Hiles holds a multiple degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has trained many of the areas best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighters and Mixed Martial Arts Champions. In fact, their gym has many current BJJ black belts training and teaching daily. Training with
these black belts means that you will not only receive the best training you can get, but it also means you can receive rank in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on the spot.
At Butch Hiles Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & MMA, LLC you will receive quality, top notch, instruction in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, according to the tandards of Butch Hiles and Marcello C. Monteiro with his credentials given from the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation of Rio De Janeiro/ Brazil, CREF (Conselho regional de Educacao Fisica,Brazil), Secretaria de Esportes e Lazer da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, Associacao Brazileira das Federacacoes Desportivas and Escola de Educacao Fisica do Exercito.
Members will test for rank directly under Butch Hiles and/or Professor Marcello C. Monteiro
Official Rank Certificates endorsed by Marcello C. Monteiro
Access to the various Representative training facilities throughout the world
Training sessions and tournaments supported in all of our academies
Gi and No-Gi are two sides of the same coin. While they are indeed two distinct sports with characteristics based on attire, they both stem from the same Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu delivery system and share the same positional strategies, featuring control and submissions through mastery of leverage, pressure, mobility, and timing. We encourage exploration into both sports as we feel it will give you an overall better appreciation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as an art. Each sport is usually characterized by a different pace and arsenal unique unto itself. Learning both these aspects of grappling will only add to your development as a complete BJJ Athlete.
This class operates off of a rotating curriculum (approx. 10 to 12 weeks) specifically designed to introduce new students to our MMA/BJJ program. The goal is to build a strong foundation in all 3 ranges of techniques: Basics, Intermediate, and Advanced, so that a new student may feel comfortable and acquainted with the techniques and training methodologies that he/she will encounter in our regular classes.
Gi and No-Gi are two sides of the same coin. While they are indeed two distinct sports with characteristics based on attire, they both stem from the same Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu delivery system and share the same positional strategies, featuring control and submissions through mastery of leverage, pressure, mobility, and timing. We encourage exploration into both sports as we feel it will give you an overall better appreciation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as an art. Each sport is usually characterized by a different pace and arsenal unique unto itself. Learning both these aspects of grappling will only add to your development as a complete BJJ Athlete.
This class operates off of a rotating curriculum (approx. 10 to 12 weeks) specifically designed to introduce new students to our MMA/BJJ program. The goal is to build a strong foundation in all 3 ranges of techniques: Basics, Intermediate, and Advanced, so that a new student may feel comfortable and acquainted with the techniques and training methodologies that he/she will encounter in our regular classes.
About Marcello Monteiro
Marcello Monteiro is well known in Brazil as a teacher and coach for creating fighting strategies, teaching the most important tricks and details that speed up the learning process and facilitate the performance of each movement used by fighters.
“Monteirão”, as he is known among his friends, likes to state that, ” the difference between a champion and other athletes is associated with the details of each position”.
He is the an author of the first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu book ( Secret Positions ) , edited by Gracie Magazine, which teaches jiu-jitsu positions without gi. That magazine sold the Secret Positions No Gi Book (at the Gracie Shop) in Brazil for approximately five year from 1998-2003. He also took part in a film about De La Riva ‘s life and his created position, the De La Riva’s Hook, demonstrating some positions with De La Riva himself. He also participates in the film, along with Rickson Gracie, Carlson Gracie, Royler Gracie, Renzo Gracie, Zé Mário Sperry, Murilo Bustamante and Rodrigo Nogueira (MINOTAURO), telling about De La Riva’s life. That book is also currently being sold in Japan.
He is a certified and graduated technical teacher, registered at the “Federação de jiu-jitsu do estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil “, and has already prepared, trained and turned regular students into state, National and world champions.
He is truly one of the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coaches to ever grace the mat and many athletes have used his expertise to help the excel in the sport, including UFC champion, Rodrigo Nogueira (MINOTAURO).
This class operates off of a rotating curriculum (approx. 10 to 12 weeks) specifically designed to introduce new students to our MMA/BJJ program. The goal is to build a strong foundation in all 3 ranges of techniques: Basics, Intermediate, and Advanced, so that a new student may feel comfortable and acquainted with the techniques and training methodologies that he/she will encounter in our regular classes.
Butch Hiles has trained and competed in combat sports most of his life. However, his true calling has been the instruction and advice he has been able to offer his students and members. Although he has various titles in boxing, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, and many other martial arts, a series of injuries, which included a torn rotator cuff and multiple knee injuries, made sure that his competition window quickly closed. So, he seized the opportunity to help train anyone who was wanting to learn, while still training as often as he could.
Concentrating on training and teaching, Hiles was able to receive multiple black belts in various martial arts, which include Japanese Jujitsu, Reality Fighting, and various other combat martial arts. His training also included extensive boxing and Muay Thai training under Leon Ramsey, who is certified under the legendary Master Toddy and is also widely regarded as the best stand-up trainer in WV history. These additional achievements, have helped him broaden the instruction, advice, and training he can offer his students and members.
Even though Hiles has accomplished the rank of black belt in various martial arts, he is most proud of the belt he currently holds in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Hiles is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Marcello Monteiro , who is widely regarded as one of the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coaches. This pride comes from the extremely hard work he has put into his training as well as the effort it took to keep training through various injuries and complications. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is also widely regarded as the top martial art in the world for its effectiveness in reality competition, such as mixed martial arts as well as real life confrontations. Before Marcello Monteiro’s instruction, Hiles received his blue and purple belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from the legendary Royce Gracie of Ultimate Fighting Championship fame.
As an instructor, his fighters were very successful and that is, in many respects, much more impressive than anything he could have personally done as a competitor, and something he is more proud of than any other compliment or award he could have ever received. He has had winners, and champions, in every major combat sport during his days as a fight trainer.
He trained the first, and only, National IKF Amateur kickboxing champion, as well as many other kickboxing champions. He trained various boxing champions that have won everything from Golden Glove titles to the Rough n’ Rowdy and Toughman. He has trained champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that have won everything from state, or local tournaments, to national tournaments such as NAGA and the Arnold’s. He also trained multiple mixed martial arts, or Ultimate Fighting, champions. Hiles has had MMA title holders in every weight class in several organizations, which included a King of the Cage championship title when the King of the Cage was ranked number two in the United States behind the UFC.
Pictured are Some of the Champions Trained by Butch Hiles
Hiles was inducted into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame, as an instructor, as well as several other martial arts hall of fame’s for his training, competing, and dedication to martial arts as a whole. It should also be noted that he has turned down several nominations but is currently a part of at least a dozen.
Hiles was inducted into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame, as an instructor, as well as several other martial arts hall of fame’s for his training, competing, and dedication to martial arts as a whole. It should also be noted that he has turned down several nominations but is currently a part of at least a dozen.
Hiles also led the fight to keep Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legal in the state of West Virginia. Due to ignorance of the state athletic commission, and their lack of knowledge in regards to submissions and martial arts, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was briefly banned in West Virginia. However, Mr. Hiles was able to win a monumental court case to keep Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as well as other martial arts such as Japanese jiu-jitsu and randori legal in West Virginia.
Mixed martial arts (MMA) was also banned in WV for nearly 10 years. However, in 2011, with the help of Sam Minardi and Zuffa, LLC they were able to bring MMA back to the state of WV. This was a monumental victory for the sport, the fans , and everyone involved.
In order to give back to the community and continue to be a pioneer in the sport of MMA in WV, Butch Hiles continues to bring in top level MMA stars for events, seminars, and appearances. In 2011, Butch Hiles hosted a movie premier and flew in the director, Gregory Bayne, and it’s star, former UFC and WEC champion, Jens Pulver. The event brought in underprivileged organizations and youth from around the area and allowed them to watch the movie for free. It was one of the most successful events in WV history.
Butch Hiles currently hosts the longest running grappling tournament in West Virginia, which also features the official state Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu championship – WVGO Tournaments
He has promoted MMA events, grappling events, boxing events, and judged and/or refereed in hundreds of competitions in WV and neighboring states.
Butch Hiles is now doing seminars in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, self-defense (corporate and personal), bully-proofing, and much more.
West Virginia is lucky enough to have many talented instructors in all aspect of martial arts. For that, we are all forever grateful. We would like to encourage you to train with any of the great instructors and teams in your area and we hope that if you are in our area you will choose our gym. Everyone is welcome and we would like to wish you luck in your search for a good gym and a great place to train. We sincerely hope that you choose ours.
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In 1914, a Japanese Jiu-Jitsu and Judo master named Mitsuyo Maeda, (AKA Count Koma) stopped in Brazil during his World Judo tour. Maeda decided to prolong his stay and help a Japanese colony settle in the North of Brazil.
A Brazilian diplomat named Gasto Gracie helped the colony with land and cattle. In return Koma, went against the Japanese tradition and volunteered to teach real Jiu-Jitsu to a non-Japanese, Gasto’s son Carlos.
Carlos, who was the oldest of five brothers, became so fascinated with Maedas techniques that in 1925 he opened the first Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Helio, Carlos’ youngest brother, was physically frail and would constantly faint when doing any type of physical activity. The family doctor advised him to avoid any kind of exercise. Consequently, Helio would sit on the side of the mat watching Carlos teach classes. He did that for a couple of years.
One day, when he was 16 years old, a student showed up for class, but Carlos was not around and Helio said, my brother is not here, but if you want, I can go through the techniques with you. I’ve been watching my brother for so long that I memorized all the moves.
Helio went through the moves with the student. He was so excited and enthusiastic about pleasing the student that when Carlos arrived and apologized for being late the student said, I’ve had a class with your brother and if you don’t mind from now on I’ll continue taking classes with him.
From that day on Helio became an instructor and soon after he was teaching the vast majority of the classes while Carlos became more involved with the development of the Gracie Diet and managing the fighting careers of his brothers.
In spite of his small frame and weight of only 140 pounds, Helio became the mastermind behind the development of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, adapting the techniques of Japanese Jiu-Jitsu so that they depended entirely upon leverage, rather than strength and explosiveness. He was driven by a constant determination to find effective ways to deal with every possible aspect of a real fight.
Daring to break away from the traditional Japanese style, he began experimenting, modifying and perfecting simple techniques that would be effective regardless of stature.
That is how he developed this style of Jiu-Jitsu. Though Gracie Jiu-Jitsu descended from the ancient Japanese style, the differences are quite apparent. Many of the Japanese facets of the art, which depend on physical prowess and stiff motion, were tossed aside, leaving only pure technique .
Royce Gracie was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 37-year-old Gracie is one of nine children, seven of whom are boys. His training in Jiu-Jitsu began at a very early age as a game with his father Helio.
Royce began competing in tournaments at age eight.
He received his blue belt at age 16 and was promoted to black belt in less than two years. Royce moved to the United States at age 18 to live with his brother, Rorion. They began teaching private classes out of their garage, sometimes for more than ten hours a day. Rorion and Royce opened the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy eleven years ago in Torrance, California. Today it is one of the largest martial arts schools in the country.
Royce’s reputable career as a fighter began in 1993 after defeating three opponents in the first Ultimate Fighting Championship. His brother Rorion came up with this innovative challenge as a way to show Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to the world.
Discipline after discipline was defeated by the slight 6’1â€, 180 pound Royce Gracie. His opponents consistently outweighed him by more than 50 pounds. He went on to win 3 UFC titles and today is the only man in the history of no holds barred matches to successfully defeat four opponents in one night.
Royce is still very active in the fight world with most recent fights in the PRIDE Grand Prix held in Japan in 2000. Royce’s success has opened the eyes of many disbelievers to the importance of leverage and technique in grappling.
The legend of the Gracie family began in Brazil with Royces father’, Helio Gracie. Today Royce is privileged to spread the techniques perfected by his father all over the world. Throughout his busy fighting career Royce has maintained a rigorous travel schedule of seminars and classes. His list of students is enormous.
Royce has taught many of the big screen greats like Chuck Norris, Ed O’Neal, Guy Ritchie and Nicholas Cage. He has also been very active with the CIA, FBI, DEA, Secret Service, Army Rangers, Army Special Forces, Navy Seals and many sheriff and police departments.
Royce Gracie and Ed O’Neal