Many people do not know that acai played a very special roll in the history of martial arts. If you are a fan of the martial arts you have certainly heard of the Gracie family, and their system of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). For those who do not know, Gracie BJJ is a system of martial arts that is designed to help a smaller, weaker, person defend themselves against a stronger, bigger, opponent. It is mostly a ground fighting technique that uses chokes, joint-locks, and other submission moves to subdue an adversary.
Founders of the Gracie martial arts legacy, Carlos and Helio Gracie, learned the Japanese style of Jiu-Jitsu from Mitsuyo Maeda. Over the years they adapted and evolved Maeda’s style and transformed it into what it is today. This fighting style become a Gracie family tradition, and a large number of the very large clan still devote their entire lives to the study and competition of this fighting style.
The system gained instant notoriety and credibility when Royce Gracie used it to beat out much larger and stronger opponents in the first Ultimate Fighting Championship tournament held in 1993. Today it is a staple in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), and nearly all fighters are well schooled in this form of fighting.
So, where does the acai fruit come into play in all of this? Well, as most of you know the acai palm is native to the rainforests in Brazil, and has only recently been made available to the rest of the world. The Gracie family, especially Rorium, were very interested in finding ways to keep their fighters strong and energized for matches and training. This lead them to develop a specific routine known as the Gracie Diet, which the acai berry was a huge part of.
Gracie fighters would start off their day with an acai bowl mixed with Guarana and other natural fruits. They would repeat this meal after training. Since this combination was such a good source of energy and healthy nutrition, it was the perfect way to keep the fighters strong even with incredibly vigorous training schedules. Without this diet the Gracie family may never have been able to keep up their dedication to the sport of martial arts.
An acai berry drink is the perfect fit for marital artists, and all athletes, looking for a replacement of sugar filled energy drinks. It has said to provide a similar boost of energy as coffee or Redbull, but without harmful stimulants and sugar. The berry also is packed with antioxidants and other nutrients that are essential for strong athletic performances.
The acai berry is still a staple among most Brazilian athletes, who have used it for many years to help them dominate both surfing and Jiu-Jitsu competitions. It is starting to be noticed by many other athletes around the world who are tired of losing to those who know about this powerful little superfood.