Vale tudo translates from Portuguese as “anything goes” and is a Brazilian martial art that has become popular around the world. In Brazil, the term vale tudo was first used for fistfights that took place in circuses during the 1920s.
The circus term was barely used until around 1959–1960, when it was used to describe style-versus-style fights on the Brazilian television show Heróis do Ringue (Heroes of the Ring). Members of the Gracie family were among the show’s organizers, and all participants were highly skilled fighters in their own martial arts styles.
From 1960 onward, vale tudo remained an “underground” subculture, and most fights took place in martial arts dojos or small gyms. Vale tudo was mainly centered around the city of Rio de Janeiro, but many fights also took place in more northern regions and in the southern state of Bahia, where Capoeira was particularly dominant.
In and around Rio de Janeiro, the main rivalry was between Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Luta Livre, while in other regions, various martial arts competed against one another.
Gracie and the introduction of the UFC
Rorion Gracie, a member of the famous Gracie family, moved to America and introduced vale tudo to a new market by founding the UFC in 1993.
The UFC’s enormous success sparked an explosion of vale tudo around the world, especially in Japan, and it regained popularity in Brazil. This resulted in two organizations that organized vale tudo competitions: WVC and IVC.
Both organizations operated from the Brazilian city of São Paulo, and many of today’s MMA stars began their careers there.
After vale tudo fights were banned in São Paulo, both organizations ceased to exist in 2002. The world turned its attention mainly to the safer Mixed Martial Arts, where stricter rules apply.
Vale Tudo “underground”
When vale tudo was also banned in the United States, it retreated once again into Brazil’s “underground.” Numerous vale tudo fights still take place in Brazil every year, but because of their violent and bloody image, the fights face considerable criticism from the media.
Critics believe that vale tudo fights should adopt the rules of the much safer Mixed Martial Arts.
Vale tudo supporters strongly oppose this because the MMA developed in America today differs greatly from vale tudo and should therefore be regarded as an entirely different sport, just as Muay Thai differs from the safer kickboxing, for example.
