Ten blind students from the Los Angeles Braille Academy have been coming to MC Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since February to train each week with owner and head instructor Marcelo Cavalcanti.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu was developed in Rio de Janeiro in the early 20th century by a family of martial artists named Gracie. It was based on Japanese jiu-jitsu but stressed fighting on the ground.

When two combatants practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu square off, they don't need to see one another because the martial art centers on locks and holds, he said. Almost all the fights end up with the fighters grappling on the ground.

On his website http://www.mcbjj.com Marcelo Cavalcanti speaks about his history and brings potential sutdents into his world.

This is part of what it says:

I’ve been studying Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for over sixteen years. I was awarded my “Black Belt” from Rigan Machado and for the last six years I’ve been teaching in both Brazil and the U.S.A…The last four years I started a team of students at MC Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Redondo Beach, CA U.S.A., where I live as well.

The secret to my success has been my students. I have been fortunate to assemble a team of the finest, most respectful in the area. These are individuals who have learned to love Jiu-Jitsu as much as me.

Growing as a person means sharing what I have learned and what I have to offer. I have started reaching out to other academies and have offered seminars myself. My goal is to bring my ethics, my craft and my drive out to the community so the sport can grow with people who share that same sense of sportsmanship that I possess.