Grand Master Flavio Behring and the Behring Family are a reflection of Jiu-Jitsu's own history, beginning back in 1947 when Grand Master Behring began his apprenticeship in the "soft art" at the prodigious hands of Hélio Gracie. The teachings of the Gracie Family and over 60 years of training in Jiu-Jitsu, have provided Grand Master Behring with the technical foundation and structure necessary to become an effective practitioner, a high level competitor, and a professor and mentor who has educated generations of students and instructors.
Biography
Early life and career
During his childhood Flavio was frail and constantly battling asthma attacks, wich would keep him away from any sport activity due to his constant lack of breath. Flavio's father enrolled him in Grand Master Hélio Gracie's Academy hoping this activity would help him physically and provide emotional balance as well.
In 1951, at 14 years of age, he is chosen by the patriarch of the Gracie Family, Carlos Gracie, to respond to the challenge by a japanese fighter named Shimura, covered by the local papers, to fight Jiu-Jitsu at any place and any time. The Gracies placed Cr$ 5.000 on Flavio and Shimura never showed up.
As a dedicated student, Flavio became a monitor in the Gracie Academy and assisted Professor João Alberto Barreto. Flavio took over, for several months, as Professor to João Alberto's students as the Professor recovered from knee surgery.
As an adult, Grand Master Behring worked in Marketing yet continued his career as a Professor of Jiu-Jitsu and enrolled his children in the Great Master João Alberto Barreto's Academy, at the early age of 3 years old.
He traveled to the USA in 1963 with João Alberto (on a pioneering effort) to perform several technical demonstrations which took place at the FBI, the Naval Academy at Anapolis, and various other Universities and Academies. The two of them accepted challenges from fighters utilizing any martial arts or fighting technique in an effort to test Jiu-Jitsu's efficiency. Audiences were astounded at the supremacy of Jiu-Jitsu over other fighting techniques.
For several years, starting in 1964, Grand Master Behring worked at broadening Jiu-Jitsu's horizons by becoming intimate with Judo and even competing in Rio de Janeiro to the astonishment of Jiu-Jitsu and Judo members alike.
A few years later, two more promising fighters began to make their mark on Jiu-Jitsu. Their technical foundation and profound knowledge of this art form helped in the development of their career. At 14 years of age Marcelo and Sylvio Behring began specific training under their father's watchful eye to help them develop into strong fighters and effective professors.
Behring Jiu-Jitsu is an institution focused on the education, preparation, and character development of its students and is a result of Grand Master Behring's long standing dedication to the Jiu-Jitsu art form and his mastering of the Jiu-Jitsu techniques.
View Photos of the Behring Family
View Franco Behring Videos and Interviews
Visit the Franco Behring Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association Website
More information on the Franco Behring Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association - coming soon
Read an interview conducted with Flavio Behring - translated to English
Read Brazil Combat Article - translated to English
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