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Jiujitsu originated from Japan. It was the Samurai style of grappling for when combat went to the ground and nobody had weapons. It was and still is a pretty devastating form of self defense that spread around the entire world. Many Japanese migrated to Brazil and there, Brazilian Jiujitsu became a thing. Two cultures that really loved grappling, Brazilians flocked to jiujitsu gyms. It was the Gracie family that brought it into the mainstream U.S with the early days of the UFC. Where you saw these smaller dudes going in and very quickly taking down / tapping out these giant guys when they didn't have weight classes. Some people didn't even think it was real. You know it's real if you've ever had a rolling session in a real Jiujitsu gym. Jiujutsu is a hard-core sport. You pretty much spend your first year just learning how to survive if you have no grappling experience. It puts a lot of stress on your body, but the knowledge of grappling and being able to defend yourself is worth it. So it's just kind of weird how it's evolved today. Much has changed in the sport and what became famous for it's nasty takedowns, is now also synonymous with "butt scooting." Decades ago, a jiujitsu tournament was guaranteed to show you the filthiest throws, slams, and explosive grappling. Today, you pretty much just watch two dudes butt scoot towards each-other and flop their legs around taunting the other person to approach their guard. Until one of them grabs the other guys leg for a heel-hook. Now of course this isn't every match but it's become often enough that its expected and even joked about in the grappling community. What's next for jiujitsu? Will we ever go back to the more brutal days of sweeps and rear naked chokes in every match? Or will the butt scooting evolve into something even more odd?

Spartacus was a Roman soldier who deserted his legion, was later captured and sold into slavery. While readying to fight as a gladiator, he proved himself a strategist. Bringing together about 70 other slavery induced gladiators, he planned a massive escape. Escape they did. Spartacus and his 70 gladiators would escape, fight, lose some men and then gain more as they pushed from city to city. Victory to victory, Spartacus proved himself a hard knocks general. They would take out entire legions, fighting for their freedom. This was the Third Seville war, started by Spartacus. He was going from Roman city to city, freeing slaves and enlisting them. Their goal to end slavery and the atrocities allowed by the Roman government. He kept going until his followers we're in the hundreds of thousands and he commanded a handful of tough legions. Spartacus wave of retribution against the Roman government was ended when general Marcus Crassus and his 8 legions battled Spartacus in 71BC. Although his body was never found and he may have escaped, the rebellion ended that day. The 6,000 some odd remaining Spartacus followers were crucified beside roman streets as warning to any who may fight for their freedom again. Spartacus can teach us a lot. As a warrior, as a freedom fighter. Don't give up and accept your fate that society has cast on you. Fight back. Never surrender. Even if you know you're on the losing side, fight for what you know to be true. Spartacus was never documented again after that battle, whether he died or escaped. What he did though, is still heavily researched. Spartacus was a big mentor and influencer for Voltaire, a French philosopher associated with starting the French Revolution. Toussaint Louverture, who led the Haitian slave revolt and was dubbed "The Black Spartacus." If you identify with fighting for the ones who society discards, you can find a mentor in Spartacus.