Pacers center Roy Hibbert trains in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at legendary Gracie family academy
It's a bit cliche to compare the battles that happen between NBA big men down in the paint to physical combat, but there's a certain kernel of truth to the notion. The constant jostling for position and active use of hands makes post play one of the hardest aspects of professional basketball to officiate, and anyone who claims the NBA isn't a contact sport isn't paying attention to the physical beating exacted in the lane.
How do you prepare for that kind of thing? The answer probably isn't Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a grappling and ground based martial art -- but for Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert, the answer is totally jiu jitsu.
And Hibbert's not just training any old place. The Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy is named for the legendary Gracie fighting family. It'd be like getting winning lessons from the Michael Jordan Victory-And-Devastating-Your-Opponent-Morally Academy.
So the next time Tim Duncan sees Hibbert for a little friendly sparring, as the two regularly do, he might want to be on the lookout for an omaplata.
(h/t CBSSports.com)
Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock/USA Today Sports
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Posted by Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy on Saturday, May 23, 2015
