Self-Defense vs. Sport Jiu-Jitsu at RGA Pittsburgh

I'm reposting this, which was originally a question from someone looking at our school for the first time. I've edited it a little and added some things. The question was: "Does your school focus more on sport or self-defense?" It is a good question and I had to reflect on it some before writing an answer. There are schools that focus on one or the other, if not exclusively then at least they state one or the other as a focus. For example, Gracie Torrence states that the main goal of their jiu-jitsu is self-defense. I think Alliance would be on the other end of the spectrum. There are both great schools and, although I have trained with students from both, I have never been at either school for a class. Below is what I feel is the focus of our school. Individual members may have a different focus. Hopefully the response will give you a better idea of what our guiding principals are at Renzo Gracie Pittsburgh.


Robert,

Sorry that it took me a while to respond. I saw your message when I was training in NYC and wanted to provide a more thoughtful answer than was possible on my Blackberry while sitting at a restaurant with other people.

I do not think we are really about competition or self-defense. What I think we emphasize is more like personal development. For example, use the following as an analogy: someone who enjoys mountain biking is not necessarily doing it for competition and may not use his bike as transportation to and from work. It is more of a game that the person derives challenge and other benefits such as health and camaraderie from.

The techniques of jiu-jitsu were developed from both sport and martial-craft/self-defense over the centuries. There has always been a co-mingling between the two different expressions of jiu-jitsu and more generally grappling. One of the modern geniuses of martial arts, Kano Jigoro, (founder of Judo), emphasized training/competing with a resisting opponent. He felt that this type of training was the only way to truly learn how to apply techniques even if they were martial or self-defense applications. Another way of saying this is that the only way to develop effective self-defense skills is to hone them in a competitive environment. This can be friendly competition among classmates among classmates or high-level international sport. The venue doesn't matter. At Renzo Gracie Pittsburgh we adhere to this philosophy. Renzo Gracie (one of my teachers) believes this and has had extensive "street" experience and teaching experience with NYC and Rio De Janeiro special police units. Katas, or as we say in western martial arts, "shadow boxing" and drilling techniques is important but cannot, on their own, realistically make someone competent in a high pressure, real situation.

To answer your question in a more specific way, the techniques we teach/practice, especially in our beginners ("fundamentals jiu-jitsu classes) will be effective outside the academy on the street or in entry-level competitions. They will give you a good base. You will not see "defense to a chair strike" or how to disarm a knife-wielding person. There are places which teach this. I do not think there is strong evidence that it really helps in life and death or seriously stressful situations. I feel that, as a black belt, I would be at a serious disadvantage against a sixteen year old kid with a five-inch blade. Furthermore, some of the benefits I would receive from my training would not be specific techniques. Some important benefits may be more body awareness and clarity of mind under stress. I do believe that I am safer and more confident due to my jiu-jitsu training and technique although this is tempered by understanding the limits of it. I hope this answered your question. See you in class.

-Warren

New to Jiu-Jitsu? What to expect Q & A:

Q: What should I do if I would like to try a Jiu-Jitsu class, a fitness class, or a private class?

A: Fill out the simple contact form under the contact tab on our webpage. Someone will get in touch with you soon. Alternatively, just stop by the school 10 minutes or so before a class and speak with an instructor. See our schedule page on the website http://www.renzograciepittsburgh.com/for class times.

Q: What should I do once I arrive?

A: Introduce yourself to the instructor, fill out the participation waiver completely, tell the instructor a little about yourself and your background in athletics and fitness if any, and ask questions.

Q: Who can do Jiu-Jitsu?

A: Anyone who is healthy enough for exercise can participate. In your class you will find people from ages 14-50+. Most fundamentals classes include beginners as well as a few more experienced participants who often help new students with the techniques. Both men and women participate in our classes. Our women students can elect to train with other women or with anyone in the classes.

Q: What is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

A: It is a grappling-based martial art that teaches how to control a resisting adversary through the use of leverage, timing and creating situations that utilize strength imbalances. As a sport and activity it is one of the fastest growing worldwide. Mixed martial arts (MMA), of which BJJ is a integral part, is the fastest growing sport in the world in terms of revenues and viewership.

Q: Will I get hurt in class?

A: Our Fundamentals Jiu Jitsu program is designed though years of experience to minimize the chances of injuries. Instructors monitor students training constantly and also ensure that the environment is safe. For example very large and athletic people are paired with people of similar stature. There are no strikes in the fundamentals program. As with any contact sport there is some risk.

Q: Do you have women in your school?

A: Yes. We have several women members.

Q: What does it cost?

A: We offer beginners a free introduction lesson. After the introduction lesson you can stay and watch a class. If you can't make a class just come by and watch. Meet the intructor and talk to other members. If you would like to try some classes in a more hands on way before joining us they we offer a 5 day unlimited pass for just $20 for new prospective members. If you would like to stay with us after that ask an instructor to go over payments options with you. Our prices start at $89-140 month for adult classes and start at $65 for youth.  Those with at least 6 months of Brazilian Jiu jitsu, or extensive grappling, judo, or wrestling get 5 days unlimited training free. Visitors from other academies are free.

Q: Do I have to be an athlete to do your classes?

A: No! Most people are fit enough to start our classes. You can go at your own pace.

Q: What is a typical class structure?

A: 10-minute warm-up, which is designed to create heat in the muscles and develop basic movement skills from Jiu-Jitsu. 40 minute of instructions and drilling techniques. 10 minute of live positional training.

Q: Do you have showers?

A: Yes, we have two showers.

Q: I’m new in the area, is your school a good place to meet new friends?

A: One of the best things about Jiu-Jitsu is that it brings people together. We cultivate a friendly atmosphere in class and often have events which can include an informal get-together at a bar to watch the UFC, a group trip to New York City main Renzo School, an academy party, or going to an MMA event to watch your friends compete.

Q: What is a “gi”?

A: A “gi” is the training uniform used by Judo and traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Unlike some martial arts that use uniforms for dress only, our gis are very functional. They are a training tool that teaches skills. Grips and holds use the gi so it is much heavier and stronger than uniforms used in Karate for example. In addition to being a teaching tool the gi is also important for building self-defense skills since in Pittsburgh we often wear jackets when we are out on the street. We also have classes which are no-gi . Ask an instructor how you can get a gi.

Q: Should I train with the gi or without (no-gi Jiu-Jitsu)

A: You should do both no matter what your goals are. The gi teaches posture, help make your defensive skills crisp and builds certain types of physical strengths. These are just some of the benefits. Training without a gi builds speed and sharpens certain offensive skills to name a few benefits. It is a lot of fun to learn different holds and movements for each discipline as well as seeing where techniques intersect or need to be modified. There are competitions both with and without the gi. Most of the top competitors are champions in both. Most good MMA fighters train both gi and no-gi at different times.

Q: How do I get a gi?

A: Ask an instructor at Renzo Gracie Pittsburgh when you arrive and they will help you. We sell top quality gis at good prices.

Q: Do the classes teach you how to fight like fighters in the UFC and other MMA events?

A: UFC fighters and most professional MMA fighters spent years training and are full time fighters. Many are also exceptional athletes. Most of the best ones train or started training in a school like Renzo Gracie Pittsburgh. You will immediately be more of an educated fan of MMA by participating our classes. After more time you will learn to use many of the most important skill that top MMA fighters use.

Q: What should I do if I want to compete in mixed martial arts or sport Jiu-Jitsu?

A: Join our school and participate in our classes! UFC champions Frank Edgar and George St. Pierre are often seen in public classes at Renzo’s in NYC. You should be prepared to dedicate lots of time and work. It is not an overnight process but months and years of training. Anyone who wants to compete can do so at some level if they can dedicate the time and effort. Many of our members do not compete. Some of the most respected Jiu-Jitsu practitioners have never competed.

Q: Will I get in shape and lose weight by doing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

A: Without a doubt, yes. We have had many members loose over 20lbs in a couple of months and change their body composition to one with less fat and more muscle. There is no other activity that, in one hour, does as thorough a job of mixing resistance training, endurance/cardio, balance, coordination and flexibility as BJJ or grappling arts. Other benefits are breath control, hand and core strengthening and mind/body connection. Almost all muscles are worked. Metabolism is raised so calories are burned not just in class but also throughout the rest of your week. Our conditioning classes offer an extra boost to get you in shape even faster since we feel physical fitness is so important.

www.renzograciepittsburgh.com

Jiu-Jitsu Techniques and Position Outline

The amount of technique in jiu jitsu can be overwhelming especially when you are new to the activity. It helps to organize it into categories and names. The Japanese did this very well with Judo. Techniques are grouped into two general categories for example, ground and standing techniques. There are subgroups under this. Wrestling has not done as thorough of a job of naming and organizing techniques. Organization and naming is, in my opinion more important in the beginning learning stages of jiu jitsu. Because competitive rules and, hence, priorities in jiu jitsu and mixed martial arts are so different than Judo, and other techniques not used in Judo are involved, the following can serve as a guide to organizing jiu jitsu techniques. Another reason I believe that Judo names don’t suffice is that something is lost in using Japanese language words for English speakers. [1]

John Danaher, who is recognized as one of the world’s top jiu jitsu instructors by many people in the community, attempts to define the goal/purpose of jiu jitsu techniques as the science of winning a fight by control leading to submission of the adversary. This definition brings up the possibility of two groups of techniques; control techniques (including techniques that put the executor in a better position) and submission techniques. The following is an outline of these two groups with major subgroups listed.

Control Techniques

1. Takedowns

a. Throws

b. Leg attacks

c. Trips and foot sweeps

d. Sacrifice takedowns

e. Pulling opponent to your guard

f. Snapdowns and head control pulldowns

g. Go behinds

h. joint pressure and submission attempts that solicit reaction

2. Sweeps/reversals

a. Hip rolls

b. Hook sweeps

c. Rolling/”berimbolo sweeps”

d. Spider guard sweeps

e. Leg attack sweeps

f. Arm and head crank sweeps

g. Drags

h. Hip bumps

i. Cross corner control or “flower sweeps”

j. Go behinds

3. Pins

a. Side control

b. Knee on stomach

c. Headlock

d. Mount

e. Back control

The Basic submission categories are:

1. Chokes

a. Strangles

b. Blood chokes

c. Windpipe crushes

2. Armlocks

a. Elbow locks

b. Wrist locks

c. Shoulder cranks

3. Leglocks

a. Knee bars

b. Straight footlocks

c. Twisting leglocks

4. Neck and Spinal attacks

a. Neck cranks

b. Facelocks

c. Spine attacks

5. Crushes

a. Muscle crushes

b. Tendon and bone crushes

c. Joint openers

6. Other submissions that can be important but are either not specifically a technique or are not relevant to grappling are Fatigue, Strikes, and pressure to soft tissues such as eyes.

Another way jiu jitsu techniques are organized is by positions. This organizational outline coincides with the point system of Brazilian jiu jitsu . It is simpler. It stresses starting positions and groups techniques by the positions they are initiated from.

1. Takedowns

2. Guard

a. Halfguard

b. Fullguard

c. Open guard

3. Side Mount

4. Knee on stomach

5. Turtle

6. Back Control

These positional categories are important for competitions. They are also very good for beginners to orient themselves while training. Under this organizational outline there is a clear hierarchy that allows a practitioner to know if he/she is gaining or losing the battle for control.

The postions are listed below in order from best to worst.

1. Back control

2. Mount (top)

3. Side control (top)

4. Guard (top and bottom) and also, both people standing on the feet are considered even positions but it is rare that one person does not have an advantage based on skill or size/athleticism.

5. Half guard

6. Side Control (bottom) and Turtle (bottom)

7. Mount (bottom)

At Renzo Gracie Pittsburgh our fundamentals program is built around the positional organizational outline. Focus is primarily on understanding these positions and how to move from one to the other. A secondary focus is on some of the basic submission categories from an offensive and defensive perspective particularly armbar techniques, chokes from the back, cross chokes, "kimura" lock, and triangle choke. Before Students move to blue belt level they should have an understanding of all of these positions and be able to move from one to another against resistance. At blue belt students should start to be able to use at least a couple of techniques from each of the three Control headings above against resistance. Blue belts should also be able to attack and defend Armlocks and Chokes. We work on basic leglocks particularly straight footlock in the bluebelt program as well as giulotines, and armtriangles without-gi.

After people get a basic understanding of positions some will focus on a few techniques and master them. For example armdrags can be applied as takedowns and sweeps. Someone could get very good at armdrags and not know any throws (under the general heading of Takedowns) or spider guard sweeps (under the general heading of reversals). If this armdrag expert was able to impose the opportunity to armdrag on opponents, then he may defeat an opponent with a more broad set of skills. Another way to illustrate this idea is by the following example: someone could learn a triangle choke from the guard, an armbar from side control, a single leg from the standing position, or, as an alternative, someone could learn how to apply a triangle from all three positions. Of course eventually, when someone has been learning jiu jitsu long enough these two paths merge. The issue is which one best serves beginners. I think the answer to this is very complex. It is also subjective for each individual depending on their goals and learning styles. At RGA Pittsburgh we emphasize the broad positional learning at the beginner level and introduce delving deep into one technique (to apply it to multiple positions) to some degree in our blue belt program. Lloyd Irving for example seems to focus on a few techniques in-depth and applied to many positions for his beginner competition team members. They have good success with this method usually in a relatively short amount of training time.

Another feature of our teaching system is that beginners focus on ground techniques and guard position in particular. After students get three stripes they are expected to start to learn takedowns and techniques applied from the standing position. There are several reasons for this that could be subject for another post. Hopefully the positional outline helps organize your thoughts on Jiu Jitsu technique. Please post comments and questions.

-Warren

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[1] Studying Judo terminology can be very interesting. A great resource is the book “Best Judo” by Inokuma and Sato

Watching a Cagefight

I first met Mike Wilkins at Mad Dog Gym a few years ago. It's a little gym in the back corner of a tattoo parlor. Inside, you'll find mats, punching bags, and screaming death metal. I was new to the world of MMA, and in between getting slammed, spraining my neck, and being caught in bicep slicers on a nightly basis I met Mike. He was a friendly guy with an oddly likeable alpha-male persona. These days, we train together at the Renzo Gracie Pittsburgh Academy in Lawrenceville.

Two weeks ago, a bunch of us drove out to Altoona, PA on a chilly fall Saturday night to support the "Monongahela Miracle". I made the two hour drive with two whiny teenagers, and was all too happy to arrive at the arena. As soon as I parked, I literally ran to the door of the auditorium.

I arrived 45 minutes late, but it was no big deal. There were a bunch of amateur fights on the card, and Mike's fight was second to last. As I entered the auditorium, the first thing I heard was the sickening slap of a shin guard against another man's cup. The crowd booed and groaned, and the hapless victim had a minute to recover. I surveyed the surroundings, looking for my friends. The seats were packed with folks from every walk of life. I saw casual fans, hardcore fans, nursing mothers, guys in XXXL Tapout shirts, and numerous old folk.

I found my friends from the Jiu-Jitsu Academy and sat down, getting cozy and catching up with the results of the previous fights. Only 8 feet away from me was the cage, and I could see two men locked in fierce combat. One man was pressed against the fence, defending the takedown, while the other man was working tenaciously to plant his opponent on his back. After a while, the ref broke them apart for stalling. Time to grab a beer.

Later in the event, they finally announced our teammate Mike Wilkins. We all stood and cheered--unbridled screaming, beer cans spilling, strobe lights inducing far away seizures... I could go on with this, but the English language has only two words which adequately sum up the experience: BUCK WILD. Yes, we ALL went BUCK WILD.

The fight started like I'd imagined. Mike was a ferocious southpaw, and immediately worked his clinching game. I've sparred with Mike in the past. He's one of those guys that doesn't hit you as hard as he can, but only as hard as you need to be hit. The high point of the fight was watching Mike and his opponent just a few feet from us, clinched against the cage. You could hear them grunting and trying to knee each other. I felt like Mike was the DJ and I had requested my favorite song, "Knees to the Head". Mike must have worn his tin foil hat that night, because he instantly whipped those knees up in the face of his poor foe. In the second round, Mike got his opponent belly down and battered him like a lanky white blonde gorilla. He slipped in the choke, his foe tapped, and the ref stepped in.

As the fight ended, I could already imagine tomorrow's updated Sherdog MMA profile: "Mike Wilkins-Win-Round Two-Rear Naked Choke". I feel like those quick factoids we see on the profiles of our favorite fighters fail to capture the immense drama of two men (or women) locked in a cage in the fiercest struggle imaginable. It's a glorious thing, this challenge of the human spirit we call a "cage fight"- to battle your equal in the most fundamental score-settling manner as humanly possible.

If you haven't ever seen a cage fight live, you should.

-Casey

A Quick Insight Into BJJ Competition

Competition plays a huge role in every sport, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is no exception. On October 15, 2011, several members of RGA Pittsburgh put their skills to the test at the 5th Annual Western PA Grappling Championships. Afterwards, I got the chance to interview one of our white belt competitors, Jonas Rubiano, and pick his brain about the experience.


What was the hardest obstacle to conquer? Was it mental, physical, or a combination of both?
I'd say the hardest obstacle, for me, was the physical aspect. This is because I worked at 6:00 AM that morning, and not having a chance to eat a good meal at all that day was tough on the body. I feel it's easy to get mentally focused since you have time to prepare for that and when you see other competitors your adrenaline starts.

Mentally and physically, how did you prepare for competition?
I mentally prepared by having a set playlist of songs I work out to. Then, before I compete I listen to or sing those songs to myself and get my mind back into the state of being focused. Physically, I only had two matches so all I really did was try to stretch the night before, make sure I ate right and that I was nice and limber before competition.

What was your favorite and least favorite aspect of competing?
My favorite aspect of competing is the pure rush of going up against people of a similar skill set. My least favorite part is losing, obviously.

Which was more difficult, the gi or nogi division?
I would say the no-gi division was a little more difficult because the chances of competitors sand-bagging their skills are much higher, while the belt rankings in gi competition tend to prevent that.

Do you have any tips for future BJJ competitors?
Just be mentally ready to fight your fight. Don't worry about your opponent's plan. Trust your skills and yourself.

What did you get out of the experience? Was it a good or bad one for you?
It was a good experience for me; I took a lot of good out of it. Even though I lost in the end, I still felt I had a good showing. It made me more aware of where I needed to improve.

Did the skills you learned in the gym translate well to your fights?
Yes, the techniques I practiced in the gym translated well in my fights, although the timing to execute them was rushed. I believe that if you know the move and its counter, it makes your game much stronger.

Do you think it’s important to have a game plan?
I believe it is important to have a game plan, but I also think that you need to have heart and confidence. Without those, a game plan won't be executed because there is room left for doubt.

What’s your favorite technique in BJJ?
My favorite technique in BJJ is the triangle choke. I like to utilize it from my guard as either a threat to chain to another submission or as a sweep.

Did competition bring your weaknesses to light? What are some things you feel you need to work on?
Any test of skill such as a competition will bring out the areas you need work on, but I feel as though you should already have an idea of that weakness. That way, competition will only confirm or deny it. I'd say I need to work on my strength training the most but also holding positions for points before advancing or going for the submission.

Shawn Williams Seminar (Aug. 19-20 2011)

This past weekend members of Renzo Gracie Pittsburgh were treated to not one, but two days of instruction from one of the greatest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu teachers in the world, Shawn Williams. A second degree black belt, Shawn has been studying the art since September 1996. Being only the fifth American in history to obtain a black belt, he graduated under the tutelage of Renzo Gracie himself. Shawn's long list of accomplishments include medalling in prestigious competitions such as the ADCC trials and Grappler's Quest. He even created his own variation of the high/rubber guard, dubbed the "Williams Guard."

Last Friday, Shawn held a special mixed martial arts seminar at RGA Pittsburgh for a small group of us interested in getting into the sport. I couldn't wait to see what it was like learning from an instructor who's trained the likes of MMA greats such as Matt Serra and Georges St. Pierre. I was honored to have the opportunity to do so. He kicked things off with a warmup that involved clinching and pummeling back and forth with a partner. After that, we performed a series of three different double leg takedown variations. These were meant to teach us ways of adjusting to an opponent's defensive reactions to the initial move. While I was drilling the takedowns with my partners, it quickly became clear to me that changes of direction and positional awareness were two very important keys to success with these techniques.

Distancing was a key concept of this seminar. Shawn taught us that mastering the ability to move in and out of striking range seamlessly is an invaluable asset to the modern mixed martial artist because it effectively dissolves reach advantages (which have arguably decided the outcome of many boxing, kickboxing and MMA matches). Proof of this lies no further than within current UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. Without a doubt, his quick and elusive boxing style has played no small part in his recent successes (most notably the two unanimous decision victories over BJ Penn). Mixed martial arts is all about evolution and forward progression, and these ideas that Shawn Williams shared with us were part of the innovative thinking all up-and-coming fighters need to attribute themselves to if they plan on making any sort of impact in the big leagues someday (i.e. Strikeforce, UFC).

The following day we relocated to Gateway High School in Monroeville for the big jiu-jitsu seminar we were all waiting for. This time, the group was much bigger, consisting of many members from RGA Pittsburgh along with a couple visitors from other nearby schools. The first hour and a half would be dedicated to gi jiu-jitsu while the following hour and a half would focus on nogi grappling. Once we were all suited up, Shawn started off by showing how to effectively obtain a lapel-and-sleeve grip. Up until this point, I never really gave much thought to this move because it always seemed so simple. I quickly realized though that even the smallest mistakes could place a jiu-jitsu player off balance and render him or her vulnerable to a takedown. In this case, it was using the lead hand first to grab the opponents gi instead of the other hand, which Shawn instructed us to do. He explained that it was important to master even small skills such as these because making and breaking grips was a huge part of the standup game with the gi.

After having us warm up with that drill, Shawn demonstrated how to set up and execute one of the most effective throws in judo, the drop seio-nage. He began by making a grip on his training partner's right sleeve and right lapel. Then, he started moving his partner backward with a push and simultaneously attempted a simple foot sweep. Once the training partner reacted by lifting and posting his foot quickly, Shawn pulled up on his grips, turned around, and dropped to his knees so that they landed slightly behind the training partner's legs. He finished the throw by pulling down on the sleeve in an axe-like motion and touching his head to the floor, throwing his training partner to the ground and having him land on his back. It was an amazing technique, and my personal favorite of the seminar. At first, it was tough getting the timing and little movements down, but after practicing it over and over again I finally started hitting it perfectly. That was a great feeling. Shawn supplemented the takedown by showing how to keep the opponent's arm straight up after performing the move and finishing with an armbar. I loved this series of techniques and couldn't wait to implement them back in the gym and in future competitions.

The meat of the gi portion was a series on passing the spider guard, a dangerous position that offers numerous setups for attacks such as the triangle choke and omaplata. Not to mention, it's great for sweeps, as well. We started off with basic entry technique, then quickly moved on to passing. Shawn explained the key to destroying this guard was freeing the arm that is trapped within the opponents curled leg. To do so, he instructed, the jiu-jitsu player must first lock the opponents hip with his or her leg. This takes away the opponents ability to maneuver and change position. Next, the trapped arm's wrist curls around and the hand crawls up to the opponents knee. This creates enough torque to break the grip and allows the player to begin passing the guard. Shawn added while this was an effective way to free the arm, the best thing to do was not get it locked in by the opponents leg in the first place. He said that an experienced jiu-jitsu player could sense the spider guard coming and use the same wrist twisting motion to break the grip before it is even made.

Afterwards, the second-degree black belt demonstrated a pass that involved jumping in and trapping the opponents leg between your legs and falling to the side, ending up in an ankle-lock position. A sweep was executed here by switching the opponents leg to the other side, securing one of the wrists and stretching him or her out. Shawn also showed a few variants of this move, including one which is illegal in jiu-jitsu competition today because it involves reaping. Once we started practiced those techniques, Shawn had us put them together with everything else we learned so far in the gi session to create a nice, flowing drill to conclude this portion of the seminar.

The nogi half was equally amazing. The focus here was Shawn's trademark "legwork" passing method for the halfguard. Basically, it was a way to work out of the halfguard without using the arms. I really enjoyed these moves because they required so little strength or effort to do, and that's always a good thing in a combat sport where endurance and conditioning plays such an important role. After he demonstrated the techniques, we drilled them extensively and then ended the seminar with a hard training session from the halfguard. I was glad Shawn chose to concentrate on this position because it's something I've had trouble with before and needed a bit of improvement on. I also liked the move he showed where he would triangle his legs around the opponent's legs in order to immobilize him or her so that passing to mount could easily follow. I could see it as being an excellent supplement to a double-leg takedown, and I couldn't wait to put it to use back in the gym.

All in all, the Shawn Williams seminar was an awesome experience and one that completely revitalized my jiu-jitsu and MMA game. Shawn himself was a cool guy with a great sense of humor and an incredible gift for teaching. It's a shame he's not as well known as some other instructors because he certainly deserves the recognition. The thorough and detailed way he taught all the techniques at the seminar quickly made me realize why his instruction is sought after by some of the greatest fighters in the world. All of us at RGA Pittsburgh were very fortunate to have him come, and we won't soon forget all the great things he showed us. Thank you Shawn, we hope to see you again soon!

-Dino

Training in NYC (Aug. 3-6 2011)

Ever since I first started practicing jiu-jitsu around this time last year, I knew that one day I had to make the trip up to New York City and experience for myself the main academy I've heard so much about. And so, around 7:00 AM last Wednesday, fellow teammate Derek Lukas and I boarded the Megabus downtown and embarked on our journey to the famous Renzo Gracie Academy; located in the heart of the Big Apple. About six or seven hours later, we finally arrived at our destination. After settling down in our hotel and doing some sightseeing, we decided it was time to make our way down to Renzo's and explore this mecca of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Once we got to 224 W 30th St., Derek and I eagerly passed through the golden doors and descended the staircase leading downstairs. There we immediately recognized the all-too-familiar lion emblem popping out everywhere we looked. This was it; Renzo Gracie Academy. We entered the front office and talked to Mario Mercado, one of the program directors. He gladly granted us access to train there for the duration of our stay and generally made us feel welcome and at home. Shortly after, we donned our gis and awaited the the start of the 8:00 PM class. We got there a little early, so I decided to kill some time by observing one of the advanced classes. Just then, I heard someone next to me say "You're welcome to sit on the mats while you watch." I looked over, and saw the man himself: Renzo Gracie! After introducing ourselves and shaking hands with the legendary martial artist, Derek and I explained to Renzo that we were visiting from Pittsburgh. He replied by saying he was happy that we came and gave us both a big smile. Needless to say, it was quite an unforgettable experience. Afterwards, we explored the facility and took in the atmosphere for a bit longer; but before we knew it, 8:00 had come. It was time to get down to business.

The class started off with a warmup that was very similar to the one we've performed countless times back home; although it was a little more intense. Once we got a sweat going, the instructor showed us a simple judo throw. It involved stepping behind your opponents' lead leg and tripping it while pushing him or her forward. After drilling that for a couple minutes, we moved on to a cross choke from the mount position. The instructor's thick Brazilian accent made him difficult to understand at times and there were a couple occasions where Derek and I found ourselves a bit lost, but we still managed to keep up as most of the instruction was review for us. Next, we began positional training from mount which quickly escalated to full live sessions. It was a little surprising that the majority of class time was devoted to free-rolling, but at the same time I was glad I got such a nice workout in. After class was over, we got some food and retreated back to our hotel. Hours and hours of traveling that morning and some hard training in the evening made us pass out the moment our heads hit the pillows.

Derek and I spent the next day finding out what the city of New York had to offer. It was my first time ever in the Big Apple and his in a long time, so we felt like we had a lot of ground to cover. We ate good food, ran into some interesting people, and explored as much as we could. Thankfully the weather was perfect which allowed us to spend most of the day outside; roaming around the big city. We visited Central Park, hung out in Times Square, and experienced some of the exciting New York nightlife. Simply put, there was always something to do and a dull moment was never to be found.

On our third day in NYC we went back to the Renzo Gracie Academy for another round of jiu-jitsu. This time we were taught by Magno Gama, a professor. He was much more easy-going and friendly than our previous instructor, who was very traditional and strict. The class flowed much the same way as on Wednesday. We started off with a good warmup as usual then moved on to another judo technique, this time a tricky variant of the Seoi Nage. The professor also showed us some effective back escapes which helped me a lot because I feel it's an element of my game I need much improvement on. Next, it was time to go live again and get some good rolling in. I noticed the white belt students at the main academy had some pretty sharp technique. Even some of the ones with no stripes seemed to have a good understanding of the basics. This was one of the best jiu-jitsu schools on the planet, and it definitely showed. After the training session, it was time to say goodbye to Renzo Gracie Academy as the end of our trip drew near. I felt bummed out that we had to leave the next day, but I knew for a fact I'd return soon.

Sitting on the bus heading back to Pittsburgh, I reflected on the last couple of days and realized what a great experience it was. It's hard to believe that only last August I was sitting at my computer searching for a nearby school where I could learn the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Who would have known that only a short year after, I'd be standing in the middle of Manhattan, shaking hands with Renzo Gracie himself!

-Dino

Igor Gracie Seminar (07-09-2011)

Today was a very special day at Renzo Gracie Pittsburgh. This morning around 11:30 a.m., twenty two jiu-jitsu students assembled at the academy in Lawrenceville and eagerly awaited the arrival of Igor Gracie; a member of the legendary family who pioneered the sport and art we happily devote so much of our time to. The moment he walked through the door, an empowering aura washed over the room. It instantly felt as though all of us there had realized we were part of something much greater than ourselves. Right away I knew the students attending, including myself, were in for an enlightening experience that would forever impact the way we practice jiu-jitsu.

Igor began the seminar by giving us a lesson on maintaining side control. First, he broke down the hand positioning of the head-and-arm cross-side; explaining the importance of using the shoulder to "choke" the opponent's neck and force the head to turn away. Done properly, the technique makes it extremely difficult for the opponent on the bottom to effectively bridge or escape due to the contortion being placed on his/her spine. Igor then taught us how to react to the knee being driven in and posting up the arms, two common escapes from the cross-side. At the beginning, I remember him saying there is no such thing as a backward step in jiu-jitsu. Much like in warfare, once a side secures a valuable strategic position on the battlefield, it makes no sense to ever give it up.

After establishing this foundation, Igor moved on to teaching one of the most powerful attacks in the art: the kimura. He demonstrated a version of this technique that linked right from the transitional head-and-arm to head-and-hip drill we practiced earlier. It involved moving to a north/south position on top while scooping the opponents arm and using the legs and hips to posture him or her up onto their side and into the attacking double wrist-lock position. From here, Igor added in an interesting supplement to the technique. He pointed out that if the opponent were to leave his or her bottom arm out in the open, it should immediately be scraped back by the attackers leg. This destroys any remaining defenses the person on the bottom may have left. Once I drilled a few of these with my partner, I was amazed at how big a difference this little tip made. Afterwards, Igor showed us two more attacks: one was an armbar that stemmed from the kimura and the other was a crafty collar choke in which the opponents own belt was used to trap his or her arm; leaving them with little defensive options. Next, it was time to leave our sweaty kimonos behind as we switched to the nogi portion of this exciting seminar.

To start things off, Igor declared that every student of RGA should have a good guillotine, because that was always Renzo's signature move. Much to Lance's dismay, Igor chose him to be his teaching partner as he demonstrated a crushing series of chokes. First, he taught the basics of the technique on the ground from half-guard. This included making sure the choke was being applied on the same side the legs were locked and binding the arms BEFORE laying down to finish. However, above all else, Igor emphasized using the shoulder to connect the elbow to the ribs when performing the technique. He explained this was the most important part of the guillotine because the vice-like choking power comes from using the entire upper body, not just the arms. Igor went on to show two more versions of the attack: one from a standing clinch position and one with the arm trapped. I had the most trouble with the arm-in guillotine because it required a technical precision and sensitivity that could only come with frequent practice. It's definitely something I look forward to improving in the future. In addition, we practiced keeping the guillotine locked in while the opponent rolled around on the mat attempting various methods of escape. It was a very dynamic technique.

After Igor extensively covered the guillotine choke, the seminar had just about reached its end. To wrap things up, the second-degree black belt explained how it was more important to be taught just a few moves in one session and be able to drill them heavily than to be exposed to numerous techniques with little time to practice them. I couldn't believe how fast the hours flew by. Learning from Igor Gracie was an experience I will benefit from immensely and never forget. My favorite thing about the seminar was how friendly and down to earth Igor was to everyone. He seemed less like a celebrity and more like an average guy who works hard every day to achieve his dreams; something we're all trying to do. Not to mention, his teaching methods are amazing. I can recall just about everything he taught today even down to the finest details and I never wrote anything down. He is truly made for this type of thing. Finally, I remember Igor saying something that really stuck with me. He mentioned that often times in jiu-jitsu there isn't a right way or a wrong way to do things; it all depends on what fits your individual self. I think that's something we can all apply not only to this art but to the way we live our lives as well. All in all, I'm sure every single person who attended this event at Renzo Gracie Pittsburgh had a great time today and came out of that building a better martial artist than he or she was going in. Thank you, Igor!

-Dino

Gracie Adventure Camp 3-2011

The Gracie Adventure Camp wrapped up today, Sunday March 21st 2011. It was a success and a great training experience. For the first time, probably in many years, several members of the Gracie family where on the same mats teaching together. Roger Gracie, the best jiu jitsu competitor of all times, taught every day. He also grabbed me during one of the live sessions and beat me up. His teaching was very methodical in that he repeated key points from different angles so that it was easier to understand the position as a whole and how it connected with other positions. It seems like this is part of his genius; he sees and is able to covey details without loosing the larger perspective of the position. For a rather simplified example, during his teaching of side control Roger emphasised controlling opponents arms so that once he past to mount his knees where already in the armpits in his deadly high mount position. It was also evident that Roger studies Judo with world class judo players and has picked some of their strong points that work well with jiu jitsu. Alex Shum of Storm Gis http://www.stormkimonos.com/ ( a 4 stripe blue belt under Renzo Gracie) helped me understand some of Roger´s teaching better. He has worked with him before and studies film obsessively. Alex came in from Hong Kong.

There where people from all over the world. Renzo Gracie Ottowa http://www.oama.ca/home.php?site=bjj had many students representing well including Matt "Hammer" Hache. Matt and I had lots of good rolls. Look out for him at brown belt in tournaments this year! There where many schools and associations represented including Renzo Gracie New York, various Gracie Barra affiliations, Fabio Leopoldo's Gracie Morumbi, Piet's Triton Fight Center, Mauro Sergio Panama, Rillion Gracie, and of course, Renzo Gracie Pittsuburgh just to name a few. Seth Schraff (of RGA Pittsburgh) represented well on the mat. There were also a few local Costa Ricans attending, including my old friends Ricardo and Leo. Ricardo, John Gibson (of Amal Easton's Colorado BJJ) , Seth and I spent two afternoons between training sessions about 15 km south of the Gracie Adventure Camp location at Esterillos beach. We surfed, although the wind was on shore and the break crumbling. We knocked back a few beers at Low Tide Bar, a funky place decorated with crocodile, whale, and cow skulls. Our bartender was former member of one of the top Punk bands of the 80´s. I did catch a few waves on my 9'4" longboard on the south end of Jaco beach my first afternoon out in the surf. Gregor and I where cruising a wave together. Nightlife in Jaco is a little seedy. We when out a couple of nights, once to "ladies night" at Backyard bar in Hermosa Beach which is about 4 km south of Jaco. I brought Mario (Renzo Gracie Mexico owner and UFC Latin America) out for a drink that night. He is the Joe Rogan of Latin America, although he is much more knowledgeable about jiu jitsu (sorry Joe..). Seth also represented well off the mat. I don't think he missed a night out, and he almost never missed the morning training session. One of the things I miss most about Costa Rica, where I used to live, is the fruit. I got several fresh fruit smoothies every day. Papaya and milk is my favorite. Rolles, Rillion, and I had a a cass drink for lunch one day at the little soda (Costa rican name for a small restaurant) near Amapola hotel www.hotelamapola.com where the camp was held. Cass is a seed that is tangy and crunchy when made into a drink. It is very unusual and a good recovery drink in the heat of the afternoons. Nights where cooler and sometimes clear. It was clear enough to see the Super Moon early in the evenings as it was rising.

It was motivating and educational to see some of my primary mentors in jiu jitsu, Rolles, Igor, and Gregor Gracie bringing their expertise and perspective as current top competitors. Gregor and Rolles have MMA fights coming up. I was fortunate to be asked to be a training partner for there intense fight training after Friday´s jiu jitsu lesson. It was the only time I did any no gi training at the camp. Although the weather was not especially hot it was still warm in the room with 30-40 people attending each session. The gis at least soaked up some of our sweat.

Rillion Gracie taught daily also. He has a quiet but intense demeanor. I had the privilege to train with him one-on-one a little in 2002 at his Leblon Brazil school. Because of this experience and because he is one of the more unknown Gracie family members who is reputed by other of the Gracies to have the best guard in the family, I really looked forward to seeing him again. Everyone moved a little closer when he taught to hear his low, quiet voice. The technique he taught was solid "basics" and I noticed he emphasised having several options branching off of the main techniques which anticipated opponents reactions. For example, he built off of the reaction many opponents have to Roger's crushing transition from side control to mount. It is common for opponents to turn away. Rillion attached the near arm and branched off of that to either re-attack with the mount or triangle, depending on the opponents reaction. This series of techniques reminded me of a theme John Danaher (St. Pierre's head trainer and one of Renzo New York chief instructor) has emphasised; that is, putting opponents in a dilema where all choices are negative for them. I recently read in "The 33 Strategies of War" by Greene showing that many great military generals think along these lines. Kyra's perspective was interesting. As she said she almost always has to train and compete with people (both men and women) who are bigger than her. I think this showed in her technical perspective, which, can give insight into some of the "invisible" aspects of jiu jitsu. For example, in passing knee through the middle to the far side she showed a grip that put pressure on an opponent's windpipe if they tried to escape to the most power oriented angle. The technique used pain to force an opponent into the direction Kyra wanted.

I hope some others weigh in on their experiences here as well. I didn't get to participate in all the extra activities such as rafting. I'm sure everybody had unique experiences. Costa Rica can certainly be a paradise. I may write more about that in a future blog. But, what really made it so for me, at the Gracie Adventure Camp, was being around a great group of people, with worries of normal life far away, doing what we all love, Jiu Jitsu.

Renzo Gracie Pittsburgh 2010 Recap

The new year is here! Looking back on our first year I am surprised at how well it has gone. First of all we have grown in membership from zero to the point where some of our classes are full! From my experience with other academies once the the membership numbers that we have now are reached academies only grow exponentially. This means new workout partners, new friends, and a solid business base. The later should allow us to do more fun extra events such as our trip to NYC and the main Renzo Gracie Academy last July. We had a few other members who where not along for the July trip, individually take advantage of the training at the main school. At Renzo Gracie NYC world champions including two current ufc champions (Edgar and St. Pierre), two of the best jiu jitsu competitors of all times (Roger Gracie and Braulio Estima) as well as many other world level competitors train regularly. While in NYC we had some belt promotions. Logan Stout, Noah Nieman, and Mike Wilkins where awarded blue belts. All of them had at least a year of training in jiu jitsu before starting at RGA Pittsburgh academy, lots of talent, and where long overdue promotions (sandbaggers!!!). Lance Thompson was awarded his purple after only about two and a half years of training including his first year and a half at Steel City (another BJJ academy located South of RGA Pittsburgh). I had the great honor of getting my Black Belt from Renzo Gracie himself with many other of my teachers, friends, and mentors including Shawn Williams, John Danaher, Daniel Gracie, and the Brothers Rolles, Igor, and Gregor Gracie there supporting me. Rolles, it has been a lot of living passing since Cuiaba, Brazil, for me (probably for both of us) but Jiu jitsu has been a constant. Thank you Renzo and thank you to my students and training partners including past and present in Brazil, Costa Rica, California, State College, and now Pittsburgh for helping me past this milestone. We had two other belt promotions including Anthony Previte (officially the second person to join RGA Pittsburgh). Anthony was my first belt promotion. Earlier Daniel Gracie awarded talented Lucas Burdette his Blue Belt as well.

We had two seminars last year. The first was with Gregor Gracie. Gregor is a young competitor and I think embodies the "Battle of Life" quote we have on the wall of the academy. He is "in the arena". Gregor won his last mma fight against a seasoned opponent. At the seminar he showed us some great stuff and trained with everyone. For our official opening we had Daniel Gracie in August. His personality as well as his obvious passion for teaching inspired me and other members to a greater level of appreciation for jiu jitsu. We look forward to having both of these guys again in 2011. Thank you to members of other academies who attended and gave us the chance to train with you during the seminars. Special thanks to Dan Hyman, Rory, and Gary Smith for coming all the way from California for our opening and for Daniel's seminar. You guys showed some great stuff as well. Also, hopefully Kristel makes another cake for us sometime. The logo cake as nice and tasty too.

Some of our members competed in jiu jitsu, wrestling, and mixed martial arts. As with most competitions it was not always winning but the experiences enriched our learning process on many levels. We did have some good success. Scott Rendos who, has since relocated to Florida, had two amature MMA wins while training at our academy. I was able to win my amature MMA debute at Yankee lake, up a wt to 185lbs against a tough opponent who was slated to fight for that organization's tile fight. I also won the WKA amature/novice mma tournament at 170lbs in Virgina posting 3 wins including one by submission in the quarterfinals. Mike Wilkins fought to defend his "Cage of Chaos" title at 155lbs. He fought the fight of the night against a skilled and tough opponent. He was on the wrong end of maybe the worst decisions I have seen in my years of watching MMA. That said both he and his opponent Josh Baker fought great fights.

To sum up the year I will say that we have a great base including technique, business, and, most of all because of the quality of dedicated members that we have attracted, in order to have a great 2011! Check the class schedule at www.renzograciepittsburgh.com Join our facebook page Renzo Gracie Pittsburgh. Look for more blogs coming soon. See you at the academy.

-Warren