Yesterday I attended Boulder Grappling Academy’s seminar featuring Relson Gracie. This was my first time meeting and learning from Relson. It was a great experience – I left feeling very excited about upcoming classes.

The school was packed and the event brought students from as far as Castle Rock, Colorado (which is about an hour and half from Boulder, depending on traffic). It’s great to see the attention it brought to the dojo.

The content of the seminar was interesting and pertinent. I learned new techniques and improved on some techniques I already knew. I enjoyed Relson’s teaching style – he added (often funny) comments and insights as he discussed details about techniques which are often overlooked or executed incorrectly.

In addition to learning techniques, one of my favorite parts of the experience was hearing Relson discuss some of the wider aspects and contexts of specific Jiu Jitsu techniques. It was insightful to hear his take on the effectiveness (and ineffectiveness) of some techniques gaining in popularity in the martial art.

I was also struck by Relson’s down-to-earth, friendly, and approachable personality. He is a living legend, on the same level as Muhammad Ali or Larry Bird, yet as friendly as approachable as your next door neighbor. It was obvious to me he was glad to be there, to teach, and to meet and talk with the students.

If Relson is holds a seminar near you I definitely recommend checking it out.

pic credit(s): http://relsongracie.com/gallery/view/id_6/field_/title_Relson-Gracie-Pose/

After open mat today at Boulder Grappling’s old location, I had the opportunity to help roll out mats at the soon-to-be open new dojo. The mats where laid out so they can settle (new mats need to be laid out to “settle” when new because they expand). I was excited to help – how often to you get to roll out and see brand-new mats? They smell great! So clean too…

The new dojo’s mats will be seamless which will be nice and reduce injuries such as cauliflower ear. I like the choice of black, too.

I love  Dojo schwag. It’s a fun way to support your school and express part of what you are about. It’s ironic, however, that I don’t have any yet. Until a last week, after class.

The head of the school hooked us students up with some stickers, pictured below.

I naturally snagged more than a couple, which will soon be finding themselves at (appropriate) locations all around Boulder.

Now I just need to encourage the production of some new t-shirts and sweatshirts so I can snag some.

I had the opportunity Today to help paint the new space for my dojo where I train – Boulder Grappling Academy. It was also my first look at the new space.

The new space is great – it is roomy and the location is excellent. I certainly expect the location to help the school grow. Here is picture I took of the space as we worked on it.

One of the cool things about the space and the school having its own location – is that it will be the only Brazilian-centered martial arts school in Colorado due to its relationship with Grupo Cafu Capoeira Colorado, which is led by Leomar Mendez, who is also a student of Boulder Grappling Academy.

These are exciting times for the Dojo and I’m grateful to be student there during a time of such change and growth.