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/

I plan on periodically posting miscellaneous updates, notes and observations. This is my first such entry.

Next Year I Am Going To The Jiu Jitsu World Championship

This week I had a discussion with a Jason – a Relson Gracie Colorado brown belt and the person who generously kept me updated how the academy was doing at this year’s Mundial – and it sounds like the Jiu Jitsu World Championships are a lot of fun. He mentioned he also learned quite a bit from watching the competition too – which makes sense, considering the level of talent competing.

So I decided next year I am am going. A crew from Relson Gracie Colorado goes every year. It is possible I may compete, too, depending on my progress and growth around the time leading up to the event.

MMA Competitors at Relson Gracie Colorado

Relson Gracie Colorado had an award ceremony this week where it was announced that some MMA competitors will be training at the facility. My impression is that they will be training mostly during the academy’s off hours,  although this may be inaccurate. They are both training for upcoming MMA fights.

I think its great to have this kind of talent around; I hope to gain insights and knowledge from them.

On Being “Injured”

Lastly, some venting. I recently crashed my bicycle, banging up my knee and shin, so I sat out a few days for my wounds to heal up to a point where I roll once again.

Talk about frustrating: it is one thing to be injured from an internal injury that would compel or require you not to roll – it is quite another when your injury is the result of a careless crash on your bike – and is literally “skin deep.”

pic credit(s): http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitaldanger/3526127854/

Yesterday the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF)’s Jiu Jitsu World Championship wound down in Long Beach, California. Congratulations to all the winners. Here are the official results. The IBJJF has also posted some videos featuring some interviews and highlights.

I wanted to give a special shout out to Hannes Vetter, Relson Gracie Colorado’s first World Champion. Hannes won the heavy-weight adult blue belt division. Congratulations!

The middle-weight black belt division, which featured one of the most competitive rosters of grapplers I’ve seen, was won by Marcelo Garcia.

Academy Results

Adults:

1. Alliance
2. Gracie Barra
3. Checkmat BJJ

Female:

1. Gracie Humaitá
2. Renzo Gracie
3. Gracie Barra

Novice:

1. Gracie Barra
2. Gracie Humaitá
3. Gigante BJJ

Juvenile:

1. Alliance
2. Lloyd Irvin
3. Gracie Humaitá

One of the most important and prestigious Jiu Jitsu tournaments in the world begins today and continues through this weekend: the International Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Federation (IBJJF)’s World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (also referred to as the “Mundials”) in Long Beach, CA. Relson Gracie Colorado is sending a handful of people to compete – including Steve Hordinski (black belt) and Hannes Vetter (blue belt). I wish all participants – including those from Relson Gracie Colorado and beyond – the best of luck.

It is a goal of mine to attend one of the “major” Jiu Jitsu tournaments sometime. It would be fun to watch matches all day, cheer people on, and see how various techniques are applied in a “real” situation – and see some of Jiu Jitsu’s best athletes and practitioners in the world apply them.

I wish results and matches of the tournament where available online. I hope in future tournaments the IBJJF considers net-casting various matches.

I’ll be updating this post as results from the tournament become available.

Updates:

• 12:41 MST – Anselmo Gutierrez of Relson Gracie Colorado has won two matches so far today. His first match was by take down with a score of 2-0. He won his second match by arm bar.
• 12:44 MST – Bridgette, also with Relson Gracie Colorado, lost her first match.
• 12:52 MST – Anselmo lost on points in his third match of the day, taking third in the semi-finals of his division.
• 10:27 MST – Hannes wins his fist match 4-0.
• 10:48 MST – Hannes wins his second match by Rickson choke.
• 10:59 MST – Hannes wins his third by arm bar.
• 11:43 MST – Hannes wins once again via points and Rickson choke.
• 12:11 MST – Hannes takes first! Goes 2-0 in finals.

A BIG thanks to Jason for the updates throughout the day!

pic credit(s): http://www.flickr.com/photos/nathaninsandiego/2561732046/ under a Creative Commons licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en

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.