July 4th Schedule

The academy will be closed from June 30 through July 6 for all classes. Regular classes will resume on Monday July 7.

June Jiu Jitsu

• June 7 In House Tournament - Bring your friends and family for a great day of jiu jitsu competition at Gracie Barra Boston BJJ. No classes or open mat.
  

• June 14 Instructor Meeting - Noon - all GBBJJ instructors should try to attend.
  

• June 21 Self Defense Seminar - This will take place during the advanced class and all are welcome. Please bring your friends and family. Beginner class and open mat will still happen.

• June 28 BJJ Network Seminar and BBQ. Seminar theme will be X-Guard and Butterfly Guard (offense and defense). Instructors: Roberto Maia, Pat Barbieri, Nate Ryan, Jim DeLuca, Phil Myers, Chris Page, and several other BBJJ black belts
  

Check out www.bbjiujitsu.com for more details

May Happenings

Events at Gracie Barra Boston Brazilian Jiu Jitsu May 2008

Sunday May 4 White to Blue Belt Seminar
- There will be a White to Blue Belt Seminar with Roberto on Sunday May 4 at 1 pm. Attendance at one of these seminars is mandatory for 4 stripe white belts moving to blue, but can be done with any amount of stripes on the belt. It is open to all members of GB Boston BJJ and network schools.

Thursday May 8 Needham High School Demo
- Roberto will be doing a demonstration of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at Needham High School at 2:45pm in the Wrestling room. All middle and high schoolers are welcome to attend.
Saturday May 17 Professor Flavio Almeida Seminar
- Professor Flavio Almeida will be doing a seminar at Gracie Barra Boston Brazilian Jiu Jitsu on Saturday May 17 from 11-3pm. All are welcome. Professor Almeida is a 2nd degree black belt that has been studying jiu jitsu with Master Carlos Gracie for more than 15 years. He is a two time Mundial champion, a Pan American champion, 2nd place at ADCC 2007, American National Championship, plus multiple Brazilian Nation and Rio de Janeiro State Championships.

Saturday May 24 Buddy Day
- Roberto will be teaching a free self defense and introduction to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for all members of the academy who bring a non-member to the academy from 10-noon.

Monday May 26 Memorial Day No Classes
- The academy will be closed on Monday May 26 for all classes in observance of Memorial Day.

Choosing a School

I had a conversation with Vittorio and he told me of all the schools popping up on the South Shore around him in Taunton and it got me thinking about the factors that go into choosing a school.

It used to be that there were only a few schools around Massachusetts and you probably went to the one closest to you. (We used to have guys drive 2+ hours from NH and RI just to train and they were doing this like 2x-3x per week, that's dedication). Geographic proximity really isn't the number one factor anymore with so many schools to choose from. Our network alone has 8 schools in it in 4 different states.

So what factors go into choosing a school?

Atmosphere, Community, Tradition, Facilities, Proximity - were some that I thought of. I am not sure what the number one is. It is probably different for everyone.

Atmosphere - What is it like there? Are they speaking your language - literally - English? and figuratively - do you get along with instructors? Are they sensitive to your goals? Are they teaching in a way that works with your learning style?

Community - Is the school active in building a community within and outside? Is it a place you look forward to going to? Is it a positive place?

Facilities - Are they clean? Do they have enough mat space? Does their schedule fit yours and are there options?

Tradition - What is the history of the school? Is it readily available or sketchy? Are the instructors legitimate? Can you trace their lineage? Do they bring good people to help teach? Are they constantly refining their methods? Is there collaboration with their tradition?

Proximity - Is the school close to where you live? Can you use public transportation to get there? Do the class times allow you to get there and train?

Now the answers (and maybe a little sales pitch too or, if you are already a member, it will give you ammunition to get your friends and family to join).

Atmosphere - We are constantly collaborating and trying to refine our teaching so everyone is learning at their maximum potential. We have a career educator on staff with a Master of Education working to help the instructors teach at their highest level. All of our classes are taught in English with Portuguese bilingual instructors also on staff. We work to teach to everyone's goals whether it be the hobbyist using the gym to get in shape or the competitor looking to compete at the Mundial and the spectrum of students in between.

Community - We work to know everyone at the school and get to know them personally. Our school is a positive place from when you set foot in the door to when you leave. Many of our students are very close friends and hang out with each other outside of class and engage in other activities besides jiu jitsu (I didn't know there was such a thing, certainly no other conversations exist besides those pertaining jiu jitsu, go figure).

Facilities - Clean. Everyday. We work everyday to bring you the cleanest facility possible. (Just last week I was up on the ladder, scrubbing the walls with a bleach solution - that was fun) We keep a cleaning log and would be happy to show it you if you like. We use the best sanitizer available to clean the mats - Kenclean. It protects against all known pathogens that can be transmitted in all of the sports that we do. We work to make sure our students are clean with instruction on how to keep their uniforms clean, their nails and skin safe and their overall bodies' healthy.

Tradition - Did you know that Gracie Barra is the winning-est school in all of Brazil? Well it is and you are part of that tradition. We trace our lineage from Roberto Maia to Carlos Gracie Jr. to Carlos Gracie Sr. (co-founder of modern Gracie Jiu Jitsu with Helio Gracie)to Gastao Gracie to "Count Koma" Maeda to Jigoro Kano himself. That's fewer steps than from Phil to Kevin Bacon. We always have visitors teaching seminars and classes who are top level coaches and athletes. Did you know Roger Gracie spent a month with us when he was a brown belt before he started tearing it up? Roberto Tussa Alencar has been a regular visitor and we look to welcome Flavio Almeida in May. Take a look at their competition records. Impressive. We are the longest running school in Boston. We are almost to our 13th year and have more diversity of rank and number on the mat at any given time. More blackbelts per class means more chances to get your questions answered.

Proximity - We have morning, noon and night classes. We are open 7 days a week. I think we can accomodate almost every schedule. Hopefully there is a school in our network that is close to you. If there isn't, there probably will be one soon.

12 points

These are the 12 points that Chuck Norris says guide his life

1. I will develop myself to the maximum of my potential in all ways.
2. I will forget the mistakes of the past and press on to greater achievements.
3. I will always be in a positive frame of mind and convey this feeling to every person that I meet.
4. I will continually work at developing love, happiness and loyalty in my family and acknowledge that no other success can compensate for failure in the home.
5. I will look for the good in all people and make them feel worthwhile.
6. If I have nothing good to say about a person, then I will say nothing.
7. I will give so much time to the improvement of myself that I will have no time to criticize others.
8. I will always be as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.
9. I will maintain respect for those in authority and demonstrate this respect at all times.
10. I will maintain an attitude of open-mindedness toward another person's viewpoint, while still holding fast to that which I know to be true and honest.
11. I will always remain loyal to God, my country, my family and my friends.
12. I will remain highly goal-oriented throughout my life because that positive attitude helps my family, my country and myself.

Another one for you older guys and girls feeling your age - "Old age and deception will overcome youth and skill every time." (Bill "Superfoot" Wallace) I know he is a karate guy but I read an interesting article about Paulho Filho training with Rickson and he described his experience similar to this quote.

Same As It Ever Was

Well not really, but sort of. Ok so the new year has started out great and brought us many new students. Many of our new students have come from other fight gyms which is great. We are happy to have them and their experience. They have left because of changes there - increased tuition, decreased parking. Whatever. Somethings are unavoidable with the times. Aren't all the candidates running on Change?

That made me think. Have we changed?

We have produced a few fighters. You have probably heard of them. They trained in the exact same way we do today. They led class. They took classes with Tony leading them, myself, Steve Medina, Chris Page. They took classes with Roberto who smiled and treated them like everyone else. They competed in tournaments, busted their asses in tournament class and went through the ranks, just as you are doing. They didn't take any shortcuts because there aren't any. There is no trick or secret to this art. The people who are good did it through mat time and study.

Nothing has changed here.

Well maybe a few things. Roberto is on the mat more. We have classes seven days a week - morning (you guys are hardcore), noon (big thanks to Al), and night. We have a bunch of crazy kids that run around at 4 every Monday , Wednesday and Friday with all sorts of colored belts. (Big thanks to Joel, Jonny, G, Rob and Ika with them) Chris Page and many of the black belts teach extra tournament classes for free and they are free to attend. (Pssst they don't count as one of your classes). We are having an in house tournament to help people get their feet wet with competition before jumping in head first. We have top guys coming through here like Tussa, Renzo, Carlinhos, Daniel Gracie...I can go on and on...

We don't care what you do with what you learn here - get in shape, make friends, take it and go somewhere else (don't do that - I will be sad), compete at the lowest and/or highest level. Its yours. We are gonna give everyone who walks through the door the same training opportunities - whatever their goals are. We give it pretty freely and hope you will do the same with it. Because once you learn it, its yours and that is how the art grows and changes and evolves.

...and we have lots of free parking. And if you can't find a spot, put it behind my car.

99% Of Life...

...is just showing up. I don't remember who said it, but it is so true. You want to pass college, go to class. You want to be good at jiu jitsu and reach your goals, show up to class.

I know its not that easy, but one of the things I have found that has been successful with me is to set a schedule. I train jiu jitsu Monday night, kick boxing Tuesday night, train jiu jitsu Wednesday night, train kick boxing Friday, and do open mat every other weekend. I don't deviate from that unless there is a holiday, injury/sickness or special occasion.

Don't flash train. I see these guys that are gung ho for a week and then they burn out. Even if you are coming off an injury and jonesing for it, make a schedule and stick to it.

Even if you can just come once a week and the second day is variable. Make that day. No excuses. Get in the car, get on the T and get here. The rest will take care of itself and you are always glad you did afterwards.

Things taste better, the couch feels comfier.

Execution

After watching this highlight of Rafael Lovato Jr (below), I got to thinking about another aspect that makes a practitioner advanced.

Execution.

You can learn all the techniques in the book but if you can't execute them during the roll what good are they?

The only way to learn to execute is by rolling with all ranks all the time; getting beat, trying new things. Lowering your defenses, taking chances, playing out of your comfort zone are also ways to increase your ability to execute. They come with risk but so do all great things.

So to you guys who show up consistently and consistently get beat on, take heart, you will be executing while those who have decided not to train with tough guys will be wondering why you the blue belt is kicking their black belt ass.

Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJzxLCCgJ8M

Because O'Hara's is getting a little beat!

According to Sharon and inspired by Stephanie (who has been an invaluable partner for the academy), I have decided to kick it up a notch in the new year for the Friday night excursion post training. No more will Tyler have to settle for the chicken sandwich at Woody's. We are going to experience the culinary treasure that is Boston. Every other week we will try to go to a new place. Hopefully more people can join us as we may be closer to where they live. Look for the sign at the academy for when we are going.

This Friday - Sunset Bar and Grill corner of Brighton and Harvard Ave in Allston - over 100 taps and they serve food until 1 am. We will meet there are 9:30 pm.

Some of the places I would like to go with y'all:

• Pizzeria Regina in the North End and maybe a little canoli afterwards at Cafe Vesuvius
  
• La Verdad for the best Fish Tacos this side of San Diego ...and the margaritas ain't too bad either
• Matt Murphy's
  
• Neptune Oyster House - best lobster roll in Boston
  
• Publick House
• Myers and Changs - Chinese Diner in the South End
  
• Charlie's Kitchen Harvard Square - Pitchers and Cheeseburgers baby!
  
• Chinatown - Ginza?
• Red Bones - Davis Square
  
• Brown Sugar Cafe for Thai
• Parish Cafe
• Rattlesnake Grill - roofdeck
• Union St - porch and million dollar renovation
• Middle East
• Om - Grendel's Den, men - women divergence and convergence