Sergio Moraes (left) against Kron Gracie at the 2010 BJJ World Championship. Photo courtesy cohost Dan.

Hey Family,

Not the news I like to deliver but sometimes there’s just not enough hours in a week, you know what I mean? I have been traveling for my job the majority of this week and was not able to set aside any time to put something together. I think I could have made a show in the last day or so but I don’t want to throw quality out the window and do a show just just for the sake of saying I didn’t miss a week.

So stay tuned and we should be back very soon!

Caleb (still on the road!)

Mechanicsville Martial Arts will be hosting Abmar Barbosa for a seminar on Saturday, May 8th from 11am-2pm.
The cost of the seminar is $55/person and is open to all academies.

Abmar Barbosa took the silver medal at the 2010 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship after beating competition like Kron Gracie.

8161 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Suite F
Mechanicsville, VA 23111
MAP

More information available from the official site.

2010 Pan Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship. Image courtesy Georgette Oden.

by Georgette Oden

Fifteen years ago at the first Pan American Jiu Jitsu Championship, there were some 150 competitors. This year’s Pan, held at the Bren Event Center in Irvine California, welcomed some 2800 fighters, including some of the biggest names in the sport like Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles, Michelle Nicolini, and Felipe Costa as well as up-and-comers like Hillary Williams, Kron and Kayron Gracie, and Abmar Barbosa.

I competed in the blue belt women’s leve (light weight) class and worked as a scorer all four days. I was very impressed with the venue and the organization of such a big production.

Thursday, the first day, showcased the whites and some blues. Things got off to a relatively prompt start in the morning, with 10 mats running at once. The biggest divisions were the lighter-weight male blue belts, with some 75-100 competitors each, but the event staff kept things on track and moving efficiently. Brackets for the day were posted on a large wall just inside the entrance and took up feet and feet of space. Friday morning, Tony Torres (he of the famous voice, proclaiming when so-and-so is “Deeee… Cuuuuue…”) showed up and added some humor with his announcements of divisions. Friday began at 9am sharp, with my division (and several others) running like clockwork. Gradually the blues faded and were replaced on other days by purples and browns. Equally gradually, it seemed like the air conditioning was cranked up, and up, leaving everyone but the fighters shivering with cold. It was pretty chilly outdoors, too, but not enough to stop crowds from seeking out the excellent barbeque offered by Silvio’s, and the acai as well.

Saturday offered more spectacular and energetic fights between purples and browns, as well as the womens’ brown/black absolute bracket. I saw a one-stripe purple who was paralyzed from the waist down finishing his match and graciously receiving a standing ovation. Of course, Sunday was blackbelt day, with eight mats full of amazing jiu jitsu. The Pan Ams failed to disappoint. There were some notable fights– Abmar Barbosa (under Robert Drysdale) defeated Kron Gracie on his way to finals against Kayron Gracie where Kayron won by the smallest of margins. Michelle Nicolini’s gold medal match against Lloyd Irvin brownbelt Nyjah Easton was exciting to watch, offering some creative sweeps and definitely more than your standard battle to pass guard.

By working as scorer, I had some unique perspectives on the tournament. First, I could not have afforded to make the trip, or to compete in the Pan, without getting paid for my time. Second, I was forced to focus on something other than my own nervousness, so it really helped me manage my anxieties. Third, I literally had the best seat in the house for watching around 80 matches a day, start to finish, so I learned a lot… about strategy and referee judgments as well as specific technique points. Fourth, there’s something special about having a behind the barricade viewpoint, and I enjoyed having full access to the bullpen, the referees, and the scoring system. If I’d worked as a table coordinator instead, I would have been paid more per day AND would get my entry fee comped. Not a bad deal at all, plus all the tshirts and lunches and snacks. I highly recommend it.

A big well done to the IBJJF for their production and promotion of this tournament.

- Caleb

The brackets on Thursday. Image courtesy Georgette Oden.

The Bren Events Center before the matches started. Image courtesy Georgette Oden.

Robin Gracie (right) with his nephew Kron Gracie (left). Image courtesy Robin Gracie.

Robin Gracie is the youngest of Helio Gracie’s sons, and the only one of them to settle in Europe. In this exchange we hear straight from Robin and his academy in Barcelona about the popularity of Brazilian jiu-jitsu in Spain.

The FightWorks Podcast: How long have you lived in Spain?

Robin Gracie: I arrived in Spain in December 1997, a little over 12 years ago.

The FightWorks Podcast: When you left Brazil to live in Spain, did you know you would remain there for so long?

Robin Gracie: I did not know exactly what I would find here. The only thing I knew was that BJJ was little-known or unknown in Spain.

The FightWorks Podcast: You were one of the first to offer jiu-jitsu in Spain. What was it like in those early years?

Robin Gracie: There were only a few curious folks who surfed around the web, which was not as used back then as it is today, and there were martial arts magazines but there were no instructors. I was the only one. All of my students were of course white belts and did not have anyone to train hard with.

The FightWorks Podcast: How would you describe the Spanish who train jiu-jitsu? How are they similar to Brazilians and how are they different?

Robin Gracie: The truth is that there is a lot of diversity among them, from humble workers to famous businessmen. I believe something similar happens in the United States. In my gym there are many foreigners. I believe 30% or 40% are. In Europe it is very easy to get around by train, car or plan. You can be anywhere quickly. The Spanish, being Latinos, are as impulsive as the Brazilians but when it comes time to train are somewhat more explosive and they look for a faster pace, maybe because of the cold there is in the winter.

The FightWorks Podcast: How do you see the spread of jiu-jitsu in Spain today?

Robin Gracie: After all these years the BJJ community has grown and now there are gyms everywhere. The number of competitions has increased as well and people are looking for more information about our martial art all the time.

The FightWorks Podcast: Did you attend the 2010 IBJJF European Championship? What did you think?

Robin Gracie: Yes, it is always growing. It seems like every time there are more mats out and more competitors. The only bad thing in my opinion are the details in the rules that change every year and they confuse the coaches, fighters, and referees, who in the end make mistakes. I think they should not change the rules more than every five years to give everyone a chance to understand them before changing them.

The FightWorks Podcast: Your father, Helio Gracie, passed away in January of 2009. Do you have any favorite memories of your time with him?

Robin Gracie: Since I came to Spain I would only see him on my vacations in Brazil when I got the opportunity to visit him in his house in the mountains. I remember that even in his final years he liked to put on the gi and train. He did not speak or think about anything other than jiu-jitsu.

The FightWorks Podcast: What is your favorite thing about Spain?

Robin Gracie: Of all European countries, Spain is the warmest and also the one with the most beaches, where it rains and snows the least, and the people are friendliest. Perhaps it is the Brazil of Europe. That is why I like it.

The FightWorks Podcast: Thanks Robin! Gracias! Obrigado!

Robin Gracie: Thank you Caleb.

Rickson Gracie, Henry Akins, & Kron Gracie on the day Akins received his black belt. Image courtesy Akins.

Have you ever felt like you were not progressing in Brazilian jiu-jitsu? How often do you get the sensation that all the other jiu-jitsu students are getting better and you’re the same BJJ student you were a month ago? We recently received an email from Gary, one of the Mighty 600,000 along these lines, saying:

My question is about training frustration. I haven’t heard anyone address this topic on the show and was wondering if you or any one of your guests had any comments on training plateaus and the frustrations of training hard and sometimes feeling so good and accomplished and sometimes feeling as if I know nothing at all.

Today we start our weekly BJJ internet radio show with a conversation with Luis Pantoja on this very topic. Pantoja is a skilled jiu-jitsu black belt and a product of Yamasaki Jiu-Jitsu in Maryland, and gives us several valuable tips on how to get out of training slumps, and how to avoid getting in them in the first place.

Our feature interview is brought to us by FightWorks Podcast correspondent Christian Simamora, who speaks with Los Angeles-based Henry Akins. Akins is one of the few to receive a black belt from Rickson Gracie. Such a fortunate proximity to one of jiu-jitsu’s biggest names has given Akins a unique perspective on Brazilian jiu-jitsu today and how it has changed in the short time it has been in the United States. Akins reminds us that we can never forget the original reason for jiu-jitsu: self-defense. Of course, there are some very interesting Rickson anecdotes as well.

Luis Pantoja. Image courtesy Pantoja.

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (recommended)
[mp3] Download the show

Kron Gracie will be offering two Brazilian jiu-jitsu seminars at Team Hopkins of West Monroe.

Friday from 6 – 7:30pm, colored belts only: $25
Saturday from 10am-12pm, and 2pm-4:30pm (all belts): $100

Please only wear white gis.

1427 Natchitoches St
West Monroe, LA 71292
MAP

More information on the official site.