My Renzo Gracie Academy trip 2012 (part 1)
So, for those readers new to Disciple Dojo, last year three of us from Leadership Martial Arts spent a few days training at Renzo Gracie Academy in Manhattan.
It was incredible and I highly recommend reading the previous series of posts about the trip if you haven’t already (Here are the links: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4 and conclusion).
In the year since then, LMA has become Renzo’s Charlotte affiliate…
…and I’ve tried to hone my skill at not getting smashed by wrestlers in man-panties (we’ll see how that works out this week!).
I’ve also gotten some great feedback on my last series of posts from the online MMA community (shout out to the UG!), so I promised I’d do another write up if I got the chance to get back. Thus, without further ado, here it is…
Day 1
We leave Charlotte on a Tuesday afternoon. This year we’re bringing a team of 8:
Our instructor, Derek (aka. “TC”…short for “Thundercat” in case you’re curious), who’s wife, Jodi, just gave birth to twins less than a month ago…
Chase (our resident teenage wrestling beast who was part of the crew last year)…
Daddy-daughter NAGA champs Mike and Brooke (Mike’s our newest LMA blue belt, thanks to his performance in his last [and also his first!] two tournaments and Brooke is our newest femme fatale on the mats)…
Incoming college football freshman, Nick (who had a fresh pair of sneakers and hat for each day of the trip!)…
Our resident Canadian (and enforcer of karma!), Dave…
And my personal Xbox-resurrection-ninja, Michael…
After making it through airport security we grabbed a quick pre-flight sushi lunch and were off to the Big Apple.
We landed at LaGuardia and hopped on the bus…which was an adventure in and of itself. Between the old man yelling at the bus driver to “shut up and drive the d@mn bus!” when the driver told everyone to squeeze toward the middle to let other passengers on, to the large lady who body checked the woman standing in her way refusing to let her pass, New York during a hot Summer rush hour is pretty much like Mayberry…except the exact opposite.
In every possible way.
We make it to the city and head for the subway…whereupon we are greeted by a man and a woman on the platform who are about to throw down for some reason involving someone pushing someone somehow at some point. We’ve been in NY less than an hour and already 2 fights have nearly broken out.
Awesome.
The police come and break up the soon-to-be-subway-brawlers and we catch the train to the 33rd st stop.
Last year we were in Times Square on the 9th floor. This year we’re on the first floor above a Chinese restaurant…that REALLY likes their karaoke late at night, as we’re soon to find out (more on that later!). Our apartment this time is on Lexington near 30th st., which is nice because it’s less than a mile from RGA…and we’re in for a LOT of walks back and forth this week.
AND…since we’re somewhat off the beaten path, the shoe-to-puddle-of-God-knows-what ratio during our daily commutes is significantly lessened. Score!
The first place we go after settling into our apartment—or ‘crib’ as the kids are saying these days—is Mooncake for our first dinner of the trip.
I don’t exactly know how to describe Mooncake, except that it’s Derek’s absolute favorite restaurant just a few doors down from RGA. It’s a hole-in-the-wall Asian-themed joint (seedy bathroom and all) and they only take cash. But the food is absolutely amazing!
For those who remember, it’s also where Renzo took us to eat last year after the epic class with GSP, Frankie Edgar and Roger Gracie.
After our bellies are filled with Mooncake deliciousness, we make a quick stop by RGA so that those in the group who are here for the first time can get a look at where we’ll be spending the next 3 days.
The most noticeable change from last year, by far, is that the 2nd and 3rd floors, which were just being finished last time I was there, are fully operational…complete with full-size street level windows. There’s still no sign on the outside, but as you walk by you can now see the Muay Thai classes taking place. It’s definitely cool to see, but I have to confess a bit of disappointment at the fact that it doesn’t have the same hidden, speakeasy type vibe.
That sounds like such a turdish hipster thing to say now that I’ve just typed it. My sincere apologies, reader.
After letting the gang get somewhat acquainted with their surroundings, it’s back to the apartment for a good night’s rest.
Derek, Chase, Mike and I have a date with John Danaher’s 7:30am class and the rest of the group has class at 8:00 (though as I learned last year, given the “Brazilian time” nature of John’s classes, the others actually end up starting before we do!).
Oh, and for the record, we didn’t have to eat with ladles this time. We found the silverware at the apartment.
😉
Continue reading Part 2
Categories: Blog, Martial Arts
lol,you have a way with words. Looking forward to chapter 2 !!
by Tom Metcalf on Jul 1, 2012 at 3:59 am
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by Disciple Dojo – JMSmith.org » My Renzo Gracie Academy trip 2012 (part 2) on Jul 1, 2012 at 6:45 pm
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Yes! Finally something about diet.
by blueberry on Feb 16, 2014 at 1:35 pm