My Renzo Gracie Academy trip 2012 (Conclusion)
[Click HERE for part 1] [Click HERE for part 2] [Click HERE for part 3] [Click HERE for part 4][Click HERE for part 5]
Day 3: Our final day at RGA
Today is our last day here at Renzo Gracie Academy. I have a 12:30 appointment for a private lesson with Zed. My gi is not quite dry from being washed the night before, but it’s so hot outside that I just throw it on my back over my backpack and let it dry as we walk.
What’s surprising is how cool–temperaturely speaking–it feels having a thick damp gi wrapped around you on a hot day. That Bear Grylls is on to something (though thankfully my gi is only mildy damp from clean water rather than soaked in my own pee!)…
We get to RGA and with my gi almost completely dry, I head into the side room to stretch out and get ready.
Zed shows up and we chat for a while about what to go over. He asked me yesterday to think of a few specific questions I may have for him. “I want to teach you everything, my brother, but I don’t want to overload your mind,” he said. This is good because my mind has gone through Jiujitsu overload the past 2 days here and there’s very little room left!
I tell Zed that I’ve never really been able to develop a good entry game. I usually just react to whatever my opponent does at the start of the match and as a result, I often end up having to work from less-than-ideal positions to begin with. I’d love some good tactics and tips on how to begin the match.
Zed gives me a few pointers on starting from your knees and shows me two entry throws where you end up in side control or kesa gatame. We rep these a few times, then he shows the transition from both positions to far-side keylock and straight armbar.
I wish I had had my video camera because while I remember the main points, I know I’m going to forget some of the key details!
After repping a few more times, he shows me a flying armbar setup from the knees and a trick involving grip which makes it much easier to do without their elbow slipping out. One little movement of the fingers makes all the difference in the world…I’ve hit the move twice since I’ve been back, in fact!
When we finish, it’s been about an hour and I thank him and get up to leave. By this time, Derek, Black Rob and a few other high level students are in the room on the mat near us and I figure it’s time for me to bow out so they can do whatever it is brown and black belts do.
“Where are you going? It’s time to roll,” Zed says.
I didn’t expect to get to roll with him; I figured the teaching/drilling would be the totality of my lesson. But I’m excited to get a chance because I learn best by having someone roll with me and give me tips and pointers while we’re rolling, so I can adjust on the spot and take mental note while I’m in the position rather than afterwards when I can’t remember every detail. I tell this to Zed and he says of course he’ll do so.
We slap hands and I immediately sweep him and tap him out.
Yeah right! Actually it’s the total opposite! Haha
Now, mind you, Zed says he weighs 175…but he feels like he weighs 250! Me trying to sweep Zed is like a kitten trying to take down a panther!
But he’s super controlled and incredibly smooth. Like if you took Mr. Fantastic and the Thing and combined them into a 175lb Brazilian guy in a blue gi.
As we roll, he allows me to transition and even sink in a few armlocks for the “finish.” I can’t express with words just how much I appreciate this approach and when we’re done, I’m exhausted, but it’s been the best hour of the trip by far.
After my session, Zed asks Derek if there’s anything he wants to work on. They roll for a while and while Derek does much better than me, he ends up on the receiving end of a collar choke courtesy of Zed (which I totally happen to catch with my phone’s camera! haha!)…
It’s pretty amazing watching my instructor, the man who’s taught me almost everything I know when it comes to BJJ, be the student for a change. It reminds me just how low I am on the grappling totem pole and how much there is out there that I don’t know (and likely never will!).
Zed gives Derek a few pointers and says that his game is really strong. This is Derek’s last roll before the promotion ceremony tonight and I think Zed was giving him one final appraisal!
As I’m getting my stuff together, Renzo walks through the door. I have the portrait of him that he said he’d autograph for me to auction off, so I get him to sign it (see the video at the bottom of this post)…
I leave a few extra prints of my other work with him and then head back to the apartment to rest before the ceremony tonight.
Promotion Ceremony
After a final round of laundry, I get a text from Derek saying not to eat because the ceremony is catered…along with this picture:
Of course, I get this AFTER I’ve just eaten!
But let it be known that RGA straight-up THROWS DOWN when it comes to catered ceremonies! Roast beef sandwiches, pulled-pork BBQ, chicken fingers, pasta, meatballs, vegetables…it’s truly a feast (which I end up partaking of later after the promotions!).
We get there around 5:30. It’s set to start at 6pm…but of course we’re on Brazilian time (I think the first belt is actually given out around 7:20pm). So those of us who have our LMA gis on take a second to grab a quick team pic in front of the iconic back wall:
After this, we find a spot on the mat and take a seat as people are arriving. The mat fills up quickly and by the time it begins, there are very few spots left for anyone to sit. Black Rob takes the mic and has all the black belts who are present line up along the back wall, as is their custom at RGA promotion ceremonies. I’ve never seen this many black belts in a single room! There are more black belts on that wall than there are in all of North Carolina!
Igor, Gregor, Rolles, Daniel Gracie, John Danaher, Zed, Sapo, Black Rob, Joe D’Arce, Silver Fox…it’s like a wall of smiling, respectful, polite death!
There are Renzo black belts from as far away as South Africa and Greece here, because RGA only does promotions once a year. It’s amazing to be the this room. And the lobby is pretty packed as well. On my way to grab a bite to eat, I almost run into TUF alum, Akira Corassani. I also see Ottavia Bourdain, Anthony Bourdain’s wife who trains there, on the mat with a number of others from the women’s class (many of whom are QUITE attractive, I must say!). 😉
Finally, Renzo arrives and Igor gets on the mic to get things started. They begin with blue belts. Igor calls the name and when the student comes up, Renzo takes off their white belt and puts on their blue. He gives them a hug and they then go down the line and shake every black belt’s hand. Ottavia gets her blue belt and the final blue is given to “Midnight”, Renzo’s friend from Brazil who is a world famous drummer. Renzo tells a funny story about him involving Mick Jagger (you had to have been there), and then it’s on to the purple belts.
Though there are 200+ students on the mat, it’s pretty cool that each one personally gets their belt put around their waist and a picture taken with Renzo. Also, with the purple belts, traditional smacks with the belt are given…the BJJ equivalent of good-natured hazing.
Next it’s brown belt time. I almost pass out when I hear Igor call out “James-Michael”…until I see that there’s a purple belt there who’s first name is James and last is Michael! I knew my performance this week hasn’t been THAT impressive!!
Finally, as all the RGA brown belts have been called, Renzo looks over at Derek and says “Get over here!” with a big smile on his face. Igor calls Derek’s name and we all cheer as our instructor, and my friend, is officially awarded his Renzo Gracie brown belt.
After this, Renzo says it’s time to give out stripes to some of the black belts present.
Sapo, Silver Fox, Joe D’Arce and John Danaher all get stripes, along with a few others.
Lastly, it’s time for those who are receiving their black belts to take the stage. Each person who gets their belt is able to make a quick speech, and for some it’s been a decades-long journey.
Two in particular stand out though. A gentleman named Marvin receives his black belt. What makes it so impressive is that he’s in his late-60s (perhaps older!) and drives 3 hrs to attend class at RGA…and has been doing so for YEARS! Everyone cheers as he’s given his belt and it’s pretty moving, especially for people like me, who didn’t start BJJ until their late 20s!
Also, Renzo awards RGA’s first female black belt to Kay Stephenson. Derek has told me how phenomenal Kay is and though I didn’t get the chance to roll with her, the fact that she’s now in such company is testimony indeed to her skill on the mat.
After the last belt is awarded, the ceremony is over we take a group picture (which can’t fit everyone in, despite our best efforts to squeeze onto the mat!) and then Renzo and many of the others stick around to take pictures with and congratulate all the new belt holders. I wait until the students are done shaking his hand and then go over and give John the prints I’d brought for him. I know he’s a big Jigoro Kano fan, so I am sure to include a “Roots” print. He also signs the original of my portrait I did of him:
As people are filing out, I find Renzo in the side room and go over to thank him and say goodbye. I ask him if he’d sign a couple of things for my own personal collection: my DVD copy of “Legacy” and a print of the portrait I brought him last year. He says “Absolutely! I’m your fan!”
That’s pretty freakin’ awesome to hear one of the greatest fighters of all time say!
I say goodbye and head back to the apartment. We all decide to do one final meal as a team together at a Chinese restaurant a few doors down to share and reflect on the trip.
I’d been an amazing experience, just as last year’s was, and I’m truly thankful to have been able to make it again this year.
Can’t wait for next year’s trip…
Blessings from the Dojo to Renzo, everyone at RGA and my brothers and sisters at LMA!
JM
———————-
ps: If you’ve enjoyed this series of posts, please consider becoming a supporter of Disciple Dojo by purchasing some prints, commissioning a piece of your own, buying a t-shirt, mug, or poster featuring my designs, or getting a copy of my book or DVD studies.
Also, here is a short video about the trip and the portrait auction for the original piece that Renzo signed. This auction will run for the next week and proceeds will go to pay my remaining surgery bills from last year as well as to support International Justice Mission in their ongoing fight against modern slavery and human trafficking!
Here is the direct link to the auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120947863921
Thanks for the support!
Categories: Blog, Martial Arts