royler gracie

You know the picture of Julio in our academy? Uncanny how much Royer looks like him.
It was like seeing a piece of history watching Royler come in to Bruces Academy, how everyone followed him across the room as he shook hands with every person in the room
How was the seminar? in a word, great. no real reason to go over all the techniques- we have done that in classes in the weeks after the seminar.
self defense section.
The flavor of the seminar was really defined by his personality, they stories he told. for example:

In responding to defense against a puncher when on ground, his response was that you should hug yourself to the person, and then he said he would wait for his brothers!
He also discussed attitude in competition; that the goal should be to win versus not losing...
In his academy, he always leaves thee door open- 2 reasons-so he can see who is coming, and to always have a ready exit.
As we worked on technique, he would pick out a student to work with, and have the student try the technique after it was shown. He would remind the student to go easy by using one simple word: "friend", which was very humorous, but got the point across.
As the student took the technique to submission, he would admonish the student to not tell anybody that Royler tapped.

To demonstrate his approach to competition, he discussed a fight his father had coming up with someone who publicly stated he couldn't be choked. the opponent used the news media to demonstrate: he had two people on each end of a rope, with the rope round his neck, and had them pull as hard as they could, unable to choke him.
during the match his father tried to choke his opponent but his hand cramped-he let it go, then returned to it later in the fight (how long?? 30 min??? I think that is what he said!) when the opponent was tired, his blood pumping- his father choked him unconscious. Royler added that the ref wouldn't call it because the opponent wouldn't tap... this was a demonstration of how to view attacks, with patience and timing.

On a more serious note, he discussed his last conversation with his father. Royler told his father he was going to move to the US and open up a school, but at that time, the economy was bad, and Royler wanted advice on whether to make the move. His father's response was that the economy wouldn't adversely affect him because in a bad economy, students still continue to train, and the cost of training isn't a deterrent; not like buying a car or a house..

Royler spent time on demonstrating the importance of transition- in one exercise he showed a fluid motion which moved from choke to sweep, then back to choke and so on. He stressed that the motion from one to other is what sets the following technique up. Sooner or later opponent gets behind.
Another nice concept came up when asked about when you can't pass guard and feel you have to. His answer: why do you have to? Make the person on bottom work , and wait to take advantage of any opening. He provided an amusing demonstration of how to stall so it looks like you are active. lots of motion but all for show. Since then in training, I often find myself waiting for the person on bottom to do something before trying to pass, and I have been amazed at how often it helps!
Training. Royler talked a bit about how to train new techniques. he said he trys out a new technique on white belts first, then moves on to blue, then to purple. if at any stage it strarts to break down, he goes back to the lower belt. It makes it clear what benefit a higher belt can get from working with a lower belt. It is a good place to practice techniques you don't feel as confident with.

Demian Maia

Thomas,Dax, Jeff at the Demian Maia Seminar. Not many pictures taken at this seminar, since it was just us, but it was a great seminar. Dax spent many classes integrating what we learned into his classes.

Jean Jacques Machado Seminar

It has been a while since we went to the Jean Jacques seminar, but anyone who has been coming to class in the last month knows that Dax has given us a heavy dose of what he brought back from the seminar.

I say "he" here because while "we" were at the seminar, what Dax brought back was also filtered by what he teaches and what he knows he has shown us. He would review what we got from the JJM seminar, but would add additional possibilities of attack that we are already familiar with.

The success of the seminar then is not just what was brought back from the seminar, but also how what you brought back is integrated into your game. Dax helped us do this by the extensive followup and integration with the rest of what he teaches.

Upcoming Tournament:: Hoosier Open June 13, 2009

The list of people participating has dwindled due to injury or other plans, but we are still planning on taking a half dozen or so to the Hoosier Open this year.
Lets see, who is still standing? There's Medium Ryan, Butter, the Danimal, Claudio, Shawny and maybe Bazooka Joe and Oz. Dax is coming off an injury so he is a maybe also.
Double elimination, so everyone is guaranteed at least two fights. All registration is done online, deadline is thurs midnight. Go to their website for more info and registration. See you there!

Shawn Graduates!

Yes, folks, its time for Shawn to go to the next level! Wouldn't YOU like to have brought 3 plus years of BJJ experience with you to your high school graduation? Behind that guitar-thingy he is holding, if you look closely, he is wearing his gi and his two strip blue belt under his street clothes. Why else would they be so baggy? Yes, that is the prop he has used all these years as an excuse to not be at BJJ six days a week like the rest of us( well some of us anyway....erm, well, like two of us at any rate.)

Anyway, The Razzano Academy has been invited to Shawn's Graduation, so you don't even need crash it to hassle and embarass him. We are sanctioned to come and misbehave at both his graduation ceremony this Saturday, and his reception on Sunday. Isn't that why he invited us? to do what we practice and do best? throw insults? fling poo? See you then and there. The pertinent information is below.

Its Clobberin' Time? CANCELLED

Unfortunately, this fight was cancelled. They had three fighters cancel. two of which refused to make weight. (huh? this was to be a PRO fight??) Then there was a last minute demand for new bloodwork. It doesn't appear the promoter had his ducks all n a row. So Butter will have to wait a while before his first pro fight. Time to get better, I say.

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Yes, folks, its time for the eagerly waited, much debated Professional MMA Debut of Corey Mullis, AKA the Butter-Thing. At 260 and change, he is fight-ready, he has been honing his skills since his last amateur fight several months ago.

When, Where: Butter will be fighting this Friday, May 22, in Columbus, Ohio at Club Static, in the ICFA 10: Mayhem MMA event.

Here's the write-up of the event. It looks like there will be some other good fights on the card to keep us busy until our Main Event. Note the mention of Butter's last fight, where Butter's opponent "won via a very controversial split decision." No Kidding...But we are not bitter, just better, better in stand-up, better in sit-down, and ready to do some Clobberin' as a Pro now.

Contact the Razzano Academy (812-929-7376 or email info@octopusbjj.com) if you want to meet those of us who are going to go root Butter on, maybe snag a ride. Here's info on getting to Club Static in the heart of downtown Columbus. See you there!

Pedro Sauer Seminar followup

For those of you didn't make the Pedro Sauer Seminar.. what can I say? Man you missed a great seminar! Ask any of us who went for the low down. Better yet, come to classes for the next couple of weeks, and you will get an opportunity to learn and rep them, as we did in yesterday's beginning class. You can also check out the photos posted at Bruce's website.
The seminar was evenly split between listening to Pedro talk about all aspects of Jiu Jitsu and going over practical elements of BJJ in certain situations (or 'tricks' as Pedro liked to call them).
We got a mix of history, ranging from what black belts were like (back in the day), why many of them quit when a new, more technical breed came along (pride), to the hostility encountered when it was introduced to large Karate seminars (with the likes of Big Foot Wallace and Chuck Norris). Pedro, the first Brazilian to introduce Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, gave us many gems of knowledge and history. Talk about getting it from the source.
What is important to Pedro? Muscle memory- rep-ing technique for that reason - the importance of technique instead of muscle. (muscle is something you 'put in your back pocket' to use when you need it). Once you discover the proper execution, and the ease of good technique, you 'never go back'- Pedro, 50 years old, emphasized that he, like most of us at the seminar, are 'in it for life' and the use of proper technique can help us do that. Even after 35 years, he is still always searching for new and different techniques.
Another prominent concept was the student's 'not-to-do-list' which we all have. He suggests we put as many of those back in our 'to-do' list so we can continue to evaluate what it takes to make them work.
Pedro emphasized the importance of proper attitude when you walk in to train. Rather than coming to fight, you should be coming to play. In that mental framework, there isn't the pressure of winning or losing, there is something more positive, an approach which means having a smile on your face when you walk on the mat. You are there to have fun, which means you look forward to being there, that you don't have anything to prove. And he feels this is something that can be learned.
At his school, he as a 'tap-out day' once a week, where everyone is required to tap-out 5 times. he believes this allows everyone to work on how to escape out of the submissions the students use. and what do we all use? Our best moves. this means we all get exposed very quickly to each student's best moves and can quickly work out how to escape from those moves. (At least Pedro can!). It also helps keep your ego in check. He feels strongly that pride has a detrimital effect on the mat, and that one trains more effectively when your ego is "checked at the door". he did recognize that there are cases where a 'knucklehead' might need some 'reeducation' by one of the senior students!
The seminar was divided into 2 sections, gi and no-gi. and we got ample opportunity to roll no-gi at the end. We had multiple opportunities to roll with several brown belts and above (meaning Bruce) which is a treat!
I haven't really described the specific techniques we covered. Pedro asked the students to tell him where they were having problems, which they would do, and he would then show solutions to those problems. I am sure Dax will be using what we learned in the seminar as the material for many classes to come, so take advantage, and get in to the upcoming BJJ classes!
A special thanks has to go to Bruce for him bringing Pedro in as a part of his Black Belt series. Bruce plans on bringing in some other great people for BJJ seminers, and we will make sure we remind you of them. Next up? Jean Jacques Machado on August 22

Pedro Sauer Seminar Coming to Evansville May 2

Bruce Shepherd will be bringing in Pedro Sauer for a Gi and no Gi seminar. There is a good write-up on Pedro at the JiuJitsuAcademy blog. It includes a video of Pedro rolling with a black belt which is worth a watch. Any students of the Razzano Academy interested in the seminar should contact Dax ( immediately as there are limited spaces: as an affiliate school, we will also pay a member price). At this point about 10 have signed up from the Razzano Academy. Here is the basic info on the seminar.

Extreme Grappling Open Greenwood, Indiana, april 4, 2009

Short version: Thanks for those who came out and supported the fighters. I know it makes a big difference. Picture and videos are worth my thousand or so words(below):
http://octopusbjj/media.php (check out the link for EGO 2009)

Long version:
Several students went to the EGO Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournament and competed, and several more came to root on the competitors. we took as much video and pictures as we had time for, though it would probably help if we had at least two dedicated videographers and the same for photographers. Given the fact the most everyone was in at least two divisions gi and two no-gi, there was a whole lot of fightin' goin' on.
It was a well run tournament, and I know Bazooka Joe, Butter, Kenny and Ryan were all glad to compete, and the rest of us had a great time watching.
Note that Joe isn't Little Joe any more. After this tournament he is now Bazooka Joe. He got in there with some sturdy white belt competition to say the least, and showed immense heart. No kidding. I told him I was going to go harder on him if he was going to be fighting some of the monsters we saw in his division.

What can we say about Butter that he hasn't already said himself ... and repeated... and reiterated...and reminded us. So I can't say you heard it first here. He fought some exciting rounds, no question, especially when he was behind on points, and got a submission in the final seconds.
the other 3 matches? Oh didn't you hear? all ended in Butter submitting each and every one. I think the pink fingernails and the willow-y appearance lulled the monsters in super-heavy-unlimited-too-big-to-weigh into thinking they were going to have a power lunch on the Razzano teddy bear. Surprise! His new blue belt has been been notched.
Kenny has the distinction of defeating two competitors from the across-town M.A. school, one of which was an old instructor of our instructor. Dax yelled "armbar" when Kenny had him in a weak triangle, that is exactly what happened. Way to listen Kenny...we will watch for more of that listening stuff from you in the future.. And the blue belt opponent didn't even see it coming, as his gi was uncomfortably pulled over his head. You have to see the picture of that! As for his no-gi match with the second competitor, Kenney made us think he slipped into lactic acid shock what with the way he was laying there like a flounder for the first 30 seconds of the match. Tired? Playing Possum? he won't say..Man did he make his opponent look good there for that 1/2 minute. But, he then did his leviathan from the deep move, slapped on a MEAN legbar ending the match before a sweat or leg could be broken.

And as for Ryan's match, he wanted to dive in the deep end with his newly aquired blue belt, and he did just that. Turned out there weren't other competitors in his weight division, so his only option was to fight in a weight division up. The guy was big, strong, fast and RED. Ryan did us proud, right up to that armbar that he A..L.... M.......O.....S........T got out of...On our facebook Razzano Academy group I voted his fight my favorite fight because it was the most technical. it is worth a watch.