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