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.