Starting BJJ in August

[chrtorres]

Hello All,

I'm starting BJJ in a couple of weeks and really jacked about it.. I'm ranked as a Nidan in Aikijiujitsu by my previous instructor no one seems to know and think Highly of - so it took me a while to swallow that I'm not going to get anywhere teaching because the lineage can not be traced to authenticity. Hence, me joing the USJJF and starting BJJ - Relson Gracie Academy. This should do what I want it to do. At best I can use my previous experience to get ranked in the USJJF and If I also decide to move out of New york at least I can just find another gracie school and pickup where I left off and @ 34 yrs young - I really want to have my own school in years to come.


http://www.gracieny.com/

[Becky_Sheetz]

I'm ranked as a Nidan in Aikijiujitsu by my previous instructor no one seems to know and think Highly of

Woah, hold the phone, Christopher. You are moving on from aiki jujitsu because your instructor isn't as well known as a Gracie? Is this your only reason for leaving? I hope not . . .

[chrtorres]

Ok, let me explain a bit more in detail. My previous instructor whom has stopped teaching - and does not keep in in communication with any of us at all ...4 blackbelts me being the hightest ranking. Our training/system was never comple and he taught everyone differently, not because of their attrbutes but because whatever was the new flavor of the month was the topic of the class.

It's a personal decision.

Basically it's like this, we have no linage - nor any affilliations. At times when I first stated teaching with a small group, I was asked where did your system come from. I know the history of Jiujitsu/ju-jutsu and how the traditional system of Aiki-jitsu came about - but there are gaps on how it came to my instructor - it is my personal belief that our system is an offshoot of Miyama - ryu jiujitsu - and not Aiki jitsu at all, he had a training partner from that school and I only saw his instructor twice during the 10 yrs I spent training with him. I have the skill from my training and I'm grateful, but I need more for me not for anyone else.

Don't get me wrong - I've spoken to a certain people from Miyama ryu but have run into .. "well we know your instructor and trained with him, but.. we won't accept your rank" this is before they have even seen me demonstrate my ability. I don't have a problem being a white belt. but if the styles are similar at least offer me the chance of an accelerated program.

I've also spoken with someone whom has his ranking from Japan and told me even if you do come from another art (jiujitsu)- everyone starts at white belt and the art also has it's basis in Miyama Ryu - then spreads to Daito-Ryu. I was going to start training with this gentleman but TIME did not allow it and now I am a bit further away from his school than before.

I've run into many people - great martial artists - whom no one has ever heard of and good buisness people whose schools close because they are not popular enough or are not affiliated with any organization.

I think I'm starting to Ramble a bit.

In the end, I just want to teach

[John Bennett]

Very Cool Chris!

I would love to be able to train with Relson.

I'm also a member of the USJJF. ( http://usjujitsu.net )

[Becky_Sheetz]

Ok, I understand what you are saying I guess. If you go from one system to another school within a system, they should recognize your rank. Maybe their reasons for not accepting you are personal or political, or just plain arrogance. But going from one ryu to another is a different story. Sorry your teacher bailed on you and I hope you find what you are looking for.

But you did earn your nidan, didn't you? No one can take that away from you, no matter what.

[chrtorres]

Thanks becky,, your exactly right and a belt is just to hold up your dogi.

John,

I'm amped as well, Relson is not teaching directly but one of his students is, I've done my due diligence on where he falls in the scheme of things.. so it should be great fun.

[Dennis Monk]

I think it takes a lot from a person to train in something as long as you have and train others as you have and still question the validity of its lineage. As you have said your training was good and you, better than anyone else, knows your true skill level. ggkjgafgbafg jg;wkjgbeg jbgferbgflbgj

Sorry, I got distracted, Roger Clemens just got a base hit....

Anyway, I say take what you have learned in the past and use it in conjunction with what you will learn in the future, dfkfjbfkdfblkfbdfbdfbfl

Damn, he just got picked off at first....

Sorry, I just can't type and watch baseball at the same time. I don't muti-task very well.

Good luck with BJJ. I don't take it but I really like the art and hope to start in it someday soon too.

[Cliff Hargrave]

Good luck with BJJ. I don't take it but I really like the art and hope to start in it someday soon too.


Well why don't you find someone to teach you? :)

[Dennis Monk]

Well why don't you find someone to teach you? :)


I keep trying to, but you will only come work out with us at Karate class when we spar and then you complain about being old and sore for days after.
Besides that, you have been teaching me BJJ for years, anyway. Way back when we started watching UFC's and Pride together. I remember fondly, you saying things like, "You see the guy with the purple face, beating his hand against the ground? He just tapped to a triangle choke." You taught me that all the great BJJ stylists pronounce their R's as H's. You taught me that being a BJJ bluebelt means you are an awesome groundfighter. (You are still a bluebelt, aren't you?) Heck, I think we even rolled once didn't we. Forgive me if I don't remember that night too well, the amnesia still affects me from time to time. What was I talking about? Oh yeah, you were going to open your own school again, right? No, Ok. Then bring me to Silsbee some time so I can get my first official BJJ *** whipping. :D