Tough Choice...

[Mikey Triangles]

Alright here's my dilema. I've been looking for a BJJ academy to add to my grappling and submissions, and I've been researching and taking trial classes at most of the schools on Long Island, and right now I have it narrowed down to 2 schools. The problem is they're both great, and I don't know which would be better for me.


I had pretty much decided that I wanted to join the Serra Jiu-Jitsu Academy. When I went there I was very impressed by everyone, and obviously Matt and Nick Serra are both highly renown and accomplished. Everyone there seemed to be very humble and equally skilled, and the time schedule is perfect for me. There are 2 schools I can attend, 1 about an hour from my house, and another about an hour and a half away. The drive doesn't bother me because I'm used to driving over an hour to train; however, Gas prices are getting pretty nasty.


Like I said I was about to sign up there when a personal trainer at my gym started telling me about his teacher, Master Fransico Mansor, and Kioto Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He mentioned that Mansor was a 9th degree Black Belt under Helio Gracie, and that he taught the owner of the Beverly Hills Jiu-Jitsu Club, and a few other people I'd heard of, and he got me pretty interested, so I researched a bit and everything seemed to check out. Then I went down for a trial class and I really enjoyed it. Again everyone there seemed pretty humble and skillful,a nd the time schedule is great. This academy is much closer to my house (about a 20 minute drive), and the cost is less, so it would be considerably cheaper and more convienient for me to attend this school.


Anyway I was wondering if anyone here could help me decide because right now I'm truely torn. I'm leaning a bit more towards joining the Kioto Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy, but I felt that the general level of competition was higher at Serra's school... then again when I took the trial at Kioto I was rolling with white belts and at Serra's I rolled with mostly Blue and Brown Belts.

So does anyone here have any advice?

[Cliff Hargrave]

Wow what a choice! Sounds like you can't go wrong either way. As far as level of competition, all of Renzos guys seem to be awesome and very competition oriented, but Kioto has turned out some awesome black belts in Brazil so it's just a matter of time here.

If it was me I would probably end up choosing by price and travel time, but that is just because I am poor

[Mikey Triangles]

Wow what a choice! Sounds like you can't go wrong either way. As far as level of competition, all of Renzos guys seem to be awesome and very competition oriented, but Kioto has turned out some awesome black belts in Brazil so it's just a matter of time here.

If it was me I would probably end up choosing by price and travel time, but that is just because I am poor

Thanx for the reply Cliff. I'm poor also, and that's why I'm kind of leaning towards Master Mansor's school. I just wanted to pick up some more info and opinions from you guys that have been in the BJJ game for a while before I decide... this is one of the toughest descisions I've had to make in a long time.

[FunSPE]

Man, thats a tough choice. Either way, I you will be getting excellent BJj training. I met Master Mansor at last year's US Open. Really nice man. What are your goals for BJJ? Is it to just learn the art, do you want self defense, do you want to compete? Also, at which gym did you feel the best at (i.e most comforable)? Price and distance are also an issue becasue BJJ is very addicting and you are going to want to train A LOT . You really cant lose either way.

FunSPE

[Mikey Triangles]

Man, thats a tough choice. Either way, I you will be getting excellent BJj training. I met Master Mansor at last year's US Open. Really nice man. What are your goals for BJJ? Is it to just learn the art, do you want self defense, do you want to compete?

Right now my main focus is in Ninpo, in which we do a lot of grappling, but the Grappling in BJJ is superior IMO so I want to add that into my arsenal... and Yes, competition is always something in the back of my mind... I guess it's in my blood, my mother's side of the family were all boxers (even my aunt won the Golden Gloves), and I've been learning boxing through them for a long time, but I would preffer to do NHB myself... something about it seems more rewarding. I'm not really sure yet though, but I do want to have the ability to do it if I choose to down the road; hence I start BJJ next week, I'm going to sign up for 2 classes a week so I don't burn out.

Also, at which gym did you feel the best at (i.e most comforable)?

That's the thing I felt really comfortable at both schools. I guess I felt a tad better at Serra's because the people there were closer to my age for the most part, and they were a bit more outgoing and less traditional, but I also felt very comfortable at Kioto. Kioto did seem a bit more traditional, but both schools were pretty informal compared to what I'm used to... I guess that's a BJJ thing I felt like a member right off the bat.

Price and distance are also an issue becasue BJJ is very addicting and you are going to want to train A LOT . You really cant lose either way.

FunSPE

I know what you mean, but I'm limiting myself to 2 classes a week so I don't drive myself into the ground (We'll see how long that lasts ). Between school, work, and all my other training I think doing more then 2 classes a week could effect me negatively, but doing 2 classes is really good for me. I've already noticed an improvement in my other training just by doing all these trial classes... I guess I getting all the grappling out of my system early in the day helps me to focus more on the other aspects of my training.

Like I mentioned Kioto is considerably closer to me (about an hour less of a drive), and it's about $20 less a month.


Thanks for your input guys. As much as I loved training at Serra's I think I'm probably going to go with Kioto.

[Erik]

You'll be happy at both places. You're going to have a great time!

[Jeff C.]

Mike, I'm with Cliff. Go with what's closer and less expensive. Remember, you are starting out at white belt level; any perceived difference in skill between the two schools is irrelevant at this point, as a white or blue belt with a few months training can still teach you a thing or two.

Also, you are an experienced martial artist. You are training in other arts. I think you will benefit from a more traditional BJJ approach. It will be more pure. And since you are integrating your arts anyway, you don't need to train at a grappling school that is more MMA-oriented. (Does this make sense? Long day today at work!)

Jeff Cook

[MarcoPolo]

Mike, I'm with Cliff. Go with what's closer and less expensive. Remember, you are starting out at white belt level; any perceived difference in skill between the two schools is irrelevant at this point, as a white or blue belt with a few months training can still teach you a thing or two.

Jeff Cook

Good point, Jeff. Closer and Less Expensive is a great combo (not like you're settling for less, Monsor is a legend.) Besides, it will be a while before you can tell the difference between a good BJJ guy and a great one.

(I still say that one of my training goals is to be able to tell a good BB from a great one... at this point i'm in awe of all of them!)

[Brian R. VanCise]

It sounds to me that you think both places are good!
So save yourself the drive time and go with the closer
and less expensive place for now, you can always change
later as you progress!

Brian R. VanCise

[Mikey Triangles]

Alright, thanx guys.

I'm going to go with Kioto, but everything worked out perfect. One of the guys I train with everyday lives near East Meadow and Huntington, and he happened to get the same idea as me, so he's going to sign up with Serra. He's a really good teacher also, so I almost feel like I'm getting to sign up with both now

Remember, you are starting out at white belt level; any perceived difference in skill between the two schools is irrelevant at this point, as a white or blue belt with a few months training can still teach you a thing or two.

Oh absolutely, I learn something everytime I roll with anyone. The only reason I said something was because I submitted everyone I rolled with at Kioto pretty quickly (except ofcourse the one Black Belt who I think was just testing my reactions, and seeing what I knew), but I only got one or two at Serra's. At Serra's I could barely even keep those guys in guard, and when they got out trying to get them back in was a joke. Though like I said I rolled with some higher ranks at Serra's school (this one Brown Belt just destroyed me), and I really only rolled with white belts at Kioto when I took my trial class.