Na Teia do Aranha

Thank You, Royce

I was speaking with a group of friends after class one Saturday afternoon about the last UFC. The normal conversation and debate occurred surrounding both the personality, skills and victory dances of the participants. As the conversation progressed to the subject of each fighter's record of victories and defeats, the 'who could beat who' part of the debate faded into a Charlie Brown sounding "wah, wah, wah" as my brain calculated the current stats of my favorite fighters. As I sized up each fighter in my head, the inevitable conclusion that they had lost to one guy and beat another who beat the guy who beat them was drawn and I began to get as bored with the mathematics as I was while watching some of the fights the previous night (note: I said some - I'm not trying to take anything away from all the hard work these fighters are doing). I started searching beyond the statistics to find a hero. Many of my personal contenders for hero status were soon bumped down by some personality flaw or lack of improvement in one area or another. As I searched through the mental archives, pictures of Royce Gracie from back in 'the day' would constantly appear. I would pass them over thinking the same thing that many of us do, "that is all in the past now …". But then I stopped and thought, "is it?". Let's do the math here: who else fought that many times in a night with no time limits or rounds to save him. Hardly any rules, no weight classes, no gloves. Think about how many time the things I've just listed really save quite a few of the 'top' fighters of today. You wouldn't see half the knockouts you do now without the now regulation gloves they wear. Think about how many guys get saved by the bell or bailed out by an impatient Big John Mcarthy. Then I thought, "oh yea, but that was when no one really knew anything …". Wait a minute … Really??!!! "No, that's not true!", I thought. Does Igor Vovchanchin have a great guard? How many of today's fighters have great (better than those of the past) striking skills? Does Mark Coleman have good submissions? Are they any better than Dan Severn's were? No. Ken Shamrock isn't any more technical now than he was then - if anything, he had better wind back in 'the day'. The same chokes and arm locks Royce used to defeat his opponents are still being used to win a large number of recent fights. There was also a level of unpredictability that simply does not exist at all today. Now each fighter knows who he will be fighting, they study the tape, they know their opponent's weaknesses and weight. This takes a huge edge off before the fight. Try having to fight 3 to 4 completely unfamiliar fighters one after another instead of one guy you have been sizing up for the past three months. Royce was one of the first (some say the only, not sure about that though) to fight and win four No Holds Barred matches in one night. Then I thought about the Royce Gracie of today. He came back to fight after being out of the 'game' for a very long time and fought for an hour and a half against Sakuraba, one of the greatest fighters of the day. Who else does that? Not to mention that Sakuraba had tapped out (defeated by submission) World Champions of Royce's art in less time than it took to force Royce's corner to throw in the towel. Not bad for a guy who was considered 'outdated'.

After establishing that Royce's fight record was actually far better mathematically than most of today's top fighters, I began to evaluate his character. For the most part (not always), today's fighter is fighting for himself. He will usually train with whoever can get him the best fights or teach him what he wants to learn. Most of today's fighters don't fight under any flag or for any larger purpose other than their own personal gain. At this point, I will reiterate my parenthesis point that not ALL fighters of today are 'selfish', so save the hate mail for someone else. Royce was a true representative for the art of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Think about this for a moment: how many top fighters of today do not cross train? Royce put his ass on the line under enormous pressure to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Brazilian Jiu-jitsu was the most complete martial art in the world. I smiled as I thought about the grace and humility in which he accepted his victories. There was no dismantling his opponent's character, no silly throat slit move, pompous victory dance or kick to the head. I have never seen Royce Gracie give the other guy's corner man the middle finger or play politician and crowd pleaser to ensure his spot in the next UFC, he earned that spot like a gentleman and a real martial artist. Aside from the fact that he is the catalyst for Brazilian Jiu-jitsu here in the United States, Royce Gracie's legend is bigger than cheap pro wrestling antics and his level of character casts an enormous shadow over many of today's 'champions'.

um abraço
ARANHA

Reylson Gracie Seminar DATE: SATURDAY, MAY 25TH TIME: 12PM-4PM PLACE: MGM GRAND HOTEL--CONFERENCE CENTER 4701 KOVAL LANE ROOM #311 LAS VEGAS, NV 89109 (702) 891-1111 COST: ADVANCE TICKETS (MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE MAY 1ST)...$100 AFTER MAY 1ST...$150 All major credit cards accepted. Call Reylson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu at (702) 243-2300 to make reservations. Groups of 10 or more will pay a discount of $75 per ticket www.reylsongracie.com

So You Wanna Be A Grappler? (Mein Kampf)

When you read about jiu jitsu stylists from Brazil trying to compete in tournaments outside of their country, something that always comes up is sponsorship. This guy can't get a visa. That guy can't afford a plane ticket. Such and such hasn't been able to make time to seriously commit to training. So and so can't afford to go on a diet. All of this has to do with one thing--resources. The only way you can advance to the level of an Abu Dhabi or UFC competitor is by getting a job without too many hours that's willing to pay you a lot of money or you have to get someone (or ones) to foot your bill. This is not as easy as it sounds. Contrary to popular belief, people do not just give their money away out of love for the beautiful art of jiu jitsu. Philanthropists are not lurking around every corner. And no, you cannot apply for a grant to enter the competitive circuit (at least not to my knowledge. If someone knows different, contact me immediately).

So how do we pony up the cash to get that much needed mat time? How do guys like Frank Shamrock and Tito Ortiz get to train all day long, five days a week? Well, they either have adoptive fathers who believe in them or they go into the octagon and give people a hard time so someone else believes in them. If your last name is Gracie, perhaps you already have a nest egg of family money allocated to this exact cause, or your name alone can bring the sponsors running. Maybe after you win the big tournament, you can come and endorse their sandwich shop or cigarettes or used cars. Whatever. All I know is, if you're like me, you don't have time for all this running around and you're not affable enough for people to start throwing cash in your direction based on a conversation. If you're unproven, have no name, and don't know any rich people who really want to see their business' logo on your arse as you pound through some guy's guard, you're screwed. And for most of us grapplers, that's exactly where we're at.

I'm gonna let you readers, both loyal and otherwise, in on a little secret. I have no formal training whatsoever. Go ahead. Take a moment to gasp and put hand to mouth. It's true. No certified instructor has taken me under his wing and imparted the mysterious secrets of BJJ or any other JJ to me. My instructor was, on the other hand, completely uncertified. His knowledge came from studying the art as a journeyman, sometimes visiting schools, sometimes watching videos, sometimes simply watching a UFC or Pancrase over and over and over until he could completely understand every aspect of a move. He would then test his theories with friends. Some of these friends had a little experience in the odd martial art. Others had none whatsoever and were just as new to the grappling game as he was. He's been doing this for close to eight years now and is truly good at what he does. He has no belts. He has no trophies. He has no competition victories under his belt. But to see him on the mat is to know he is skilled. Even in conversation, one can see the depth of his understanding of grappling. I was fortunate, six years ago, to have stumbled upon him. Though I don't really get to roll with him much anymore because we live in different parts of the country, we still talk a lot and are great friends.

After we first parted ways, I went on my own quest. I started watching the videos, clockwork orange style, and visiting the occasional BJJ school to see what was what. I surfed the internet, checking out sites like Mike Dorio's and the early days of The Fighter's Notebook. Much later, I ran into Gene Simco, teaching BJJ in my hometown. I attended a single class, during his school's first year, and enjoyed it, but ended up moving away, so I never went back. A couple years later I returned, bought the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Student Handbook, but never went to a class because I was too out of shape to dirty up Aranha's mats, so instead I took to writing about what I knew.

On the way to becoming a columnist, I went through every struggle one could go through to learn this art. If they gave out black belts for suffering, my friends and I should all be up there with Helio. We've grappled on grass, on hardwood, on carpet, on mats that slid away when you moved near them, on stones in China, on gravel in Arizona, with wrestlers who wanted our blood, with Japanese jiu jitsu players who kept twisting our wrists, with guys who outweighed us by ridiculous amounts, with shrimps who we could twist into knots, at karate schools, at JKD schools, in tournaments. We've trained for tournaments with only two weeks to prepare, starving ourselves to make weight and only being able to hit the mats four times in those two weeks because we couldn't get into the facility or we didn't have a car, or someone was injured. We've done it with inflamed elbows, sprained ankles, dislocated shoulders, hips screaming in pain. We've done it and we didn't have a dime. No one believed in us. No one sponsored us. No one helped us. Our parents thought we were crazy. Our friends thought we were gay. It was uphill everyday and still is. We've gotten thrown out of so many gyms, had to sneak into so many matted rooms, and been asked so many tedious questions that we've nearly given up completely, but it hasn't happened. We couldn't do it. We loved it too much.

So screw the sponsors. Screw them all. If you wanna be a grappler and there's no schools around you or no schools you can afford or you just prefer individualized learning, it's possible. You may not make it to Abu Dhabi for awhile, but then again, someone might notice you plodding away at NAGA or Grappler's Quest and say, "Hey that kid's got heart. Let's make him a champ." Happened to Tyson. Happened to Rizzo. Just be prepared for that day to never come. And in the meantime, get some vaseline for all the rug burns you're gonna have. Get some icepacks for all the bruises you'll get. And for God's sake, get a groin cup for all the savages you'll end up sparring with for lack of someone talented. It's a fun game and I'm sticking with it forever, even if I have polio and can only live it vicariously by watching PRIDE DVD's. We are grapplers and we have to be crazy to have decided to become grapplers. Since we have, however, there's nothing left for us but to grind our way through all the times, good and bad, and no matter what, to keep on rollin'...

Diami J. Virgilio
April, 2002
Kneeblock@yahoo.com

Machado Seminar

Carlos Machado is coming back to Ray Thompson's Upstate Karate on Saturday April 6 and Sunday April 7

Cost 150.00 for two days or 80.00 for one day.

Seminar will be 11 am until 3 pm each day. Saturday seminar will be on submissions. Sunday seminar will be on escapes.

For details --- see www.upstatekarate.com and click on Machado Seminar Details button

Also --- Ck out our new technique of the month for March 2002. We actually have three this month courtesy of Professor Luis "Sucuri" Togno out of Charlotte NC. go to http://www.upstatekarate.com and click on the technique of the month button.

See every one soon.

Rebecca Motte

Winners of the Men's Light, Middle and Heavy weight divisions will be invited to participate in the Battlarts Tournament at the Kourekon Hall in Japan.

ENTRY FEES: Adults (ages 15 and up) - $75. Children (ages 4 - 14) $45. Gi Optional - Adults Only.

For more info call or e-mail or write us:

Tiger's World
302 6th Street SE
Winter Haven, FL 33880
863-299-3661
tigersworldma@yahoo.com
Also, check out our website for upcoming events!
www.tigersworld.net

Hope to see some of you there
Dieuseul Berto 
Tiger's World of Martial Arts
302 6th St. SE
Winter Haven, Fl 33880
863-299-3661
tigersworldma@yhoo.com