Should you go to Seminars?

I JUST RETURNED FROM A GREAT SEMINAR IN PORTLAND with my instructor Professor Pedro Sauer hosted by 1st degree Black Belt Anibal Lobo (www.oregonmartialarts.com). I just want to say I love seminars! I think that after having a great instructor, going to seminars is the best way to learn Jiu-Jitsu! Instructors will pull out their best material, things that they would never show on YouTube. I know that this is the case for me. I bring my "A" game material to all my seminars! I know that people pay good money to see me so I always try to bring “the wow factor!”, but for simple and common moves,like Professor Sauer.

IF YOU ARE "THAT GUY" WHO NEVER GOES TO SEMINARS because you’re too cheap or you think that your instructor is giving you everything you need then I would ask you to reconsider. You are missing out on moves and concepts that can potentially revolutionize your game! Ideas that you may never see again! Be the guy who will go to anyone’s seminar, especially other associations! This will really widen your knowledge base and give you a fresh perspective on BJJ.

I WANT TO ALSO LET YOU KNOW THAT SUPPORTING YOUR INSTRUCTOR when he or she brings others in for seminars is the best way to show you care about them and your school. They are bringing instructors in to better the students at your school, take part and help them out Mr. Cheap guy. Your instructor will know when you aren’t attending the school seminars too! You know how I know? Because the number one question I get at my seminars from people who bring me in is, “How do you get “some people” who never attend seminars TO ATTEND seminars?” Your face is in the back of his mind! I kid you not.

IF YOU JUST CAN'T AFFORD MANY SEMINARS then put a few bucks aside every month in a seminar fund, then carpool to the seminar and share a hotel room with someone ( I have slept on the floor a lot in my time), or drive right back the same day, getting back at 4 am. Been there, done that. If there is a will…there is a way!

IF YOU ARE A FINANCIALLY STRAPPED SCHOOL OWNER my advice is to bring in BJJ Brown belts. These guys have a lot of great ideas and moves to offer, They just don’t have the color. They will probably do the seminar for way less and it will rock! One day they will be a black belt and you will have been their supportive friend, get my drift?

SEMINARS ARE A GREAT WAY TO NETWORK and meet new people! I have made many lifelong friends this way! On a personal note, It also never gets old when people come up and tell me how much one of my techniques has influenced their game. It’s a great feeling!

SO LETS SUM THINGS UP 1.Go to Seminars 2.Go to everyone’s seminars 3.Don’t be a cheap guy…I think that about covers it.





For More info on how to host a successful seminar go to my website at www.bjjmoves.com and hit the seminar tab. I have videos with pointers on how to do it right. Follow me on twitter @keithowen

Rener and Ryron Gracie on Egoless Sparring

Here is some good advice from the Gracie's on training philosophy. This is a video that is highlighting Gracie University. I am not endorsing or denigrating Gracie University, I am simply imparting Jiu-Jitsu wisdom to people who sincerely want to learn. If you disagree with Rener and Ryron's views then please send THEM a nasty nasty email and not to me. =).

You can find out more about the Gracies at www.gracieacademy.com or www.gracieuniversity.com.





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Eddie Bravo on Ego in BJJ

These are some interesting comments by 10Planet founder Eddie Bravo on Ego in BJJ. I'm simply presenting them for your review so don't get all up in my grill if you disagree with what he has to say.

For more info on Eddie Bravo you can go to his website at www.10planetjj.com.






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BJJ Belt Testing with Ken Primola

Thought I would share Ken's views on BJJ Belt Testing since this seems to be a hot topic. I don't support or deny these views I'm simply presenting them. Check out Ken's Facebook page or go to his website at Ilovebjj.com.









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Watching Jiu-Jitsu Videos

I often get asked if I personally watch Jiu-Jitsu videos. I must admit that I have watched my share of videos and produced a few of my own. Jiu-Jitsu is evolving at a rapid rate and to keep up students and instructors should watch videos and see what others are doing.

Videos should not be a substitute for a good quality BJJ instructor though. It should only be a helpful training tool. For some people’s learning style “Watching videos” doesn’t help much, they need hands on work. I want to counsel you to practice the move you see on the video, don’t just try it randomly in class, practice it with a partner and get it down no matter what learning style you are and your success rate will be greater.

As a student it is your responsibility to learn, not just come to class and have your instructor fill you full of knowledge. There is SO MUCH info that it is EXTREMELY DIFFICULT for an instructor to teach you everything. Go to class, learn techniques and moves and when you have some down time supplement your class time with Youtube or BJJ vids. Watch videos of people rolling. Watch videos of people sharing their BJJ philosophy. Don’t wait around for your instructor to give you all his knowledge. Jiu-Jitsu classes should be college level classes and not high school. There is much outside research to be done. Videos can help.

If an instructor doesn’t supplement his learning by watching videos or going to seminars (I'm assuming his personal instructor doesn't teach with him) then they will potentially be unable to keep up on the latest innovations in Jiu-Jitsu. People are coming up with awesome moves all the time (The berimbolo comes to mind) and it’s important that instructors stay on top of it, even just for conversational purposes only. The instructor won’t be able to intelligently converse with students about these new moves or the possible defenses to them.

I assure you right now if you are an instructor who doesn’t know or care about innovation or increasing your knowledge base… your students do. They are watching new techniques and instructors on videos and Youtube all the time, Whether you like it or not! You and they will find out quickly that BJJ is passing you by.

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Rorion Gracie

We often talk about Helio and Carlos Gracie and all that they have done for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but a person who I think deserves a great deal of credit for the popularization of Jiu-Jitsu is Helio’s son Rorion Gracie. Rorion is the one who really helped popularize Gracie Jiu-Jitsu thru the “Gracie Challenge”, his "Gracie in Action" Videos and his invention of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

I occasionally hear people say how much they dislike Rorion because he is “money oriented” or he is “dishonest” or “Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is weak” or “they give away belts” or for any other number of unfounded reasons to hate this great man. I have met Rorion on several different occasions and even watched a UFC with him. I think the sentence I would use to describe him is “Passionate about Jiu-Jitsu.” I am sure he is probably very blunt and hard headed like his dad was, but that wasn’t a fault for Grand Master Helio, why should it be for Rorion?

I know that in my career I have achieved a small level of notoriety and I understand how critics can hate. I’m cool with that and I think that Rorion Gracie is ok with what people think of him as well. He has helped carry on the legacy of his father and uncle and whether you like him or not I think he deserves the credit that is due.

Think about this….What if Rorion Gracie never came to America and never made Gracie Jiu-Jitsu popular through his efforts? Where would you be in your training?



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Video: Is Your Goal a Black Belt?

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