Thursday, February 16, 2012

When you speak jiujitsu, you don't need spanish!!

EKBJJ Barnsley my old friends and gym.. miss you guys!!

As you recall from the first post, before i left the UK, i was training and teaching brazilian jiujitsu in the UK within the EKBJJ association  under Eddie Kone. When i landed my job as an educational advisor in Mexico, i knew i had to continue my jiujitsu training within Mexico. I trawled for hours trying to find a place to train, but more importantly to myself try and stay within the Gracie Jiujitsu network and find a gym that practiced Helio Gracie's philosophies and teachings of leverage, technique and intelligence over brute strength and power. Strong men grow on trees but as Eddie says "I want to be the smartest, not the strongest"  At this point i am not slating any other gyms it's just my preference to stay that side of Gracie family. So for hours i searched and i found in the shape of Youtube. I competition clip from a Royce Gracie jiujitsu school. I emailed the person who uploaded the video asking where it was and he replied within twenty four hours.
I made a note of where it was and when i arrived in Mexico and was settled, i went to see the school. Now this is can a nervous affair joining a new school as a purple belt, you tend to have a very large "X" on your back, as a marker for everyone to leave with one of  your limbs or at least test themselves. This wasn't the case at Royce Gracie Monterrey, everyone shook my hand and smiled. They treated me as one of their own from day one and made me feel at home. In some gyms there can be a large amount of "testosterone vibing" in the air, as you are eyeballed and been mean mugged by the various "Pitbulls of  the gym".  Each one snarling and growling draped in the latest tapout shorts and rash guards or Hayabusa clothing, as you walk towards their instructor. Usually followed by silent whispers (who is this guy, i think i could take him, he is only small etc etc.).
Truth is most of the afore mentioned "gym pit bulls" may have never fought or are "armchair UFC veterans" and it's very likely the closest they have been to an octagon, is a maths classroom. Im sure at some point we have all come across the MMA/BJJ gyms or individuals within these gyms, that just want to beat the living hell out of white belts and wear a Tapout shirt get the regulation shaven head/funky hair cut to make themselfs the part. Now im not saying that every man or woman that walks through the door will be a fighter, but the ones that seem to think they are fighters normally aren't. My dad once said to me;

"A lion doesn't walk around africa roaring to let everyone know he is a lion. Everyone already know's he is a lion"

 Im no veteran, but I've competed in MMA, submission wrestling and GI jiujitsu tournaments across the UK. Some of my fights i won, some i lost, sometimes i got on the podium sometimes not but, all the while gaining valuable experience to pass on to others. Which as an instructor is one of the job descriptions, to prepare them to compete if they choose so, not just physically but to understand what they are going through mentally also (sometimes to say "it's okay to feel like your gonna s**t yourself, it's natural and i guarantee your opponent is feeling that too. If they aren't then they are either stupid or their name is Fedor Emelianenko!!!) Knowing their instructor has been there certainly helps... in  my very humble opinion of course!!
 Ulbaldo and i at the gym, wearing the same GI!!

The moment the door swung open there was not a single ounce of ego, no Pitbulls, no monsters and very tranquil, how ever there was a lot of spanish been thrown away. I approach the desk to where there was a very "professor of algebra" looking gent who i soon found out was Ulbaldo Marroquin. Despite looking like a very well educated man (and he is by the way) he is a Brown belt in BJJ,  master of taekwondo has some  and has various MMA title belts to his name. The Training is self is of high quality and the Ubaldo has a great amount of knowledge, the gym itself is has been well thought out and set up brilliantly. 
The first time i trained i had real problems breathing and it was one of the very few times,  ive struggled with normal day to day basic jiujitsu training. However after a month or so im slowly getting used to it, however that doesnt stop me dripping with sweat and when i walk off the mats due to the warmth.
Ulbaldo speaks no english what so ever and i speak very little Spanish..although im learning everyday somethings can be complicated to explain...unless you know Jiujitsu!. Ulbaldo is always smiling even during sparring!!  He has a wicked sense of humor and great Jiujitsu and above all that he is a genuinely nice person and nice to be around and has alot of knowledge about his own chosen profession. 
Although he speaks no English, like anywhere in the world you dont need to speak the same language if you have Jiujitsu. We communicate on the mats when we "roll" (live sparring for those who dont know) or share knowledge. Normally a nod of approval and then a smile usual tells me we agree. There are english speaking guys in the gym but this is limited to a handful. Again, speaking english is never a problem if you speak jiujitsu as the "rolling" speaks for you.
My old instructor and good friend Eddie Kone once said "You cant hide who you are on the mats" (training area) if your a complete idiot it shows in your Jiujitsu, if your a bully it will show in your training, You can tell what type of person he or she is just by sparring with him or her. If you have an Ego and it isn't checked at the door normally this involves Mr Ego with broken limbs or  going to sleep.


Me and the New Jiujitsu Family. (im on right hand side black gi) 

My new family is great, and the guys always make me feel welcome i have some awesome new friends at the school that are always ready to help me in anyway they can. There are far too many people to thank and remember so many names but thank to everyone at the school and i hope to have a long relationship there with everyone and no doubt, friends for life. The one thing I will say about training at this gym. The heat and elevation can be hard work, sometimes your looking at 25oC in the evening and in the summer it can be as warm as 38oC at 9pm. That combined with the elevation and wearing a thick cotton kimono can sometimes prove hard work just walking onto the mats!!!. However all said, the Royce Gracie jiujitsu school in Monterrey is one of the best gyms ive had the honor of training in and the guys and girls there have made it feel like home from home!!! So if you are ever in Monterrey Mexico, grab your Gi and go train there. If you disagree with my statements about this gym i will pay for your class myself !

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