Tony Gonzalez: "Your body says quit, but your mind says keep going"

Tony standing on the far left with his blue belt

One of the neatest things about Jiu-Jitsu is the extended network of brotherhood we fall into once we become committed students. This brotherhood is a bond amongst warriors who have had to earn all that they have. It's a brotherhood where we all compete for the one common goal. To fight the good fight and better our bodies, minds, and spirits by bettering those around us. When I received an encouraging e-mail from Tony, I knew I had to share his triumphs with everyone. Thank you for sharing Tony.

1. Please tell us a little about yourself?

My name is Tony Gonzalez age 44. I’ve been living with MS for 14 to 20 years. Raised in Newark NJ, and served in the USMC. In 2008 my family & I relocated to Florida.  I reside here with my beautiful wife Teri. She is a Colon cancer survivor. We have identical twin boys Justin & Brandon, age 11.

2. When and why/how did you start Jiu-jitsu? 

 I started BJJ in April of 2010, along with my sons. We joined Marico Cruz Bjj, in Lutz, Fl. I was asked to try a free class. I was hesitant at first. I was still getting over a relapse from my illness. The class was tough; my stamina was not at the same level as any of the other students. But, I showed up for class # 2. Determined to give it another try.

3. Why do you like Jiu-Jitsu? What do you get out of your training?

BJJ keeps me healthy. I’ve become an addict. Keeps me focused, I feel my body come alive on & off the mat.

3. Who do you look up to in Jiu-Jitsu? If you could do a private lesson with anyone who would it be? 

My instructor Marico Cruz is a great instructor. He knows my limitations, but he’s got patience. But, a private lesson would be with Marico Cruz & Marcelo Garcia.

4. How have these people shaped your life? What elements about them do you relate with?

BJJ teaches you to take care of body & mind. The sport encourages clean living with diet & attitude. Friendship & family are a priority.

5. What has been some of the frustrating moments for you in your training? 

Second month of training I broke my ankle on the mat, practicing a move. I still attended class with my brace on. I would sit & watch Marico Cruz teach the techniques. One month later, I was back on the mat.

6. How did you overcome those frustrations? 

Master Cruz actually gave me a stripe for attending class with my broke ankle.

7. How would you describe the Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle?

Master Cruz would always say “Tony your body says quit, but your mind says keep going”. BJJ encourages you to focus on making your body better.

8. How has the Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle made an impact on your life?

It’s my obsession. It’s a lifestyle that I can share with my kids.

9. What are your future goals? What do you hope to accomplish from doing Jujitsu?

My future goals are to stay with the sport. I hope to pass on the positive changes to my sons. MS can’t take that away.  

Tony Gonzalez

BJJ FOR LIFE OSSSS!

Eliot Kelly

El Dorado Hills Jiu-Jitsu

"Fill someone's cup with yours and trust that your cup will be filled by another."

An Attitude of Gratitude

An Attitude of Gratitude is something we can all have regardless of our circumstances. The events that take place in life are many times beyond our control. However, our attitude towards those events are completely in our control. Have an ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE and even the most difficult events will become much more of a joy to overcome! Here is a story I would like to share with you.

     This summer I was bailing hay at the Eternal Warrior Wrestling Camp in Trego, Montana. At first it was hot and dry, my allergies started kicking up as soon as we started moving hey. After a couple hours, the weather took a turn and all of a sudden we were ambushed by the rain. "This sucks...." To add to the conditions, the tall stack of hay at the barn had been mismanaged and had fallen over. "This sucks...."Not only did we have to continue collecting the hay in the fields, but also had to come back to re-stack the hay at the barn, adding about four hours to the labor intensive job. "This sucks....."

      In the middle of all this, I started to think to myself, "Why am I so negative.....?" I realized I was frustrated by things that were beyond my control. I couldn't control the rain, I couldn't control the hay falling, I couldn't control having to work an extended amount of hours. Things were bad and my attitude "this sucks...." was making it worse.  At some point during the day I became conscious of my attitude and started to think of ways to have an attitude of gratitude. Grateful that I could take a break and drink a bottle of water. Grateful that there were delicious PB&J sandwiches. Grateful that I was able to do the stuff, be in Montana, surrounded by many good people. The reality was that things weren't really that bad, and I was making it worse by being negative. Having an attitude of gratitude helped me appreciate the process of working. Rather than just having a positive attitude, but an attitude of gratitude took the focus on what was bad and helped me find the good things of the moment. 

So, have an Attitude of Gratitude. Thank those around you. Appreciate what you get to do even when it's raining and things are falling down, there are always things you can be grateful for. Doing so will only make you stronger and the people around you better. 

Eliot Kelly

El Dorado Hills JiuJitsu

"An Attitude of Gratitude builds Champions!"

Halloween Safety Tips

Happy Halloween everyone! Here are a few safety tips to follow when you go out Trick-or-Treating!
Safety Tips:
- Don't eat any candy until your parents have inspected the wrapper. 
- Make sure costumes don't drag on the ground. 
- Shoes should fit (even if they don't go with the costume)
- Avoid wearing masks while walking from house to house
- Carry only flexible knives, swords or other props. 
-Wear clothing with reflective markings or tape.
- Stay away from and don't pet animals you don't know. 
- Approach only houses that are lit. 
- Carry a flash light. 
- Trick or treat is groups of 3 or more. 
- Do not enter an unfamiliar home. 
- Walk, don't run. 
- Stay on the sidewalk. 
- Obey traffic signals. 
- Stay in familiar neighborhoods. 
- Don't cut across yards or driveways. 
- Wear a watch you can read in the dark. 

- Safety Tips courtesy of West Coast Martial Arts 

Eliot Kelly 

El Dorado Hills Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 

"Have a safe & happy Halloween!"

How to Win when you Lose

When you step onto the competition mat, there is always going to be a winner and loser. The winner will get their hand raised and the loser will walk off the mat with nothing..... The winner can train the hardest, is the smartest, and the strongest. The loser can't train hard enough, isn't as smart, and isn't as strong....

Not necessarily! Most of the time you can Win after you Lose.... If you only allow yourself to define winning by the seconds it takes for your hand to be raised then you will have a hard time winning from a loss. Think about it like this: A winner is only a winner for that split second the hand is raised and a loser is only a loser during that split second. Therefore it's important how you define winning. If you define winning as getting your hand raised, losing can become a very frustrating thing.  However, if you define winning as getting better and finding a way to beat what you can't beat today.... You can't lose.

If winning or losing a match is the end result of your training then you will always define yourself according to what you Did.... If winning or losing a match is part of your training then you will always define yourself according to what you are doing....

Steps on Winning after you Lose

- Thank your supporters, coaches, & fans
- Think back and Review the match in your head
- Acknowledge the things you did well & find where you got beat
- Review the match from video
- Again, Acknowledge the thing you did well & find where you got beat
- Implement drills and corrections into your training

Eliot Kelly 

El Dorado Hills JiuJitsu

"You can Always Find a way to Win!"

Stranger Danger: Awareness can change the end result

"THE MAGIC WORD" - The magic word is a code word that a parent shares with their child that is special between them. (Note that I said share and didn't use "secret word" This is important since kids are taught not to have secrets with adults) No one is to know this word other than the parent and the child. It is used as a code for certain circumstances. For instance if a parent is sick and has someone pick up the child from school the child is taught that they are to only go with that person if the person knows the "Magic Word." For example. if the word is computer and the child was approached by someone who said that "Your Mom wanted me to pick you up and give you a ride home." The child would respond "What's the magic word?" If the person didn't say computer the child is taught to run and get away. Once they get away, they should seek help, go where there are other people or call 911.

Review these points with your children. Make sure all the kids can answer them without hesitating.

Q: What is a stranger?
A: Anyone we don't know. Even if we have seen them before.

Q: Do we ever accept candy or other gifts from strangers?
A: NO! NEVER!

Q: Do we ever open doors for strangers? Example: A stranger holding packages asks you to open their car door.
A: NO! NEVER!

Q: Do we ever go hear or get into a strange car for any reason?
A: NO! NEVER! WE TURN AWAY AND LEAVE!

Q: Do we ever take a ride from a stranger who tells you your parents sent them to pick you up?
A: NO! NEVER! WE LEAVE AND GO WHERE THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE!

Q: If we are followed on foot or by a care what do we do?
A: WE GO WHERE THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE! WE NEVER RUN AND HIDE!

Q: Do we ever go into anyone's house without our parent's permission?
A: NO! NEVER!



SOURCE: West Coast Martial Arts El Dorado Hills Open House Event

Eliot Kelly

El Dorado Hills Jiu Jitsu

"Simple awareness can be very beneficial. Don't be ignorant of these tips."

Tips on Bully Proof

- Look Confident -
Don't look scared or frightened.
- Speak Up -
Tell the bully what you think of what's going on. Try saying, "that's not funny. Let's get out of here." Or something similar. You can even help stand up for another friend.
- Be a Friend -
 When kids go somewhere without their friends, they are more likely to get picked on by a bully. If you see someone being picked on, even if you don't know the person, be a friend and ask the kids to walk away from the bully with you.
- Get an Adult -
 If you see someone being bullied, get an adult. Tell the adult what is going on or ask the adult to talk to the kids who is being bullied.
- Always Tell an Adult -
If you are bullied or threatened you should always tell an adult. Even if the bully says, "Don't tell anyone or else!" You should always tell a parent or teacher. 


SOURCE: West Coast Martial Arts EDH OPEN HOUSE EVENT

Eliot Kelly

El Dorado Hills Jiu Jitsu

"Bullying is a serious issue. Deal with it right away!"

3 Steps to Learn Jiu-Jitsu Faster

While teaching a kids class I realized the initial learning process of a technique could be broken down into three critical steps. Observe. Visualize. Duplicate. Each step can definitely be broken down further, but today we will just touch on outlining these three components. If a student is mature enough (middle/high school) it might do them some good to outline these three steps with them so they know where their energy needs to go at each stage.

STEP 1: OBSERVE

Regardless of whether you are watching competition or technical instruction, this step is critical when trying to acquire a technique. Many times our observation is only from one angle so if you have the luxury of moving around to catch multiple views during instruction I would highly recommend doing so. It is also possible to observe with the body, and have the technique done to you. This is another great way to observe where the pressure is coming and going. In general, we will make most of our observations with the eyes. While you are observing, you should be taking (mental) notes of what is going on without thinking of contradictions (How I learned it before, differences in words used). Internalize the observation of the moment and address the contradictions at a later time. This is your first step to the duplication of the technique, and a good teacher should be showing you the exact way to successfully perform the technique in battle. Therefore you should be doing your best to copy their exact movement.

STEP 2: VISUALIZE

This step is usually overlooked in the learning process. However, visualization is one of the most powerful tools to quickly internalize a technique. In some instances it might be occurring at the same time as you are observing. A good way to differentiate the first two steps is realize that observation is physical (happening with the eyes and body), while visualization is mental (a mental re-creation of the observed scene). Visualization is a great way to review the material covered from the previous class. All you need to do is sit down, close your eyes, and focus on creating a step by step imagery of what you learned in class. 

STEP 3: DUPLICATE

What does it mean to make a duplicate of something? Every student should initially strive to duplicate the technique they are learning. This means, exact placement of the hands, exact movement of the head/body/hips, and exact position from start to finish. A slower, step-by-step approach is probably best when first starting out. As you get used to the movement, adding speed and resistance is good, but stop and slow down if you are unable to duplicate the technique while going faster. If you are learning the exact technique that has been tested in battle then it's very important to be replicating that movement. You may find that you have learned the same thing a different way. That's good, but don't mix and match the technique. Treat them as different moves, and reflect on the similarities at a later time. Right now you should only be focused on duplication!


Key words to remember:

- Observe. Observe (with the eyes). 

- Visualize. Visualize (with the mind). 

- Duplicate. Duplicate (with the body).

Eliot Kelly 

El Dorado Hills Jiujitsu

"Observe. Visualize. Duplicate."

Deep Thoughts

Several months ago I learned the power of the word HONOR from a decorated Marine and honorable friend. At the time, we were talking about many things and pushing each other into deep thoughts. Here is a little insight into our conversation...

Deep thoughts

The greatest handicap
FEAR

The best day
TODAY

The easiest thing to do
SEE FAULT

Most useless asset
PRIDE

The greatest mistake
GIVING UP

Greatest stumbling block
EGOTISM

The greatest comfort
WORK WELL DONE

Most disagreeable person
THE COMPLAINER

Worst bankruptcy
LOSS OF ENTHUSIASM

Greatest need
COMMON SENSE

Meanest feeling
ENVY

Best gift
FORGIVENESS

Greatest knowledge
GOD

Three gifts from GOD
FAITH, HOPE, LOVE

What is the difference between PRIDE and HONOR? There are good things that come with pride, but sometimes there is confusion with this word. What about using the word honor instead. A great way to use the word honor is to use the word as an adjective: HONORABLE. There is no confusion about how someone should conduct themselves when using this word. Instead of simply having honor, we challenge you to be honorable in your actions.

Eliot Kelly

El Dorado Hills Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
"Be Honorable"

SOURCE:

Eternal Warrior Wrestling Camp Devotional

Japan Day 4

Today I met the Chinese-Taipei (Taiwan) Coach at practice. Coach Ling is an awesome guy with great English, a humble attitude, and willingness to learn something new with each experience. We talked about many things, but somehow we started talking about bowing and he taught me something his teacher always told him:

Rice that doesn't bow only grows straight up and tastes no good
Rice that bows has many kernels and tastes very good

Never head this one before, but it really clicked when we were talking about it. The stronger we are the heavier and deep we should bow!

Eliot Kelly 

El Dorado Hills Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

"You can always learn something new. You just need to be willing."

Bully Proof Yourself & Bully Shield Your Friends

UFC 134 in Rio de Janeiro this weekend will rightly include homage to the iconic Gracie family, creators of Brazilian jiu-jitsu nearly 100 years ago, creators of the Ultimate Fighting Championship nearly 20 years ago, creators of legendary family fighting figures and jiu-jitsu instructors that span the globe.

But the Gracies' most positive impact might be felt at a middle school in a Denver suburb where a seventh grader is unafraid of bullies for the first time since he can remember.

Martin Hendricks, 12, spent a week this summer at the Gracie Academy in Torrance, Calif., in an intensive program designed to make him "Bullyproof." He learned as many jiu-jitsu self-defense techniques as a kid can absorb in five days, he memorized a blueprint for dealing with a bully fairly and squarely, and he gained self-confidence. The first week of school he put the lessons into practice.

Click here to read the rest of the article!

Article Source:
http://www.thepostgame.com/features/201108/real-it-gets-victims-schoolyard-bullying-can-fight-back-help-ufc-royalty

Eliot Kelly

El Dorado Hills Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 

Self-Defense ~ Fitness ~ Competition

Japan Day 2

We started today with a 6:30 am workout. My body hasn't really adjusted to the time change and I was up around 4. Here is what we did:
- Jog a mile
- Run a 2.5 miles
- Jog a mile


It doesn't seem like much, but at 6:30 in the morning the heat and humidity are killer!


In the afternoon we were on the mat. Practice started at 2:30 with a rigorous warm up and ended around 5:30 with some strength and conditioning drills. My calves were cramping up during our matches and I had to stop after my second match. I hope to get a good nights rest and start tomorrow morning with a fresh start!
However, what I really want to talk about today is not the workouts but the group of guys on the side of the track and mat. Instead of running or wrestling, they were doing a variety of body exercises. After asking why they were not participating in the runs, I found out that they had some type of injury preventing them from running. Instead of sleeping in or sitting on the side of the track, they were working out. The idea is that you never miss a workout, no matter what the circumstances, when others are training so are you. I think there is a lot learn from this way of thinking. 

Many people encounter some form of adversity and allow it to bring their momentum to a halt. They drop everything and wait for the right time to start back up. The attitude here seems to be that, there is always something I can do. Know your limits, appreciate what you have to work with, and make the best of your circumstances. 

Eliot Kelly

El Dorado Hills Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 

A can do attitude will always win! 

Japan Day 1

Just got to Japan after a long flight. I will be spending a little over a week at the Ajinomoto National Training Center with the National Team preparing for the 2011 World Championships and University Wrestlers preparing for Japan University Nationals. As for myself, I will be entering a No-Gi Grappling Tournament on Sunday August, 21 in Japan.

I didn't land in Narita until about 4pm so, after arriving to the NTC we got some food, and headed to the community bath. The community bath is an interesting experience, and I want to say it is something unique to Japan. It's like going to a heated indoor pool with everyone completely naked. Obviously the baths are split by gender, but you can't help but feel a little out of your element being naked in front of people you never met.

New Kids System from IBJJF

Here is a brief explanation of the New Kids System designed by the IBJJF.

For a more detailed explanation click here.

As Brazilian Jiu Jitsu continues to evolve, new and up-to-date rules should also follow. The International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) considered and made the decision to implement some changes to its rules, rules and systems. A few of these rules have been in existence for a very long time. Most people don’t like change, these changes however are essential for that controlled development of the activity and also the respect it warrants within the grappling sport arena.
The BJJ belt system for kids’ belt promotion might find some positive changes. No more will a young child need to wait years to be able to experience positive reward reinforcement with the tiresome belt ranking system. Unlike grown-ups, children need to see that their persistence, effort, and hard work are being compensated. This positive conditioning can lead to children attempting to train longer and get better in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Different Brazilian Jiu Jitsu schools have used various belt ranking systems for children. This inconsistency is visible at competitions from traditional stripes to the horizontal belt color combinations. This inconsistency is one thing the IBJJF will change to be able to display a more organized Brazilian Jiu Jitsu belt ranking for children.
On January 1, 2012, the brand new IBJJF belt system for kids goes into effect. Kids who start training at 4 years old are only marketed once they turn seven years of age.
To avoid demotivating other kids and also avoid technical differences between beginners and more knowledgeable kids, IBJJF’s new belt system stated a division be included to each already established BJJ belt color.
Belt color for kids will be split into three sub-colors
The gray belt will be extended to children from 4 to fifteen years old.
Using the new belt colors, instructors will have the ability to promote their students each year. For instance, the IBJJF suggests a youngster who begins training at four remain at white belt for six months before being upgraded to gray-white belt.
Example:
If the kid starts at the age of 4, IBJJF suggests 6 months as a white belt, then being graduated to the grey/white belt on the sixth month of training. As for the white/gray belt, it would take six more months until the next graduation – solid grey. After training one year in the solid grey rank, the practitioner would be graduated to gray/black, after a year of training and the by the age of 7 years old the kid is eligible for the next graduation group which is yellow.
After graduating to white/yellow, and 3 years as a yellow belt group, by the age of 10 years old the kid is eligible to enter the Orange belt group, after 3 years in the orange group, by the age of 13 years old the kid is eligible to enter the green belt graduation group. The cycle repeats itself until the students years of training under the kid belt system is done and they are ready to transition to the adult belt ranking system.

New Belt System For BJJ Children’s Competition
As for competitions, each color belt group will be joined in the same group, the whole grey group competes together, the whole yellow group competes together, and same for other belt groups.
The same rules apply and no changes will be made as for weight, age and gender, similar to the way used today.
For athletes 4 – 15 years old in competition, if there is not enough to find a match, merging two or more different color groups in a bracket will be the action taken.
Examples for belt divisions in a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competition:
Grey Group – White/Grey, Solid Grey and grey/Black are grouped together.
Yellow group – White/yellow, solid yellow and yellow/black compete together divided only by age, weight and gender.

Eliot Kelly

El Dorado Hills BJJ

"The more motivated you are the stronger you will become."

90% ATTITUDE

- ATTITUDE -

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failure, than success, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home ... or a school. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we do have and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our ATTITUDES.    

~ Chuck Swindoll & Nancy Harms

Last week we looked at what Vince Lombardi had to say about your inner dialogue and how your attitude changes how you think about yourself. Notice what is being said about attitude here. Attitude is one of the most important things to us because there is always a chain reaction that takes place as a result of your attitude. The cool thing is that you are in charge of your attitude! Similar principles apply to Jiu-Jitsu. Jiu-Jitsu is not so much about what happens but much more about how you react to things. You can get frustrated and quit or you can keep trying. The decision is yours, what kind of attitude will you have today?

Eliot Kelly

El Dorado Hills BJJ

"We Control Our Attitudes!"

YOU CAN ATTITUDE

The word of the month for August is Attitude! Many times our attitude is a result of our what we are thinking. It is important that we check up on how we are thinking about things so that we have an attitude of a champion.

Here is what Vince Lombardi has to say...

- YOU CAN - 

If you think you are beaten, you are

If you think you dare not, you don't

If you like to win but think you can't 

It's almost a cinch you won't 

If you think you are outclassed, you are

You've got to think high to rise

You've got to be sure of yourself

Before you can win a prize

If you think you'll lose, you are lost

For out in the world we find

That success begins

With a fellow's will

It's all in the state of mind

Life's battle's don't always go to the 

Stronger or faster man

But sooner or later, the man who wins

Is the man who THINKS he can. 

                              - Vince Lombardi

It is important to remember that many times our attitude is a result of the people we surround ourselves with. If you notice that the people around you don't have an attitude of a champion, share this with them and help them see that their thoughts need to change. 

Eliot Kelly

El Dorado Hills BJJ

"Always have an Attitude of Gratitude!"

Rickson Gracie Article Translated: Part 4-F

ARTICLE TRANSLATION:
Special Interview with Legendary Martial Artist Rickson Gracie

Q: What do we need to do in order to Win?
Whether you are doctor, lawyer, businessman, fighter, or whatever your job may be, everyone needs to get all of the same elements together in order to accomplish their goals and become successful.

A few examples would be work ethic, bravery, some talent, and a strategy.

Reading my book would help you understand things in detail, but if you use the elements I talk about, you'll be able to maintain a strong mind and as a result see good results.

The important thing is to know that you have the ability to transform yourself.

In conclusion, I would like to say one more thing.

Above all, I want everyone to know this. In reality, what I accomplished can be done by anyone. That's right, the power we actualize is something that we already had within us.

Therefore, I don't want people to be observing me personally, but rather to realize how I was able to push through to the point where I am today.

I pray that the book Rickson Gracie Undefeated Principles is of strength for those on their way to paving their own path.  <END>

Article Source:
http://diamond.jp/articles/-/9711?page=6

Translation by:
Eliot Kelly

Eliot Kelly

El Dorado Hills BJJ
"Learn, Train, Share, Adapt"

Rickson Gracie Article Translated: Part 4-E

ARTICLE TRANSLATION:
400 Undefeated Fights! Special Interview with Legendary Martial Artist Rickson Gracie. 

Q: What's the reason you decided to publish the book Rickson Gracie Undefeated Principles?
After my retirement I started thinking about new goals for myself, and what came to surface was that I wanted to teach and spread to as many people as possible about correct Jiu-Jitsu, ideal Jiu-Jitsu, Jiu-Jitsu that stems from Self-Defense.

In addition, for those who have no connection to Martial Arts, I wished to express the philosophical learnings that took place as a result of practicing Jiu-Jitsu. I wanted to leave behind the important lessons I had learned from my life up to this moment.

I don't intend on reminiscing over memories of the past.

That's why I chose not to talk about my private life in the book. Of course there are parts I where I explain my personal circumstances to help communicate what it is I am trying to say.

However, my intentions from this book are not to talk about what I have left behind or my walk in life.

But that many people have kept their potential dormant the whole time.
Q: So, it's not an "Autobiography" of Rickson Gracie?
That's right. It's not a book about "me" personally, but a narrative on my thought process and how I would behave under different circumstances.

Obviously, there are plenty of people who have been and still are interested in my private life. I think the book help satisfy their curiosity about me.

Q: What would you like to say to your Japanese readers?
In one one word "Bushido." The desire to take on a task with 100% zeal.

To me, "Bushido" is working to achieve some objective with 100% of your strength while stressing the importance of respect.

The "Modern Samurai" living in our present day society, is for fighting to grab ahold of your own happiness.

Whether you are doing a job or working towards a goal, you don't do it because you were told to do it. Reconsider, one more time, if what you are doing will truly come back to bringing you happiness.

Regardless of age, gender, or profession, people are struggling against their fears, sorrows, and many other problems on a daily basis. And I want people to win those battles.

Up Next Part 4-F: "The power to be implemented is something everyone already has"
Article Source:
http://diamond.jp/articles/-/9711?page=5

Translation by:
Eliot Kelly

Eliot Kelly

www.edhbjj.com

"Learn, Train, Share, Adapt"

Rickson Gracie Article Translated: Part 4-D

ARTICLE TRANSLATION:
400 Undefeated Fights! Special Interview with Legendary Martial Artist Rickson Gracie 
"Become a Modern Samurai who fights for their own happiness."

Q: What about the possibility of producing a new mixed martial arts event?

Mixed Martial Arts is an extremely neutral stage where people who have learned different disciplines of martial arts come together to fight. I feel that it's very important to establish a place for that, and I wouldn't mind if that became one of my goals.

However, if the philosophy behind martial arts isn't included in a place like that it has no meaning.

Under the current conditions, I don't believe there are too many parents who would be pushing their children to train to enter mixed martial arts events.

When my family began to promote Vale Tudo in the United States for the world to see, it was a tournament to test and measure the most efficient style of martial arts.

Nowadays its not so much about the best martial art, but a competition to see who is the strongest person. And on the surface of all this we tend to see a clashing of strength rather than a technical battle between the opponents.

If I was able to present and spread the Jiu-Jitsu and martial arts I believe across the world, undertaking a project like that doesn't sound like a bad idea.

Q: Are there any current martial artists you have your eyes on?

I'm not going to bring up any specific names, but there are plenty of technical and talented fighters in Japan.

Unfortunately, the current state of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) with shorter rounds and time limits and clearly defined weight classes, the physical fighters are the ones making an impact.

Therefore there's no guarantee that the more technical fighter will end up on top.

This is what I mean by technique. Waiting for a chance to attack when your opponent makes a mistake without wasting any strength. When there is a time limit, that becomes impossible.

Therefore as long as the rules stay the same it will be rare to see a sequence of delicate and technical moves. For Japanese fighters I think that would be to their disadvantage.

Q: Speaking of Japanese fighters, it seems to this day there are many fans who would like to see you and Kazushi Sakuraba in the ring.

I have no inclination to fight anyone right now.

If I were to look back at the times before I was retired..... As long as the circumstances were right, it would have been right to settle the score with Sakuraba, a guy who had beaten many Gracie Jiu-Jitsu fighters.

Up Next Part 4-E: "Regardless of age, sex, or occupation, everyone is fighting a daily battle of many problems, grief, or fears. I want them to win those battles."
Article Source:
http://diamond.jp/articles/-/9711?page=4

Translation by:
Eliot Kelly

Eliot Kelly

El Dorado Hills BJJ 
"Learn, Share, Train, Adapt"

Rickson Gracie Article Translated: Part 4-C

ARTICLE TRANSLATION:
400 Undefeated Fights! Special Interview with Legendary Martial Artist Rickson Gracie. "Become a Modern Samurai and fight for your own happiness."

"I'm not training people to become, not do I have an
interest in training people to become Mixed Martial
Artists"

I would first like to spread Jiu-Jitsu to everyone as the art of self-defense and then would like to host tournaments in different countries.

Regardless of whether you are a competitor or not, I would like to initially spread Jiu-Jitsu to everyone in the form of something that would benefit your everyday life and contribute to your health and well being.

Q: Do you have the feeling that Jiu-Jitsu is being successfully spread around the world?

It's spreading at a very rapid pace. It's spreading so fast that I think it might be spreading at the fastest rate out of all the other martial arts.

Currently, Mixed Martial Artists need to be training in some form of Jiu-Jitsu. The presence of Jiu-Jitsu is becoming larger and larger.

Q: What does it mean when your students and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu participates in MMA match ups?


As a result of teaching, my students might choose to enter those events. However, I'm not training people to become, nor do I have an interest in training people to become Mixed Martial Artists.

As I said before, I think the current state of Mixed Martial Arts is only interested in the competition aspects and as a result, the good parts of martial arts has fallen off.

In the past, I've tried to display the strength an power of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu with my fights.

However, the goal of all martial arts should be to promote and nurture a better society. Just being excited and entertained by the shows and events are not enough.

That's why I don't train my students to have the ultimate goal of fighting at my dojo.

Up Next (Part 4-D): "There are a lot of fighters in Japan with talent and skill."

Article Source:
http://diamond.jp/articles/-/9711?page=3

Translation by:
Eliot Kelly

Eliot Kelly

www.edhbjj.com

"Learn, Share, Train, Adapt."

Rickson Gracie Article Translated: Part 4-B

ARTICLE TRANSLATION:
400 Undefeated Fights! Special Interview (Part 4) with Legendary Martial Artist Rickson Gracie

Q: Tell us about the new organization you established and named, the Jiu-Jitsu Federation of Japan.


It's an international organization with the purpose of broadening accurate Jiu-Jitsu knowledge. The organization also sponsors the "Rickson Gracie Cup International Tournament." This year, my son Kron is scheduled to compete in the tournament.

"Starting with Japan, my plan is to hold the Rickson
Cup in the United States, Brazil, and Europe."
Photo by Takahiro Kohara

Right now, Jiu-Jitsu is continuing to develop at an international level. As Jiu-Jitsu gains the worlds interest, my cousin has organized a world championship that brings competitors from all over the globe. However, if you look at things objectively, you could say that the tournament hasn't quite become organized.

I didn't form a new federation with the intention of simply surrounding myself with other Jiu-Jitsu authorities.

I serve as the representative, but the purpose of the federation is to go around and promote Jiu-Jitsu tournaments regardless of affiliations.  The purpose is to elevate the standards of all Jiu-Jitsu players regardless of where they got their black belt.

Q: So, even if they were your competitor you would welcome them?

Of course. To raise the value of an event, you need to host tournaments in places where television stations would become interested while gaining sponsorships. I'm always thinking about how the growth in our operations would lead to offering better services to tournament participants. However, it all boils down to being able to produce profits.

Starting with Japan, my plan is to hold the Rickson Cup in the United States, Brazil, and Europe.

It's a project where we anticipate growth, but I'm thinking if it brought in a hundred thousand dollars then seventy thousand of it would go back into project funds to pay for the staff and future development of this project.

Eventually I would like to implement uniforms for the referee, have a jumbo-tron, television sponsorship, a great event stadium, and a top of the line warm up area.

I plan to nurture an internationally renowned tournament where people say, "This is amazing! It's a tournament that really cares about the competitor. The facilities and services are perfect."

Up Next (Part 4C): "I have no interest in training people for Mixed Martial Arts"

Article Source:
http://diamond.jp/articles/-/9711?page=2

Translation by:
Eliot Kelly

Eliot Kelly

www.edhbjj.com

"Learn, Share, Train, Adapt"

Rickson Gracie Article Translated: Part 4-A

ARTICLE TRANSLATION:
400 Undefeated Fights! Special Interview(Part 4) with Legendary Martial Artist Rickson Gracie
"Become a 'Modern Samurai' that Fights for your own Joy"

Q: Are you ever going to step in the ring again?

Rickson Gracie (Pronounced Hick-son)

 Born: November, 21 1959.

Nationality: Brazil. Jiu-Jitsu Practitioner.

Known as Prodigal master of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu

after leaving a mark in history though MMA.

Established the JJFJ (Jiu-Jitsu Federation of Japan)

 and serves as the President.

Photo by Takahiro Kohara

I don't have any intentions of being in any more professional fights.

My life as a Combat Martial Artist has come to an end, but my days are much more exciting then they have ever been. I also have plenty of goals and objectives in mind.

I plan on living another 50 years or so (laughs). So, I hope to be noticed from here on out as well.

Q: What do you mean by "days that are much more exciting?"

Let's just say that I live a life prioritizing what I love most.

First of all, that means seeing if there is something I can do to help others. Striving to be involved in an activity where I can be a good example to countless number of people.

It also means living my own lifestyle. I feel that it's important to create my own lifestyle to do good work and be a positive influence towards other people.

The focal point of that activity is "Jiu-Jitsu."

From now on, I also want to expand aspects of Jiu-Jitsu as a self-defence in addition to competition and sport Jiu-Jitsu.  I feel as though I am getting just as much joy and maybe even more from Jiu-Jitsu as I did when I was a competitor.

Article Source:
http://diamond.jp/articles/-/9711

Translation by:
Eliot Kelly

Eliot Kelly

www.edhbjj.com

"Learn, Share, Train, Adapt"

Rickson Gracie Article Translated: Part 3-G

ARTICLE TRANSLATION:

400 Undefeated Fights! Special Interview (Part 3) with Legendary Martial Artist: Rickson Gracie

"Reasons for Retirement"

Q: What's the main factor that brought you to victory in the fight?

When it comes down to it, visualization and the will to win is what really helped me.

I was very satisfied that I was able to accurately follow through not only mentally but also physically while maintaining the principles I believed in.

I continuously visualized a scene where I would take on heavy damage and somehow over come.  I would think up multiple scenarios and countless number of bad situations. However, there was no guarantee for that situation to take place, and I wouldn't know if that visualization would be helpful until the actual fight.

In the fight with Funaki, my visualization came to reality and proved the strength of my will. That fight just happened to be my last fight.

Q: Was this the toughest fight in your MMA career?

No, I don't think so. The Funaki fight was definitely a tough one and it had great significance in that it reaffirmed my ability to maintain a calm state of mind. The fight confirmed that even under such painful physical conditions, I could maintain an unflinching mind and spirit.

The most difficult fight of my career was, and I go into the details in my book, my debut fight as a Combat Martial Artist. The fight against Zulu, when I was 19 years old.

At the time I only weighed 72 kilo-grams (roughly 158 lbs), and my opponent had a much larger build of 98 kilo-grams (roughly 215 lbs). The weight difference was so great that I had no energy lift when I went back to my corner after the first round.

I didn't want to go back into the ring. But my father (Helio) forced me back into the ring and the fight continued. Surprisingly, I ended up winning.

That's where I realized that the fears and insecurities you carry with you is one of the main reasons why people are unable to give it 100%. I realized after all this that your enemy is for the most part you, yourself.

Q: Do you feel that visualizing is what set you apart from Funaki?

Is visualization important or technique important. Well, both are very important and without one the other doesn't really come to fruition.

Technique based on visualization, and visualization based on technique. The best would be to have both well balanced.

Funaki is an exceptional fighter, and I'm sure he was well prepared for the fight. It was an honor to be able to fight him. Although he retired once after his loss to me, I was glad to hear that he is actively back in the world of professional wrestling. I wish him the best of luck.

Article Source:
http://diamond.jp/articles/-/9643?page=7

Translation by:
Eliot Kelly

Eliot Kelly

www.edhbjj.com

"Learn, Share, Train, Adapt"