Last week I had the privilege and opportunity to train Jiu Jitsu with Marcelo Garcia, Lucas Lepri, Rubens “Cobrinah” Charles, Ryan Hall, Henrique Rezende, and

random black belt in black gi”"”"”" for 2 days (4 training sessions)  This was truly amazing.  Rolling with guys of that caliber really let me see where my game is at

and what I need to improve on.  Sometimes as a MMA fighter or Jiu Jitsu fighter you get in a routine and roll with the same guys and go for the same submissions and get

the same results.  You can get stagnant in your game.  Every once in a while it is good to get away and train with people who have different styles than yourself and your

school.  Its definitely a rare opportunity to train with World Champions, but you can get “different” training partners every now and again.  On October 1st I am inviting

all the Jiu Jitsu Schools in Tampa to come to our open mat at 12 noon.  This is going to be great for everyone and let everyone get fresh new rolling with new people.

In Jiu Jitsu it’s all about repetitions.  Repetitions of techniques and rolling.  In order to be good at defense you have to have repetitions defending all the submissions.  For example, if in your

school the deep half guard isn’t taught then you have no experience in defending it.  Now you go out and train with different people who specialize in it and they attempt it when rolling then you learn

what to do.  If you are in the area and train Jiu Jitsu or MMA in Tampa and would like to join us please feel free.  See you all on the mats.

Karate, Kung fu, Tae Kwon Do, Judo, Kenpo, and Nin Jitsu are all respectable and good arts.  But…There is no art more efficient and effective than Jiu Jitsu.  Jiu Jitsu uses leverage and technique.  It is the only art where a smaller person can defeat a much larger opponent with ease and not rely on athleticism and speed.  Royce Gracie was much smaller and less athletic than all of the opponents he faced in UFC 1, 2, 4, and 5.  He smashed his way through those tournaments gently submitting all of his opponents.  He fought fighters of every discipline and won.  What I am saying is not an opinion.  It is a proven fact based on the first 5 UFC’s where it was not superior athlete vs superior athlete…but style vs style.  This style was modified and designed by Helio Gracie who was 5’7” and 145 lbs.  He was extremely small but he was beating guys of every size using leverage and technique.  No one could handle him.

If you are a woman, this is the only art where you can literally destroy a man bigger and stronger than you using proper technique.  The typical rape position is Jiu Jitsu’s “guard.”  When you are properly skilled in the guard, you will have dozens and dozens of ways of making your opponent tap out and submit to you no matter who you are.  If you live in the Tampa area and do not know Jiu Jitsu, then you have to check out Gracie Tampa South and learn this amazing art.  If you live far from Tampa then check out all of our Jiu Jitsu techniques on DVD at www.NoGiLibrary.com to learn Jiu Jitsu techniques from the comfort of your home.

1. Make sure you have a legitimate instructor, preferably a black
belt in the art. You don’t want to learn the wrong techniques,
especially in the beginning, and risk building a poor foundation.
Learn it the right way, right from the start.

2. Fundamentals, Fundamentals, Fundamentals!! Cool, fancylooking
moves may be fun to train (and in some cases, they have
their place) but don’t put these ahead of your fundamentals.
Master the fundamentals first.

3. Always be the one in action making your opponent react. Keep
your opponent in a state of reaction to your moves . This will
put him in a defensive mode rather than an offensive mode.
Like many other sports, your best defense is a good offense.

4. Always have 3 types of training partners. A partner who is less
skilled than you, so that you can work your offense. A partner
who is much better than you, so you can work your defense.
Finally, one who is at the same skill level as you so you can work
both and have a competitive match.

5. When your instructor teaches a technique in class, keep repping
the move until he is ready to show the next one. You will be
surprised at how much more your muscle memory kicks in by
repping the moves just a few more times than you normally
would (And you’ll make your instructor happy.)

6. Attend class 3-6 times per week. Anything less than 3 classes
and your brain will not retain the techniques shown. If you can
make it to 6 classes per week, you will have no choice but to
rapidly improve.

7. When you get really good at a particular submission, DON’T USE
IT AS MUCH. Put it away in your tool box and begin to work on
other submissions that you don’t do as well. Repeat this process
for your whole Jiu Jitsu career. The same goes for sweeps and
escapes as well.

8. Always work on your Cardiovascular Conditioning. Most times,
you will see that the better conditioned athlete defeats the more
skilled athlete because of his ability to out work his opponent.
Improve your cardio by circuit training, running sprints, and
most importantly, lots of rolling. Try to complete five 5 minute
rounds of rolling each time you train, even if you’re tired.

9. Wear a cup. This simple step will give you more confidence with
submissions such as armbars, triangles, and guard passing
defense without the fear of hurting the family jewels. It also
makes your armbars tighter because your opponent’s elbow is on a higher platform.

10. Never stop learning. Become a student of the sport. Go to
seminars, buy DVD instructionals and books on Jiu Jitsu. If you
learn just one technique or detail that improves your game, then
it is well worth your investment (and you usually do.)

Hope this helps!!

ADCC Superfights (non- tournament bouts):
Eddie Bravo vs Royler Gracie* (Unconfirmed)
Mario Sperry vs Renzo Gracie (UFC, PRIDE, RINGS veteran)
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (current Strikeforce World Middleweight Champion) vs Braulio Estima

Tournament competitors by division:
-65.9kg
Rafael Mendes
Greger Forsel
Marko Ramos
David Marinakis
Tetsu Hadairo
Jeff Glover
Bruno Frazzato
Timo-juhani Hirvikangas
Ryan Hall
Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles
Rani Yahya (WEC, UFC veteran)
Baret Yoshida
Robson Moura
Denny Prokopos
Tom Barlow

-76.9kg
Jorge Britto
Vagner Rocha (UFC, Strikeforce, Bellator veteran)
Davis Hart
Takanori Gomi (former PRIDE World Lightweight Champion)
Enricco Coco
Murilo Santana
Daniel Strauss (not to be mistaken with Strauss of Bellator)
Marcelo Garcia
Gunnar Nelson
Leo Vieira
JT Torres
Kron Gracie
Gregor Gracie
Augusto Mendes “Tanquinho”

-87.9kg
André Galvão (Strikeforce veteran)
Marko Helen
Rustam Chsiev
Cameron Rowe
Jeon Doo Kwang
JJ Holmes
Claudio Calasans
Zbigniew Tyszka
Pablo Popovitch
Rafael Lovato jr
Romulo barral
Rousimar Palhares (UFC veteran)
Sergio Moraes
Paulo Filho (former WEC World Middleweight Champion)
Dan Schon

-98.9kg
Xande Ribeiro
Kari Peltola
Joseph Lee Baize
Igor Praporshchikov
Animal Anzai
James Poupolo
Augusto Ferrari
Kamil Uminski
Roger Gracie (Strikeforce veteran)
Rodolfo Viera
Joao Assis
Dean Lister (UFC, PRIDE veteran)
Alexander Trans
Robert Drysdale

+99kg
Fabricio Werdum (UFC, PRIDE, Strikeforce veteran)
Janne-Pekka Pietiläinen
Mario Rinaldi
Mick Wilson
Sekine Hideki
Jared Rosholt
Gabriel Vella
Mateusz Juskowiak
Jeff Monson (UFC, Strikeforce, PRIDE veteran)
Bruno Bastos
Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu
Antonio ”Bigfoot” Silva (former EliteXC World Heavyweight Champion)
Vinny Magalhaes (reigning M-1 Global Light Heavyweight Champion)
Geraldi Rinaldi
Fereira Jose Junior

-60kg Women
Luanna Alzuguir
Lara Jayne Ng
Hashi Takayo
Cathilee Albert
Michelle Nicolini
Sara Svensson
Krya Gracie

+60kg Women
Hannette Staack
Fiona Muxlow
Penny Thomas
Talita Nogueira
Devi Ahuja
Gabi Garcia
Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos (reigning Strikeforce Women’s World Middleweight Champion)

*Competitor list subject to change.

Some competitors, such as Takanori Gomi, may not end up participating due to upcoming mixed martial arts bouts.

It’s about that time! We are very excited about these DVD’s. The first 10 people to order the No Gi Library will get 1 free video critique like you saw the past few days.
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That’s Right! Rob and I will sit down and critique a video of YOU rolling (if you are the first 10 of course)
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Make sure you watch this whole presentation before ordering so you know exactly what you are getting. Its only 4 minutes long

Click Here to Visit the No Gi Library

Gracie Tampa South has re-designed their website. We will be updating our website regularly so don’t forget to check back often.