For Immediate Release
May 12, 2008

Contact: Ramon Hernandez 201-206-2705
ramon@northjerseyjudo.com

Today, with the invitation from Mike Torres from the Tetsushin Martial Arts Academy, a Royce Gracie Jujitsu Network School in Bloomingdale, NJ, I was able to attend a Royce Gracie seminar along with 2 other Team North Jersey Judo members (Ken Carmichael & Jeffrey Devor).

Royce Gracie for the most part single handedly put Gracie Jujitsu & BJJ on the map in the Ultimate Fighting Championship before Mixed Martial Art (MMA) was born.  Royce Gracie is without a doubt a walking, breathing and living legend in the MMA world.  The list of MMA fighters that Royce Gracie has defeated is the Who’s Who list that any martial artist would die to brag about.  Anyone practicing any kind of martial art or MMA already knows who Royce Gracie is and the wars he has won all over the world.

During the seminar, Royce Gracie demonstrated various standing and ground techniques and discussed Brazilian and Gracie philosophies which I will list below.

Standing / Tachi Waza:

In the standing position, Royce showed what to look for in body language of someone ready to launch an attack.  From there he demonstrated how he would stop the attack with a counter into a forward hip throw and then into the inner ripping of a leg to take down backwards any assailant if the first counter wasn’t successful.  Royce also discussed situations on what to do when an assailant is pushing you with their hands.  After drilling, you could tell he was showing how to move from one technique into next.

Ground / Newaza:

Groundwork was shown in the same format.  Royce started out with a single arm control using the lapel into a chock hold which we drilled.  From there he demonstrated how to move into an Omoplata/
shoulder lock and then into the Sankaku/triangle chock hold and finally showed how to stop the Sankaku/triangle chock hold.

Brazilian & Gracie philosophies: 

During the demonstration and drilling Royce took the time to discuss the Gracie way when paring off for free practice.  It is encouraged for the older ranked players to always approach younger players for free practice. 

In the end Royce did not disappoint.  His seminar was an experience I’ll never forget and I’ll be sure to attend the next one when he’s in town or travel to one in the future.

Sincerely

Ramon Hernandez
2nd Degree Black Belt in Kodokan Judo
Blue Belt in Royce Gracie Jujitsu
Head Instructor at North Jersey Judo
201-206-2705
ramon@northjerseyjudo.com
www.northjerseyjudo.com