Even though we’re new to the Austin Jiu-Jitsu scene, our leaders are veterans of the early struggles of Jiu-Jitsu in this country. They moved up through the ranks at a time when Jiu-Jitsu was fighting for its respect. Today, that respect is commonplace – Jiu-Jitsu is universally recognized as the most efficient and effective single martial art in the world. And because of that, we live in a world where access to Jiu-Jitsu has been democratized – books, DVDs, internet techniques, even online belt testing. Those who are fortunate enough to discover Jiu-Jitsu today need only drive a few minutes to find an academy that offers Jiu-Jitsu instruction. An internet connection is all that’s required to see the latest techniques online and admire as the new elite apply those techniques against the best competitors in the world’s biggest tournaments.
This generation is fortunate. They can scarcely fathom the sacrifices… no, the investments, their teachers made to gain access to what is so readily available today. Wearing out the reels of grainy VHS copies-of-copies to catch a glimpse of techniques, that by the time they reached American eyes, were well worn into the mats and muscles of their Brazilian counterparts – this was the norm. And for those of us who counted ourselves among the dedicated? That dedication was coupled with the responsibility to defend Jiu-Jitsu against all comers. WE were the standard bearers, the front line in a war that would define the landscape of martial arts forever.
Was it difficult?
ABSOLUTELY.
But those challenge matches gave us focus in our minds and resolve in our hearts. We BELIEVED in Jiu-Jitsu and were were willing to prove it.
Even against our peers in the Jiu-Jitsu community, we battled. In the same way brothers fight brothers in their youth, we fought with other teams. The techniques we learned were ours to keep – secrets that were paid for with blood and sweat on the mats, both at home and in Brazil, where the most dedicated of us traveled, on shoestring budgets, to drink from the source. And so, the rivalries began – brother against brother, team against team, style versus style and technique versus technique. In many ways, we sharpened each other’s skills, but in others, as Jiu-Jitsu continued to grow and the need to defend it against the masses washed away, we found ourselves holding onto rivalries we could hardly remember starting.
Jiu-Jitsu in America has grown up. We are now the fathers to a new generation of fighters, teachers, students, and friends. There is a new legion of standard bearers fighting the battles today and it’s our responsibility to make sure they’re fighting the right war. We can no longer be simple arms dealers, giving the soldiers the tools to fight and standing idly by while they try to tear each other down.
Jiu-Jitsu in Austin can, and should be led by a community of brothers and sisters. For better or worse, there are rivalries that still exist here today that tear apart that community.
And so, it is with this in mind that Gracie Legacy is opening its doors to all and announcing our Open Door Seminar Series. Beginning Saturday, July 9th, 2011 at 10am, and continuing twice a month for the next few months, we will be hosting a FREE two-hour seminar (or FREE two hour open-mat), open to any and all Jiu-Jitsu practitioners in Austin. Instructors, in particular, are invited, as we would love to share technique and build friendships with the leaders in the Austin Jiu-Jitsu community.
We’re just starting out in Austin. We don’t have much – in fact, we’re not even settled in our permanent location yet, but it’s our hope that by opening our doors today and sharing our techniques, we can begin to build strong and lasting relationships with everyone in Austin who is aligned with our vision – creating an incredible environment for Jiu-Jitsu in Austin. So, whether you’re a white belt or a black belt, you’re welcome on our mats. We have a different focus than most –a little more street self-defense oriented than others – but it’s our hope that we can share our thoughts and technique with our friends, and over the long run, we’ll all learn from each other.
Due to restrictions on space, we’ll have to limit attendance to 30 people. We have 10 already registered, but if you’d like to be one of the 20 others to join us on Saturday, please sign up below and we’ll send you details this week.
Finally, we’ll be updating the site every few days with some new articles and additional updates. Upcoming posts will include everything from advice on how to train, to some of the techniques we’re working on in class. Also, in the next few weeks, we’ll be going in-depth into a question many white belts are asking, “WHAT ARE THE FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS I NEED TO LEARN BEFORE GETTING MY BLUE BELT?“
We’ll be updating you with news and announcements frequently, so don’t forget to add us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for the latest!
