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WHAT TO EXPECT IN CLASS

BJJ, ROBSON MOURA, AND LANE ANDREWS JR HISTORY

INFORMATION ON THE BJJ LIFESTYLE, COMPETITION, PRIVATE LESSONS, ETC.

RMNU

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Table of Contents

• Welcome

• BJJ History

• Robson Moura History

• Lane Andrews History

• John Ortolani Bio

• Private and Semi-Private lessons

• Positions

• Submissions and Tapping out

• Belt Ranking System

• RMNU Kids

• Competition

• Point System

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Welcome to RMNU South Tampa Jiu-Jitsu! We are part of Robson Moura Nations United, better know as RMNU! There are over 50 associations throughout the World with the RMNU Headquarters in Tampa, FL. We encourage a relaxed and friendly training environment with the goals of improving your self defense skills, and physical conditioning. The BJJ lifestyle is built on a foundation of healthy living, which includes both nutrition and physical activity.

In addition to promoting a healthy lifestyle, BJJ does what other martial arts claim to do: provide a path for a smaller, weaker person to defeat a larger, stronger opponent through leverage, timing, and deception! We use an elaborate

sequence of movements to break down the opponents defenses until we catch them in a submission forcing them to tap out (say uncle)!!! Here is the BJJ formula to success: Maximum Effectiveness = Minimum Effort. It truly is Human Chess!!!

WELCOME

Long Beach State Pyramid. Home to the IBJJF World Championship

Robson Coaching at the

IBJJF World Championship

Robson winning his 8th World Championship at the IBJJF Master/Seniors World Championship

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DON’T GET DISCOURAGED IF YOU ARE NOT A NATURAL. BJJ IS A MARATHON NOT A SPRINT!!!What to expect

Classes usually begin by lining up with the instructor(s) at the front of the room facing the students. The students will be in single lines in rank order from right to left. Once we bow into class we will begin a 10 to 15 minute warm-up including core exercises to get your body prepared for training. After the warm up, you will learn and/or drill one to three techniques (sweeps, escapes, or submissions). The training session will end with sparring sessions where competitors start the match on their knees. We start from the knees primarily for the safety of everyone on the mat. When a lot of students are training at the same time takedowns can result in injuries. We do have classes dedicated to takedowns, as they are an important part of BJJ; they are just not a part of most sparring sessions.

BJJ is a journey! It won’t come easy at first but with patience and consistency you will learn. How quickly you progress will depend on your physical attributes, prior martial arts/wrestling training, and how often you train (you must train at least two days a week to improve but the more you train the quicker you will see the results). We believe that Jiu-jitsu is for EVERYBODY!!! Many students start BJJ training with little physical attributes and no ground fighting

experience. They struggled at first, but with consistent training they eventually became good! Some are now World Class Black Belts!!! My point is this: “DON’T GET DISCOURAGED IF YOU ARE NOT A NATURAL!” We will welcome you to the family and turn you into a quality Jiu-jitsu player!

LEARNING TO FIGHT ON THE GROUND IS ESSENTIAL! NINETY EIGHT PERCENT OF ALL STREET FIGHTS END UP ON THE GROUND. BJJ IS ESSENTIAL TO STREET SURVIVAL!!!

We believe that Jiu-Jitsu

is for everybody

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1. Have fun! Leave your ego at the door.

2. Be on time and on the mat ready to participate in class. If you arrive late, please wait for permission from the instructor to cross the mat or join the class.

3. Please wear RMNU gear for both Gi and No-Gi training.

4. Proper hygiene is a must. Keep nails cut short and clean. Wash your Gi after each class. Wash hands or use sanitizer before and after class. To reduce the risk of bacterial infections you should shower as soon as possible after class. If you can’t shower use anti-

bacterial wipes.

5. Clean your equipment regularly (headgear, knee pads, etc.)

6. No shoes on the mat.

7. Be respectful of others.

8. Tap out when you are caught in a submission that you can no longer counter. It’s best to tap early to avoid injuries.

9. Take all belongings home with you after class.

10.Do not disrupt your team members training. Please be quiet while the instructor is

teaching.

11.Keep an open mind and enjoy the experience.

12. Get in the best shape of your life!!!

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Have fun! Leave your ego

at the door.

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The History of Jiu-Jitsu Some historians of Jiu-Jitsu say that the origins of "the gentle art" can be traced back to India, where Buddhist Monks practiced it. Concerned with self-defense, these monks created techniques based upon principles of balance and leverage, and a system of manipulating the body in a manner where one could avoid relying upon strength or weapons. With the expansion of Buddhism, Jiu-Jitsu spread from Southeast Asia to China, finally arriving in Japan where it developed and gained further popularity. In the last days of the 19th century, some Jiu-Jitsu masters emigrated from Japan to other continents, teaching the martial arts as well as taking part in fights and competitions.

The Evolution of Jiu-Jitsu into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Esai Maeda Koma, also known as "Conde Koma," was one such master. After traveling with a troupe, which fought in various countries in Europe and the Americas, Koma arrived in Brazil in 1915, and settled in Belem do Para the next year, where he met a man named Gastao Gracie.

Gastao became a Jiu-Jitsu enthusiast and brought his oldest son, Carlos, to learn from the Japanese master.

For a naturally frail fifteen-year old Carlos Gracie, Jiu-Jitsu became a method not simply for fighting, but for personal improvement. At nineteen, he moved to Rio de Janeiro with his family and began teaching and fighting. In his travels, Carlos would teach classes, and also proved the efficiency of the art by beating opponents who were physically stronger. In 1925, he returned to Rio and opened the first school, known as the "Academia Gracie de Jiu-Jitsu."

Since then, Carlos started to share his knowledge with his brothers, adapting and refining the techniques to the naturally weaker characteristics of his family. Carlos also taught them his philosophies of life and his concepts of natural nutrition. Eventually, Carlos

became a pioneer in creating a special diet for athletes, "the Gracie diet," which transformed Jiu-Jitsu into a term synonymous with health. Having created an efficient self defense system, Carlos Gracie saw in the art a way to become a man who was more tolerant, respectful, and self-confident. With a goal of proving Jiu-Jitsu’s superiority over other martial arts, Carlos challenged the greatest fighters of his time. He also managed the fighting careers of his brothers. Because they were fighting and defeating opponents fifty or sixty pounds heavier, the Gracies quickly gained recognition and prestige. Attracted to the new market, which was opened around Jiu-Jitsu, many Japanese practitioners came to Rio, but none were able to establish schools as successful as the Gracies. This was due to the fact that the Japanese stylists were more focused on takedowns and throws, and the Jiu-Jitsu the Gracies practiced had more sophisticated ground fighting and submission techniques. Carlos and his brothers changed and adapted the techniques in such a way that it completely altered the complexion of the international Jiu-Jitsu principles. These techniques were so distinctive to Carlos and his brothers that the sport became attached to a national identity, and is now commonly known as "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu," practiced by martial artists all over the world, including Japan.

Carlos Gracie

Esai Maeida Koma

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History of Jiu-jitsu Continued In order to prove the effectiveness of his new system, The Gracie’s openly challenged all the reputable martial artists in Brazil and successfully defeated all who accepted.

Helio Gracie Helio Gracie, the youngest son of Gastão Gracie would eventually help his brother Carlos refine the techniques of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.

Jiu-Jitsu came to international prominence in the martial arts community in the early 1990s, when Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert Royce Gracie (Helio’s Son) won the first, second and fourth Ultimate Fighting Championships, which at the time were single elimination martial arts tournaments. Royce fought against often much-larger opponents who were practicing other styles, including boxing, shoot-fighting, muay thai, karate, wrestling, judo and tae kwon do. It has since become a staple art for many MMA fighters and is largely credited for bringing widespread attention to the importance of ground fighting.

Sport BJJ tournaments continue to grow in popularity worldwide and have given rise to no-gi submission grappling tournaments, such as the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship.

The Governing Body of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (IBJJF) With the creation of an official governing body to oversee the administration of the sport, including competition rules and the grading system, the era of sport Jiu-Jitsu competitions was started. Today, Jiu-Jitsu is a highly organized sport, with an International Federation as well as a Brazilian National Confederation, both founded by Master Carlos Gracie Jr. Through his work with the Confederation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Carlos Gracie Jr. contributed to the growth of the sport by holding some of the first organized competitions. Currently, the IBJJF and CBJJ holds competitions in Brazil, the United States, Europe, and Asia, realizing Carlos' original dream of spreading Jiu-Jitsu around the world.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Today BJJ has proven itself as the most effective form of self-defense in the world. It is now the basis of mixed martial arts tournaments and has a large sport competition following.

Jiu-Jitsu has something for everyone from the competitive athlete to the weekend warrior. Many law enforcement and the military agencies use BJJ as their

main self-defense system for hand-to-hand combat.

BJJ is not solely a martial art: it is also a sport; a method for promoting physical fitness, proper nutrition, building character in young people, and, ultimately, a lifestyle.

Helio Gracie

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HISTORY OF NOVA UNIAO JIU-JITSU

In the early 1990s, when competition jiu-jitsu was starting to become popular in Rio, a new team was founded, joining the two zones of the city. Carlson Gracie (Carlson is the eldest son of Carlos Gracie, the founder of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu) pupil Andre Pedeneiras (a black belt in jiu-jitsu and judo) had a strong team in Botofogo, in the South of Rio de Janeiro. To expand, he looked for new members for his team in the northern area of the city. At this time, the North Zone was considered technically inferior in jiu-jitsu and Andre aimed to help the area as part of his quest.

Meaning “New Union”, the Nova União Jiu-Jitsu Academy was founded in Rio de Janeiro in 1995 when the Mello Tenis Clube Jiu-Jitsu, headed by Wendell Alexander, joined with Andre’s team. Wendell was a black belt from Sebastião Ricardo, who in turn was a student of the Master Oswaldo Fadda, one of the few people to train in Brazil under Sensei Maeda of Japan. The was significant because Wendell Alexander’s lineage is the only non-Gracie lineage for Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Essentially, Nova Uniao married the only two lineage’s in BJJ!!!

Within a few short years the team had a production line of local (state), national (Brazilian) and world champions, which culminated in the team winning the Team Division at the 1997 World Championship. Within a few short years the team had a production line of local (state), national (Brazilian) and world champions, which culminated in the team winning the Team Division at the 1997 World Championship.

In Brazil, Rodrigo “Feijao”, Wendell Alexander, Leonardo Santos, and Andre Marola have been responsible for re-structuring Nova Uniao to once again be in the Jiu-Jitsu spotlight, since over the years, the focus of the team in Brazil has gravitated towards MMA producing UFC champions BJ Penn and Jose Aldo among others.

In the US, Gustavo Dantas (Nova Uniao USA President), Robson Moura (Vice-President) and Bruno Bastos has made it their priority to organize Nova Uniao to compete at IBJJF tournaments, the World’s largest, and most respected, stage for Jiu-Jitsu events.

In 2014, Robson Moura left Nova Uniao to create Robson Moura Nations United (RMNU) to provide support to his 50 plus associated academies.

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Robson “Robinho” Moura is a 4th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a 8X World Champion. He is from Teresopolis (a small town in the mountains of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), and currently resides in Tampa, FL. where he established The Robson Moura Academy.

Robson has been competing in BJJ competitions since the age of 13. With an excellent martial philosophy, hard working style and love of the game, he is among the greatest of the world’s Jiu-Jitsu players.

Robson holds his black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under world renowned Nova Uniao, co-founder Master Andre Pederneiras. Robson attained the rank of 1st degree black belt at the age of 18 under Andre! The sport history of this ‘Carioca’ begins in 1988 at the age of 10 when he started training Jiu Jitsu in his hometown of Teresopolis (a small town in the mountains of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). His first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu teacher was Jucao. Robinho was supported and encouraged by his family, especially his father.

Robinho quickly grew his skills, becoming a champion of many competitions, and collecting a number of regional titles. When his instructor Jucao moved to Rio, Robson started training under Master Andre Pederneiras and

Wendel from the elite team Nova Uniao.

He continued to grow his skills and abilities, achieving national and international titles, becoming very well respected and esteemed. He is considered to have a very proficient and competitive way of fighting. By 18 Robson had achieved his greatest dream by becoming a Black Belt and today his is one of the most valued players in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

JIU-JITSU HAS NO END (SEE LINK BELOW)

In this short documentary, Robson Moura teaches a seminar in the UK and talks about his approach to BJJ and what he has learned not only in the sport, but in life over the years through his profession. He talks about a lot of things that many BJJ Practitioners will relate to and also shows us a few techniques that will only improve your BJJ game in the Gi. It also features footage from his ADCC 2011 Bouts with Jeff Glover and Ryan Hall. Directed by BJJ/MMA Film maker Stuart Cooper.

THE HISTORY OF ROBSON “ROBINHO” MOURA

Learn more at RobsonMoura.com.

Jiu-Jitsu Has No End

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World Championships: 8 Years 1996 / 1997 / 1998 / 1999 / 2000 / 2002 / 2007 / 2012

Brazilian Championships for Team: 6 Years 1997 / 1998 / 2000 / 2001 / 2002 / 2003

Pan American Championships: 2Years: 1996 & 2007 – Los Angeles CA.

Rio de Janiero Championships: 8Years: 1990 / 1991 / 1992 / 1993 / 1994 / 1995 / 1996 / 1997

Netherlands Open Championship: 1Years: 1996

Challenge Med Cannibal Champion: 1Year: 1996

LA Sub X Champion: 2006U.S. Nationals Pro Black Belt Champion: 1

Sao Paulo Championships: 3

Rickson Gracie Tournament 20091st Place – Featherweight Division

ROBSON’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS

To be a champion you have to train with a

champion

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Lane Andrews Jr. was born in a small town in Indiana. As a kid, he was fascinated with martial arts but could not afford lessons.  When Lane was 18 he got a job and immediately began training in Tae Kwon Do.  After a few years of Tae Kwon Do, Lane wanted to test himself in full contact competition so he began competing in Kickboxing, racking up a 21-4-1 record and winning the PKC National Championship. In 1996 he saw the first UFC and knew that to be a complete martial artist he had to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu!

Lane competed in MMA from 1997 - 2000 with a record of 12-4-1.  He fought in the International Vale Tudo Challenge in Brazil and Pancrase in Japan. To improve his Jiu-Jitsu, Lane attended seminars, watched videos, and ran a small Jiu-Jitsu club at Ball State University.  In 1999, Lane moved to Florida and trained with a group of MMA fighters in Gainesville.  In 2006, he started training in the Gi and found his first black belt instructor, Jon Burke, who is a Royce Gracie Black Belt.  For family reasons, Lane moved from Florida to Ohio in the summer of 2006 and trained with Robin Gieseler, a Relson Gracie Black Belt, for four years.

Ohio was great but Lane longed to get back to Florida so in 2010 he and his family relocated to

Tampa. Possibly the most exciting part about moving to Tampa was training with seven-time World Champion Robson Moura!!! Robson is second ONLY to Lane's other favorite training partners--his two young daughters! The entire family is RMNU for life!!!

LANE’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS:Profession MMA Fighter: Pancrase in Japan Veteran & IVC in Brazil Veteran

1999 PKC National Kickboxing Champion

2014 Florida State Champion

2012 Florida State Jiu-jitsu Champion

2012 Masters/Seniors Worlds Jiu-jitsu Bronze Medalist

2011 Champion Miami Open Brown Belt Medium Heavy

Black Belt, Tae Kwon Do

2nd Degree Black Belt, Karate

Bachelors of Science in Exercise Science, Ball State University

Strength and Conditioning Internship at Ball State University

Masters in Management, University of Florida

MBA, University of Florida

THE HISTORY OF LANE ANDREWS JR.

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UFC 19…the Famous Tito Ortiz vs Guy Mezger match that really fuel Tito and Ken Shamrock’s rivalry. Google it for more details. Also, gotta love the old school UFC girls.

PKC National Kickboxing Championship 1999 in Augusta, GA

Pedro Rizzo and I in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, IN (former home of the Indiana Pacers)

Media Day for IVC in Brazil

Memory Lane

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Lane, Chris Lytle, Nate Marquardt , and another guy at the Pancrase Training Facility in Tokyo Japan. This was the same day the Rickson Gracie vs Funaki fight was announced. There was a huge media storm!!!

Lane, Chris Lytle, and Nate Marquardt (pre-steriods) at a Mall in Tokyo Japan.

Media day for Pancrase

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The original RMNU South in Muncie, IN

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Leg lock battle at IVC in Brazil. Note NO GLOVES, Head Butts allowed = real MMA!

Sparring with the most famous man in Jiu-Jitsu history, Rickson Gracie!

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John Ortolani was been the Team Captain at Team Triumph MMA in New Hampshire from 2008 - 2014. Team Triumph has remained the top MMA team in the Northeast. John is an accomplished professional MMA fighter and competitive BJJ player. He has fought many of the best fighters around the country, including several UFC and Strikeforce veterans and has built a professional record of 7-9 with one "No Contest". He has always competed above his rank and has proven to be an elite grappler with and without the Gi. He is a Black Belt in BJJ under Professor John Fain of Boston Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He was voted the 2014 Team Triumph Teammate of the Year. John holds the rank of Black Pra Jiad under Master Roque Da Silva of the Brazilian Muay Thai Association. John has spent 6 years training with legendary Boxing coach, Muhammad Brooks. John was a standout wrestler and coached Billerica High School for several years. He has coached many student-athletes to State and New England Championships.

John was an outstanding Lacrosse player at Endicott College where he earned a degree in Sports Management and a Certification in coaching and was drafted by the Major League Lacrosse (MLL) Boston Cannons. John won the MLL Championship with the Cannons in 2011 before being traded to the Rochester Rattlers where he currently plays and was a 2014 MLL All-Star. John also previously played for the Boston Blazers in the National Lacrosse League before the team ended. He recently started coaching at nearby St. Leo University just outside Tampa.

John grew up just north of Boston in Billerica, MA and has been an athlete all his life. Starting Kung-Fu and football at a young age he was quickly hooked on competition. He had successful high school careers in football, wrestling and lacrosse before going on to play football and lacrosse at Endicott College. This is where John found his true interest in martial arts. He began Muay Thai training in the off season to stay in shape and fell in love with the one on one competition before quickly finding his interest in BJJ and MMA. By the time he graduated from Endicott he had competed in 2 amateur MMA fights and won his professional debut. Upon graduating John was drafted by the Boston Cannons and also began his professional lacrosse career and still balances both professional careers today as well as coaching lacrosse as high as the collegiate level and BJJ and MMA at the amateur

RMNU South Announces New Professor!

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Private and Semi-Private LessonsThere are many techniques in BJJ and how you develop your Jiu-jitsu will vary based on physical attributes and body type. Classes are designed to cater to ALL students. Private lessons are a great way to personalize your BJJ experience. Not only do you get individual attention; but you will also have the opportunity to ask questions regarding problem areas or focus on parts of your game you would like to develop further. The small details will make a big difference in your development as a Jiu-jitsu practitioner.

Class Duration: 1 hour

Private Classes: 1 on 1

Semi-Private Classes: between 2 and 4 students

Pricing:

• Black Belt - Private: $100

•Packages: 5 for $400 or 10 for $800

Accelerate Your Game And Be The Best You Can Be!!!

BENEFIT OF PRIVATE LESSONS CUSTOMIZE YOUR LEARNING

ACCELERATE YOUR GAME

GET THE DETAILS YOU ARE MISSING

BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE!

Reach Your Potential Through Private Lessons

BENEFITS OF PRIVATE LESSONS

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Private Lesson Testimonials“If you are serious about Jiu Jitsu and taking your game to the next level, I would highly recommend taking private lessons. I have been taking privates lessons with Prof Robson, Prof Flavio, and Prof Lane for a little over a year now. Each person brings a unique style and technique that will help you develop and refine your overall style.

When I train, you can see a little bit of each professors influence in my style. Taking private lessons once a week allowed me to earn my Blue Belt in less than a year of training and win my very first tournament.

In a private lesson you get the one on one time to really work on the details and improve on any aspect of your game that you may be working on. Furthermore, taking private lessons has granted me the opportunity to learn techniques that I normally wouldn't be exposed to for years.

They say a black belt is a white belt that never quit, but I think a smart black belt is someone who has taken a lot of privates!”

OSS,

Emory

"After two years of training with Lane at RMNU I decided to give private lessons a try. I felt that I had reached a point in my training where I wanted to better understand certain aspects of the game. What I ended up getting was something much more profound-- I started to learn "my game".

Everyone is so different on the mat. We receive incredible instruction in the group classes which I regularly attend. Everything I have learned in privates with Lane I have instantly been able to incorporate into my practice. Private lessons with Lane have given me a clear vision of where I want to go in the next year with my training. I strongly recommend private lessons to anyone who wants to filter through the myriad of techniques that we learn into a strategy that focuses on improving and refining YOUR game."

Mark K.

Accelerate Your Game And Be The Best You Can Be!!!

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PRIMARY POSITIONS IN BJJ Main article: Grappling position

The BJJ practitioner strives to take a dominant or controlling position from which to apply submissions, these positions provide different options.

Side control In side control, the practitioner pins their opponent to the ground from the side of their body. The dominant grappler lays across the opponent with weight applied to the opponent's chest. The opponent may be further controlled by pressure on either side of their shoulders and hips from the practitioner's elbows, shoulders, and knees. A wide variety of submissions are initiated from side control.

Knee on belly When the athlete on top maintaining side-control places a knee on the belly, chest or ribs of his/her opponent – who is on bottom with their back or side on the ground –, maintaining his/her other leg extended diagonally away from the opponent and his/her foot (not knee) on the ground, body and facing the opponent’s head (not legs).

Mount Mount is considered one of the most dominant grappling positions. In the mount position the practitioner sits astride the opponent's chest, controlling the opponent with their bodyweight and hips. In the strongest form of

this position the practitioner works their knees up under into the armpits to restrict arm movements, limiting their ability to move or counter the submission attempts.

Back Control When utilizing the back mount the practitioner attaches to the back of the opponent by wrapping their legs around and hooking the opponent's thighs with their heels. Simultaneously, the upper body is controlled by using a seat belt grip (chest attached to opponent’s back with one arm under the armpit and the other arm over the shoulder locking the hands together like a “seat belt”). This position is often used to apply chokeholds, and counters much of the benefit an opponent may have from greater size or strength.

POSITIONS

Side Control 1

Side Control 2

Knee on Belly 1

Back Control

Mount

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PRIMARY POSITIONS IN BJJ

GuardIn the Guard, the practitioner is on their back controlling an opponent with their legs. The practitioner pushes and pulls with the legs or feet to upset the balance and limit the movements of their opponent. This position comes into play often when an opponent manages to place the practitioner upon his or her back and the practitioner seeks the best position possible to launch counter-attacks. This is a very versatile position from which the BJJ practitioner can attempt to sweep (reverse) the opponent, get back to the feet, or apply a variety of submission holds as well. There are three main types of guard: Open, Closed, and Half. In closed guard, the bottom grappler has their legs around the opponent's trunk and has their ankles closed together to provide control and a barrier to escaping the position. In the open guard, the legs are not hooked together and the bottom grappler uses their legs or feet to push or pull in a more dynamic fashion. In the half guard, one of the top grappler's legs is being controlled by the bottom grappler's legs.

SUBMISSIONS AND TAPPING OUT

Submissions

The majority of submission holds can be grouped into two broad

categories: joint locks and chokes. Joint locks typically involve isolating an opponent's limb and creating a lever with the body position which will force the joint to move past its normal range of motion. Pressure is increased in a controlled manner and released if the opponent cannot escape the hold and signals defeat by submitting. Opponents can indicate submission verbally or they can tap out (i.e. tap the opponent several times. Tapping one's own body is dangerous because the opponent may not be able to tell if his or her opponent is tapping.)

When to Tap Out

We encourage students to tap early and often. Tapping out isn’t a sign of failure; it’s the path to learning. If you tap to a submission, ask your opponent how they set you up and understand what you did wrong so you can fix your mistake and improve your Jiu-jitsu. It is a practice in patience and persistence, as you will usually tap many times to the same submission before learning how to prevent it.

POSITIONS

Closed Guard 1

Half Guard

Open Guard

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Belt Ranking System

Adult and Kids

Classes usually begin by lining up with the instructor(s) at the front of the room facing the students. The students will be in single lines in rank order from right to left. Once we bow into class we will begin a 10 to 15 minute warm-up including some core exercises to get your body prepared for training. After the warm up, you will learn and/or drill one to three techniques (sweeps, escapes, or submissions). The training session will end with sparring sessions where competitors start the match on their knees. We start from the knees primarily for the safety of everyone on the mat. When a lot of students are training at the same time takedowns can result in injuries. We do have classes dedicated to takedowns, as they are an important part of BJJ; they are just not a part of most sparring sessions.

BJJ is a journey! It won’t come easy at first but with patience and consistency you will learn. How quickly you progress will depend on your physical attributes, prior martial arts/wrestling training, and how often you train (you must train at least two days a week to improve but the more you train the quicker you will see the results). We believe that Jiu-jitsu is for EVERYBODY!!! Many students start BJJ training with little physical attributes and no ground fighting

experience. They struggled at first, but with consistent training they eventually become good! Some are now World Class Black Belts!!! My point is this, “DON’T GET DISCOURAGED IF YOU AREN’T A NATURAL!” We will welcome you to the family and turn you into a quality Jiu-jitsu player!

The belt ranking system is different for adults and kids (see belt charts on the following page). The kids belt system is designed to get the kids ready to enter the adult ranking system at white, green, or blue belt depending on their skill level.

If you want to know more about what you can expect at each belt stage read this article: http://infighting.ca/bjj-belt-system-mental-attitude-belt/.

We believe that Jiu-Jitsu

is for everybody

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Kids

Belt Ranking System

Adults

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Jiu-Jitsu Kids Program RMNU South Tampa Jiu-Jitsu Academy helps kids build character and conquer life’s challenges.

▪ Our kids program builds self-confidence through positive feedback. Even when we correct a student we will say something positive, correct them, and then reinforce their confidence with another positive statement. Words have power, it is important to recognize this when speaking to and with children.

▪ We also give them the confidence to defend themselves through skill development. The more confident the child the less-likely they are to get into physical confrontation.

▪ Lastly, once they have the confidence to defend themselves they are ready to learn how to use their words and body language to avoid confrontations and defuse bully-type situations. We teach children to fight fire with water!

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The Reason for the Perseverance-Based Belt System

The Jiu-Jitsu Belt Ranking System is designed to teach perseverance NOT instant gratification! Each belt require anywhere from 1 to 2 years of consistent training. Your child will receive anywhere between 8 to 12 stripes before moving to the next belt level. The highest level a child can reach is Green/Black belt. They will enter into the adult ranking system at age 16 as a Green or Blue belt depending on skill level and dedication.

Student’s Oath

“ I intend to be gentle, respectful and a good listener. I will always give my best to develop my

self-discipline, and to have the courage to do what is right and truthful. I am aware that in

learning the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, my mind and body are being empowered; but I promise

not to be abusive, nor offensive to others, and always pursue friendship.“

Word of the Week

We will rotate these words every week and discuss what they mean and how to apply it in

class, at home, and at school.

- Respect - Perseverance - Patience - Courage

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BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU COMPETITIONSWe have a number of competitors that train at RMNU; however, most of our students do not compete. Most students train other reasons (weight loss, health, social network, self defense, etc). With that said, if you want to compete it important to have the proper attitude.

Competition should be used for self-improvement. At the end of the day you are competing against yourself. Or in the words of Alabama Football Coach Nick Saban, “I don’t think its about who you play, it about who you are”. In terms of BJJ competition, don’t worry about who you are competing against; focus on your own self-improvement. Don’t worry about what your opponent does well; implement your game and make him/her defeat you. If you worry about your opponent you are defeated before you step on the mat.

There are a lot of variables in BJJ competition and only one that you can control - your attitude. Take the pressure off yourself by thinking of competition as another day of training. Regardless of the outcome your Jiu-Jitsu will improve. Win or lose competition will highlight the areas you need to improve. Losing is great motivation to correct mistakes.

Tournament Formats

There are basically two formats for BJJ tournaments each with a wide variation in rules: (1) a point based format; (2) a submission only format.

We will focus on the points based format since this is

the most common and more complex format for BJJ competitions. Submission only is pretty straight forward: if your opponent taps, you win; if you tap, you lost; if neither taps, the match is a draw.

The point system format awards points for progressing your position against your opponent with more points awarded for more dominate positions. In theory, the more dominant the position the closer you are to finishing the match by submission.

You may also submit your opponent to win the match. If you or your opponent taps out the points no longer matter. You can be up 20 points but if you tap, you lose.

Some tournaments give advantages to competitors for near submissions, near sweeps, near guard pass, etc. The intent is to provide a way to decide a match if tied at the end of regulation. In IBJJF, tournaments if the match is tied and both competitors have the same number of advantages the referee will decide the match.

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BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU COMPETITIONS

IBJJF Point System

There are a number of organizations that run tournaments on a local, regional, and national level. Most of them have different rules for points so to simplify this section I’ll include only the point system from the IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation).

The IBJJF tournaments are the most prestigious Jiu-Jitsu tournaments in the World. They host not only the World and Pan Am Championship but also Open Champions thorough the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Europe, and Asia.

The basic point system is listed below. If you compete in an IBJJF competition you should read the rule book because there are very specific rules in terms of the patches you can wear, fit of your gi, etc. You should also refer to the rule book to gain a deeper understanding of what constitutes a take down, guard pass, mount, back mount, and knee on belly (starting on page 15 of the IBJJF rule book). You must secure your position for 3 seconds to be awarded points.

Advantages are another item you want to understand (starting on page 20 of the IBJJF rule book.

Here is the link to the rule book: http://www.ibjjf.org/docs/rulesibjjf1stedition.pdf.

Take Downs (2 points)

Guard Pass (3 points)

Knee on Belly (2 points)

Mount and Reverse Mount (4 points)

Back Control (4 points)

Sweeps (2 points)

Competition Rules iPhone App Click Here

Competition Rules YouTube Click Here

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BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU COMPETITIONSMake sure to review the rules for the tournament you are attending. Be sure to get there early so you can get acclimated to the environment. It can be overwhelming when you first get there.

Weigh-ins

Be sure to check your weight when you arrive. Make sure you know in advance whether you have to weigh in in your gi or not. Your gi and belt will weigh anywhere for 4 to 6 pounds so its important you which weight class you will compete in accordingly.

Remember, if your weight is close, in the day and hours before your match it’s the weight of the food and fluids you take in, so there’s no need to worry about keeping carbs low. You should eat carbs but be careful about your sodium intake as it’ll make you retain water. After your weight check, if you have room to spare it’s good to drink and eat a little but obviously keep the weight of your food in mind and don’t stuff yourself. I bring a Power Bar and banana to snack on. Anything high in carbs is good. If you’re weight is close you can check your weight as many times as you want. IBJJF Specific

At IBJJF tournaments you will weigh-in right before you division starts. Once they call your division you will go to the fighters area. Listen for your name as a Ring Coordinator will call you. When they call you

you’ll do your official weigh-in and Gi check. You’ll have from 5 to 30 minutes between weigh-in and your first fight.

If you were close on weight you should drink Gatorade or something right after your weigh-in so you can be as hydrated as possible. Be sure to bring lots to drink for between fights (you can bring a bag to your ring with drinks). You’ll probably have 10-15 minutes between fights, but it might be longer. During the Gi check they’ll also check your nails, so

be sure they’re clipped. Also take off any jewelry. I think you can tape over wedding bands. If you have a custom Gi, you may want to bring a spare school Gi in case yours isn’t legal for some reason (see the rules on Gis). The ring coordinator will walk you to your ring when your division is competing, and he’ll let you know when you’re on deck. When it’s your

turn, wait until the ref calls you. Be sure to bow in and shake the refs hand. During your match listen for the refs commands, which are in Portuguese at IBJJF tournaments. Here is a link to a video detailing the commands.

Other tips about competing in IBJJF Tournaments

• Relax (to the extent possible) and have fun. • Check the schedule online at ibjjf.com. • Register early • Don’t wear cup • Bring your ID

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ReferencesWikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_jiu-jitsu

BJJ Heroes: bjjheroes.com

Jiu-Jitsu Brotherhood: http://jiujitsubrotherhood.com. Use for belt ranking reference, other links.

Robson Moura: robsonmoura.com

RMNU South: southtampajiujitsu.com