Kenjeet

[z]

How about an update on your program? I hope things are going well.

[KenJeet]

Z,

Things are going great!!! Thank you for asking. I will be having my seventh private lesson with Pedro Valente this Friday. He is a very good teacher. Luckily, the fact that I cross-train in different systems has allowed me to pick up the material very quickly and cross-reference a lot of the techniques taught. We have established a good relationship and have spent some time exchanging different concepts and teaching methods. Overall, I am very pleased. Thanks again for asking.

[z]

Glad to hear things are going well. Are you allowed to train on open mat night?

[KenJeet]

Actually, I don't know. I've never asked. I have only been doing privates with Pedro. You train with Pablo Castro correct? How long have you been training in Brazilian Jiujitsu?

[z]

Have not trained in 6 months. I had trained for about five months before I stopped. I was enjoying training and getting in decent shape. Had a close family pass away. Through me into a serious funk and I stopped training. Also suffered a knee and foot injury duriing my first "rock climbing" experience. Fact is I did not have a desire to train or compete. It has only been in the past month that I have felt like training, regained my desire to compete. More importantly I am getting my sense of humor back. I am not looking for condolences.

Anyways, the reason I ask is because when I did train I did not feel that I was being taught enough technical jui jitsu. Also I was never taught stand up techique. I relied heavily on strength and athletic abiliy (only marginally better than average). I am currently looking for a school that provides the technique, a healthy work out and a friendly but competitive enviroment. Not a wuss enviroment but not a power grappling school either.


Live in a town called cooper city. Travel time to nearest schools is only about 30 miles, but this translates into 1 1/2 drive during rush hour one way. My time is very valuble. If I study BJJ I am going to do it right and get the best bang for the buck. That's why I'm asking. Any info you or anyone else can give is appriecated. Thanks.

[z]

Have not trained in 6 months. I had trained for about five months before I stopped. I was enjoying training and getting in decent shape. Had a close family pass away. Through me into a serious funk and I stopped training. Also suffered a knee and foot injury duriing my first "rock climbing" experience. Fact is I did not have a desire to train or compete. It has only been in the past month that I have felt like training, regained my desire to compete. More importantly I am getting my sense of humor back. I am not looking for condolences.

Anyways, the reason I ask is because when I did train I did not feel that I was being taught enough technical jui jitsu. Also I was never taught stand up techique. I relied heavily on strength and athletic abiliy (only marginally better than average). I am currently looking for a school that provides the technique, a healthy work out and a friendly but competitive enviroment. Not a wuss enviroment but not a power grappling school either.


Live in a town called cooper city. Travel time to nearest schools is only about 30 miles, but this translates into 1 1/2 drive during rush hour one way. My time is very valuble. If I study BJJ I am going to do it right and get the best bang for the buck. That's why I'm asking. Any info you or anyone else can give is appriecated. Thanks.
FYI I did not train with Castro.

[KenJeet]

I understand your search for technical jiujitsu. I personally preferred to learn Brazilian Jiujitsu at an academy that actually has a well laid out curriculum. That is why I chose to train with Pedro Valente in Miami. You see, when the Gracie family learned jiujitsu they were taught stand up as well as grappling techniques. Now, lets not fool ourselves, Brazilian Jiujitsu continues to be primarily a ground fighting system and you are not going to be superb striker nor even an average striker by training in Jiujitsu. However, what I do like about the Helio Gracie-Pedro Valente lineage is the fact that at least they have not abandoned the teaching of the systems self defense techniques against common attacks. The way it is taught at the Gracie Academy in Torrance as well as the Gracie Academy of Miami is in a 40 lesson program comprising of defenses against all kinds of common attacks while standing or on the ground. They are all pretty basic defenses compared to other systems. However, in its simplicity lies effectiveness. There were a lot of schools in my area that said they taught Brazilian Jiujitsu, but when I would show up it would be a bunch of guys mainly doing vale tudo that they've picked up here and there with no set curriculum and no real certificates to back up their authenticity. I decided to go straight to one of the premier sources of pure Gracie Jiujitsu, the Helio Gracie lineage. You should look them up to see if their are any affiliated schools in your area.