Roger Gracie: “I think people beat themselves sometimes”

By Deb Blyth

Some of the usual suspects were found rolling on the mats at GB America, focused on their techniques, their game plans, and their mental states. Big names like Roger Gracie, Romulo Barral, Kayron Gracie, Roberto “Tussa” Alencar, Otavio Sousa, Samuel Braga, Fabiana Borges, Lucas Rocha, and Ronis Gracie were found training at varying times, perfecting their games, working on their strategies, and rolling with old friends. Master Carlos was there, overseeing it all, and Head Instructor Marcio Feitosa led the competition classes that occurred.Roger Gracie was in prime condition, looking like he hadn’t fought a professional MMA fight just a couple weeks prior. He was back to his old self, looking very confident, poised and natural in his gi. Gracie said he felt good and had no injuries. “We athletes are used to pain like muscle soreness and all that,” he said, “but I’m 100% and ready to go.”

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Adem Redzovic from Gracie Barra Chicago: Interview

-Adisa Banjoko

When looking at the history of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in America, the Gracie Barra school plays such a crucial role. Today we will speak with the first Gracie Barra representative in North America. Adem Redzovic and his brother Eddie run Gracie Barra Chicago. In this interview we will find out how he and his brother first learned about jiu jitsu, what it took to be a GB representative in the early days and what you should expect as you evolve technically in the gentle art.

OTM: How did you and your brother Eddie first leanr about jiu jitsu?

AR: My first exposure to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was watching the first few UFC events. Like most people I was confused when I saw this skinny guy taking guys to the ground and finishing them with submission holds, and like most people I was disappointed, I wanted to see guys getting knocked out.

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HUGE day for Gracie Barra in Brazil

It is unbelievable how fast time goes by! Ii has being just 5 years that Master Carlos’ sounded out HQ in the US nad the GB Assoc. We remember very well that rom the beginning, still back in Lake Forest, we heard Master Carlos’ saying that in the future we would bring back to Brazil the things we were learning here in the US and contribute even more to development of Jiu-Jitsu and GB over there.

So that day has come! Today many GB Schools in Brazil are benefiting from the great findings GB made in the US over the last 5 years. If you are ever in Brazil for a training trip and visit for instance the Gracie Barra Campinas you can expect to see the same Programs (fundamentals, advanced and black belt), the same wall docs and so on and so forth.

We came to that realization when last week we received via email a video from Professor Flavio Almeida teaching a seminar last month in Brazil to class of over 150 students all wearing the GB uniform!

Once more Master Carlos’ words became true.

We are so happy to be part of such special time in GB history

Feitosa in Austin, Texas

-Deb Blyth

The job of head instructor is difficult and time consuming, yet very rewarding. Just ask Marcio Feitosa. He knows this all too well. As head instructor for five Gracie Barra schools, he has a very busy and interesting life that most people do not completely understand.

Under the leadership of Master Carlos Gracie, Jr., Feitosa has been given the directive to oversee school programs, including managing and training instructors. This type of instruction is not the kind of training that occurs on the mats. Instead, it is the kind of training that is outside the scope of BJJ techniques. Feitosa teaches his instructors how to share the philosophy of Gracie Barra with students. “They need to learn how to speak in front of people,” Feitosa says, “I teach them how to describe Jiu-Jitsu and define for them how they should speak to white belts, up to brown belts, for example.”

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