Taka Watanabe began his bjj training at age 13 in Brazil, moving to Japan at age 20.  Starting a federation in Japan not once, but twice was his way of breaking away against a new set of rules and dramatic changes that could stifle Japanese Jiu-Jitsu.   Taka (and Rickson Gracie) with the JJFJ, break from the pack.

BJJ Legends^TM: I’ve got a couple of questions here about Rickson gracie’s Federation in Japan but first I’d like to find out more about you. Did you train with Rickson here in the States or in Brazil?

Takamasa Watanabe: No. I started with his student Marcelo Behring. He died when he was 33 or so. I am his purple belt. That’s in Brazil. I started when I was 13 years old. I came to Japan when I was 20. Until then I trained all the time in Brazil. Then I continued teaching here in Japan. Now our academy is called Axis but it was called Gracie Japan. I only started teaching straight from Rickson Gracie after I came to Japan.

Rickson Gracie Seminars in FL & VA

Rickson gracie will be putting on a few seminars at the end of March so get your Wallets and Calendars ready.

In Miami, Florida - Hosting via the Valente Brothers on March 27, 28.

When: March 27 2PM-6PM & March 28 1PM-5PM

Where: Valente Brothers - 3165 NE 163 Street - North Miami Beach

Cost: $200 per day

Registration: Valente Brothers students should register and pay by March 17. All other students should email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Students from other schools are currently being placed on a waiting list and will be selected on a first come first serve basis.

In Virginia @ Pedro Sauer Academy : Rickson Gracie Seminar MARCH 31 (Wed), 5:00pm - 10:00pm, $250

You MUST call Mike Horihan at 865-696-8000 to register. There will be no registering online. Starting Wed 3/10 we will allow registration for Purple and Blue belts as space allows.

Absolute Finals, South American Brazilian JiuJitsu Championships

Final do Absoluto faixa preta - Campeonato Sul Americano 2009 de Brazilian Jiu-jitsu

Ricardo Abreu x Diego Herzog

Last Part of the interview by SporTV on the legendary Royce Gracie.  Royce talks about Payment (the most well paid MMA fighter) and more.

Royce gracie was featured in BJJ Legends^TM Magazine (with DVD), Issue 1 in which he gives an interview and provide exclusive Gracie jiujitsu techniques.

Subscriptions to Brazilian JiuJitsu Legends Magazine are available here.

Part 3 of the interview by SporTV on the legendary Royce Gracie. Royce gracie talks about steroids controversy, Matt Hughes and more.

[span class="notice"]Royce Gracie was featured in BJJ Legends^TM Magazine (with DVD), Issue 1 in which he gives an interview and provide exclusive Gracie jiujitsu techniques.

Subscriptions to Brazilian JiuJitsu Legends Magazine are available here.[/span]

Part 2 of the interview by SporTV on the legendary Royce Gracie.  Royce talks about his fight against Sakuraba. He also comments his fight against Kimo, his loss to Yoshida and more.

Royce gracie was featured in BJJ Legends^TM Magazine (with DVD), Issue 1 in which he gives an interview and provide exclusive Gracie jiujitsu techniques.Subscriptions to Brazilian JiuJitsu Legends Magazine are available here.

On March 13^th, a two-day seminar hosted by MMA Institute, located at 6145 Jahnke Road, Richmond, VA 23225, will commence. The seminar will consist of grappling, striking, and MMA training, and the team of instructors will be made up of world class MMA fighters such as WEC lightweight contender “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone, UFC fighters Aaron Riley and “The Filthy Mauler” Tom Lawlor, former TUF competitor and EliteXC headliner Seth Petruzelli, Bellator fighter Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal, and 2009 Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) champion and recent Shine Fights signee Braulio Estima. In addition, 50/50 Jiu-Jitsu owners Ryan Hall and Seph Smith will be teaching, and a kids seminar will be educated by the well-respected John Simons. All these great athletes will be donating their time, and merchandise will be auctioned off, with all proceeds going towards Haiti relief.

An interview by SporTV on the legendary Royce Gracie.  On part 1 Royce gracie talks about the begining of everything; the Gracie Challanges and how UFC was born. Worth a good watch for background.

Royce Gracie was featured in BJJ Legends^TM Magazine (with DVD), Issue 1 in which he gives an interview and provide exclusive Gracie jiujitsu techniques.

Subscriptions to Brazilian JiuJitsu Legends Magazine are available here.

Uma entrevista pelo SporTV no lendário Royce Gracie. Na parte 1 Royce Gracie fala sobre o começo de tudo, o Challanges Gracie UFC e como nasceu. Vale a pena assistir a um bom plano.