In our commitment to provide perspective on jiu-jitsu training from different parts of the globe, we offer this article from one of our friends and fans from Michigan. If you have an experience, write us and include photos or video, you don't have to be a professional writer - the best writing comes from those of experience for those who want it.
On October 1, 2008, seven martial artists from Michigan set
out to South Carolina for the Machado Brothers Training camp.Our group
The 2008 Machado Brothers Jiu-Jitsu Training Camp
consisted of 2 blue belts, 3 purple
belts and 2 black belts.Our group
became known simply as “Michigan”.We
were all eager to learn from some of the most accomplished BJJ legends in the
sport as well as experience a part of the country that is very different from
our own state.
Royce Gracie talks to BJJ Legends about his background in
starting MMA, the Gracie method, growing up Gracie and more. BJJ
Legends Magazine and DVD carry the complete interview, video and Gracie
techniques not seen together before.
Here, we talk about the differences in BJJ vs GJJ (Gracie Jiu-Jitsu)
More at www.BJJLegends.com
O Embassador do Jiu-jitsu nos EUA Rigan Machadofala sobre sua história, livros e uma futura
Associação Mundial para Faixas pretas.
Quando me pediram para fazer uma entrevista com o instrutor
e uma das Legendas do JJ Rigan Machado, nao fazia a menor idéia do que estaria
por vir.Eu já sabia que ele era uma comédia,
adorava crianças e se não for uma das melhores técnicas do Jiu-Jitsu brasileiro.
Pela entrevista eu aprendi mais sobre ele e consequentemente
mais sobre a história do esporte e arte marcial que e uma grande parte do meu
dia-a-dia.
BJJ LEGENDS: Eu escutei que o livro didático de Jiu-Jitsu mais vendido nos
Estados Unidos é o seu. Fala para nós um pouco mais sobre seu livro e o porque
na sua opinião fez tanto sucesso.
Alvaro Romano has spent more than 20 years developing and training a natural style that is practiced by many world-class fighters and athletes, including BJJ world champions, the Ribeiro brothers Saulo & Xande, and ADCC champion Rani Yahya, who dramatically tapped out Leonard Vieira in 2007.
Ginastica Natural, Alvaro Romano
The founder of Ginastica Natural, a Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Rickson Gracie, Professor Alvaro Romano, talks about his life‟s work, the Gracie legend Rolls Gracie and the growing mass appeal of Ginastica Natural in the U.S.
BJJ Legends: We've heard many top fighters and athletes practice Ginastica Natural, including the soccer player Ronaldo.
Alvaro: Yes, I helped Ronaldo with the problem in his knees for the World Cup 2002. In fact, he was playing in Italy, and many of his team in Italy came to Brazil to experience this type of physical therapy. Ginastica Natural is very good [because while one practices GN,] it is hard to hurt one's self since you use only your body weight, which is the optimal amount of weight you should use. There are many different types of training that I have developed for fighters, for kids, and for the businessmen.
Alvaro Romano has spent more than 20 years developing and training a natural style that is practiced by many world-class fighters and athletes, including BJJ world champions, the Ribeiro brothers Saulo & Xande, and ADCC champion Rani Yahya, who dramatically tapped out Leonard Vieira in 2007.
Ginastica Natural, Alvaro Romano
The founder of Ginastica Natural, a Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Rickson Gracie, Professor Alvaro Romano, talks about his life‟s work, the Gracie legend Rolls Gracie and the growing mass appeal of Ginastica Natural in the U.S.
BJJ Legends: We've heard many top fighters and athletes practice Ginastica Natural, including the soccer player Ronaldo.
Alvaro: Yes, I helped Ronaldo with the problem in his knees for the World Cup 2002. In fact, he was playing in Italy, and many of his team in Italy came to Brazil to experience this type of physical therapy. Ginastica Natural is very good [because while one practices GN,] it is hard to hurt one's self since you use only your body weight, which is the optimal amount of weight you should use. There are many different types of training that I have developed for fighters, for kids, and for the businessmen.
Part 3 of our video interview with Marcio Feitosa of Gracie Barra.
Marcio talks about what makes Gracie Barra an amazing school and system.
Register to Get Notified of NEW VIDEO:
This is Part 3 of the interview found in BJJ Legends Magazine, and on
the 3 Hour DVD.. The full interview is in the magazine with the
complete interview on the DVD.
Ryan Fiorenzi, Our Featured Black Belt and Owner of East West Martial Arts
A Mid-Western Man’s Road to a Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt
Ryan Fiorenzi has accomplished a lot in a short time. The first Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt in Michigan, he has the drive and initiative to train from across the country with the Gracies and Machados to become an instructor affiliated with the Machado School.Ryan’s story and observations are a good example to us of the Jiu-Jitsu experience and challenge outside California. In addition he provides unique observations while rolling and training with the infamous Machado brothers.
BJJ Legends: Ryan, Thanks for meeting with us.Tell us a little bit about yourself:
Ryan:I am a black belt under Rigan and Roger Machado and I started training jiu-jitsu in 1994, just after the UFCs began.Before that I had been training Kung Fu for 7 years, earning a black sash.I opened my school, East West Martial Arts, in 1997.I have been running the school full time for over 10 years now.
BJJ Legends: How did you get started in jiu-jitsu?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Magazine is a magazine dedicated to the practice and perfection of Jiu-Jitsu. We provide a meaningful way to bring BJJ to everyone, internationally. We do this by speaking to and recording the legends of Jiu-Jitsu, their techniques, philosophy and future of jiu-jitsu.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art that focuses on grappling with the goal of gaining a dominant position and using joint-locks and chokeholds to force an opponent to submit or be knocked out depending on what submission method is used.
Some Legends of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that you can find in our current and future magazine issues include: Royce Gracie, Kyra Gracie, Marcio Feitosa of Barra Gracie, Rolls Gracie, Rigan Machado, Mauricio "Tinguinha" Mariano, Marcelo Cavalcanti, Alvaro Romano and his Ginastica Naturale, BJ Penn, Penny Thomas.
Jiu-Jitsu Techniques, Video Techniques and Interviews
Jiu-Jitsu requires the transmission of techniques from master to student. There are limited professors and masters and we provide the best video and DVD of technqiues by masters and professors of Jiu-Jitsu. It's just not techniques from anybody, these are the Legends, champions of jiu jitsu, ju jutso and their techniques that made them champions.
Articles & Interviews 
