Hello all!! It's been a crazy few weeks getting my fighters ready for their fights while training vigorously for mine. More on those fights in the future. I would have to say that i've been pretty lucky in my studies as a martial artist. I have had an opportunity to connect with a lot of different students and masters. In this case I am stoked to have come under the tutelage of a Vale Tudo legend, Sensei Jorge Pereira. Sensei Jorge was known for his brash style in MMA and Vale Tudo, and his dominance in tournaments.
He currently is a 6th degree blackbelt in Brazillian Jiu Jitsu(BJJ) graduated by Rickson Gracie he also holds a blackbelt in Judo. Born in Rio, he is truly a member of the old school.
While new techniques such as the berimbolo are all the rage, traditional techniques are his main stay. He is a firm believer in self defense being the first and foremost reason for BJJ, it is with you for life. BJJ should help you to prepare for any situation no matter the setting, whether that be in the street, the cage , the tournament...etc.
When I first met Sensei Jorge, I was teaching a Muay Thai class at Knockout Zone gym in Miami. I had been looking into getting back into Jiu Jitsu. I had done a couple of years of No-gi Jiu Jitsu and even won a tournament. My teacher at that time had moved away and I wasn't sure where I was going to find my BJJ fix. I walk in, and there he was teaching a pass of some sort. I ended up meeting him that day and we shook hands as he invited me to come and try it out. I ordered a $50 gi online. Yes, for those that know, I said 50 dollars and yes it felt like it. Over the next couple of weeks as I waited I did some research on Sensei Jorge and just like most high level fighters there were plenty of opinions about him. I was never discouraged as I let my keen judgement of character prevail over all. I am so glad I did.
Under Sensei Jorge I have already pulled in two medals. One silver in the state tournament and a gold in the IBJJF Miami Open. I can connect with Sensei Jorge because I am a traditionalist in the matter of Martial arts. I can relate to the way he teaches because he teaches in the way of the old style. Respect, Honor, and a Warriors spirit are the base for the way he teaches and the way I teach Muay Thai as well. These qualities are as important as the techniques themselves.
TUESDAY MORNINGS
It all came together on Tuesday mornings. For whatever reason I seem to be the only one out of God knows how many students that likes to get up for the Tuesday morning 9a.m. class. Which means every Tuesday it's just Sensei Jorge and little old me. I think most people would think wow you get a private class with a legend every Tuesday morning. Most would think that my technique is getting better because of this training, and those that believe that would be correct. However, it isn't so much the hour or so I get choked, bent and basically treated like a rag doll that is causing me so much growth. The thing that affects my BJJ skills the most is what happens after the rolling is done. It's the history, good and bad as told by someone that was there in Rio de Janeiro living it. Training with the Gracie family, Carlos Gracie jr. and Rickson Gracie to be exact, left sensei with hours of stories and memories. For whatever reason he shares them with me and they are amazing. The time of the Samurai in Brazil was still alive and well. MMA was a distant future and the days of masters from opposite schools challenging each other were still in effect. Street fights were normal for young Brazilian samurai chasing waves and girls in the hot tropical sun. "When we fought back then Lloy,(leaving off the "D")we went for da woar" he would say.
In a thick Brazilian accent mellowed a little by his stay in the U.S., he waltz's through stories as if they happened yesterday. Often citing the fights as "da war" mainly because they meant a different thing in the past. The fights weren't about money as there was no real money in those days being dished out for fighters. In those times they fought for the honor of their schools and the respect of their teachers and their peers. Since the introduction of MMA and money the fights for respect and honor are like dinosaurs of the past, we know they existed but it's hard to imagine that they were real. I have been privileged enough to hear these stories and have often pressed him about writing a book. It has been considered, although some may not be so happy about their stories being told to the world. I can honestly say that these stories have helped my growth in BJJ. They help me to understand the mentality that made this form of Martial arts become one of the most dominant forms of fighting in the world. From crazy street fights to tournament fights, all the way to no time limit fights lasting in excess of an hour I have heard it all. I have gone from white belt to blue belt and am prepared to stay here at blue belt until my belt literally falls off and has to be replaced by a purple belt. I am ready to fight for honor and earn the respect of my peers.
There isn't money at this level of Jiu Jitsu competition, it is only a test of will vs will one man to another. Though it isn't prevalent the way it was in Rio, I believe one can still get a glimpse into the past. I am not going to fight MMA and therefore hitting the Jiu Jitsu circuit in my preparation, I am only a warrior looking to appease my warrior ego and spirit in combat. I hear my Sensei's voice as I walk towards my opponent. I don't want to shake hands until it is over. I only want to do two things at that moment, fight with honor and do what they had done for many years in Brasil..."Go for da woar!".
He currently is a 6th degree blackbelt in Brazillian Jiu Jitsu(BJJ) graduated by Rickson Gracie he also holds a blackbelt in Judo. Born in Rio, he is truly a member of the old school. 
While new techniques such as the berimbolo are all the rage, traditional techniques are his main stay. He is a firm believer in self defense being the first and foremost reason for BJJ, it is with you for life. BJJ should help you to prepare for any situation no matter the setting, whether that be in the street, the cage , the tournament...etc.
When I first met Sensei Jorge, I was teaching a Muay Thai class at Knockout Zone gym in Miami. I had been looking into getting back into Jiu Jitsu. I had done a couple of years of No-gi Jiu Jitsu and even won a tournament. My teacher at that time had moved away and I wasn't sure where I was going to find my BJJ fix. I walk in, and there he was teaching a pass of some sort. I ended up meeting him that day and we shook hands as he invited me to come and try it out. I ordered a $50 gi online. Yes, for those that know, I said 50 dollars and yes it felt like it. Over the next couple of weeks as I waited I did some research on Sensei Jorge and just like most high level fighters there were plenty of opinions about him. I was never discouraged as I let my keen judgement of character prevail over all. I am so glad I did. 
Under Sensei Jorge I have already pulled in two medals. One silver in the state tournament and a gold in the IBJJF Miami Open. I can connect with Sensei Jorge because I am a traditionalist in the matter of Martial arts. I can relate to the way he teaches because he teaches in the way of the old style. Respect, Honor, and a Warriors spirit are the base for the way he teaches and the way I teach Muay Thai as well. These qualities are as important as the techniques themselves.
TUESDAY MORNINGS
It all came together on Tuesday mornings. For whatever reason I seem to be the only one out of God knows how many students that likes to get up for the Tuesday morning 9a.m. class. Which means every Tuesday it's just Sensei Jorge and little old me. I think most people would think wow you get a private class with a legend every Tuesday morning. Most would think that my technique is getting better because of this training, and those that believe that would be correct. However, it isn't so much the hour or so I get choked, bent and basically treated like a rag doll that is causing me so much growth. The thing that affects my BJJ skills the most is what happens after the rolling is done. It's the history, good and bad as told by someone that was there in Rio de Janeiro living it. Training with the Gracie family, Carlos Gracie jr. and Rickson Gracie to be exact, left sensei with hours of stories and memories. For whatever reason he shares them with me and they are amazing. The time of the Samurai in Brazil was still alive and well. MMA was a distant future and the days of masters from opposite schools challenging each other were still in effect. Street fights were normal for young Brazilian samurai chasing waves and girls in the hot tropical sun. "When we fought back then Lloy,(leaving off the "D")we went for da woar" he would say.
In a thick Brazilian accent mellowed a little by his stay in the U.S., he waltz's through stories as if they happened yesterday. Often citing the fights as "da war" mainly because they meant a different thing in the past. The fights weren't about money as there was no real money in those days being dished out for fighters. In those times they fought for the honor of their schools and the respect of their teachers and their peers. Since the introduction of MMA and money the fights for respect and honor are like dinosaurs of the past, we know they existed but it's hard to imagine that they were real. I have been privileged enough to hear these stories and have often pressed him about writing a book. It has been considered, although some may not be so happy about their stories being told to the world. I can honestly say that these stories have helped my growth in BJJ. They help me to understand the mentality that made this form of Martial arts become one of the most dominant forms of fighting in the world. From crazy street fights to tournament fights, all the way to no time limit fights lasting in excess of an hour I have heard it all. I have gone from white belt to blue belt and am prepared to stay here at blue belt until my belt literally falls off and has to be replaced by a purple belt. I am ready to fight for honor and earn the respect of my peers.
There isn't money at this level of Jiu Jitsu competition, it is only a test of will vs will one man to another. Though it isn't prevalent the way it was in Rio, I believe one can still get a glimpse into the past. I am not going to fight MMA and therefore hitting the Jiu Jitsu circuit in my preparation, I am only a warrior looking to appease my warrior ego and spirit in combat. I hear my Sensei's voice as I walk towards my opponent. I don't want to shake hands until it is over. I only want to do two things at that moment, fight with honor and do what they had done for many years in Brasil..."Go for da woar!".
