Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Network

78 year old awarded BJJ black belt

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 15:05:00 +0000

It's quite remarkable every time a student from the Gracie Barra school of Brazilian jiu-jitsu receives a black belt.

Much more extraordinary is when one of those students is 78 years old.

Gene Pace was honored with his black belt on Thursday night throughout a ceremony following his typical twice-weekly class and sparring session in the Costa Mesa studio.

Over 100 of Pace's buddies and supporters attended to witness his milestone.

"It was overwhelming. And last night..." Pace began having a pause, then laughed. "Well, it was somewhat emotional."

The Whittier resident has been coaching under the Costa Mesa school's founder and instructor, Mike Buckels, for over 15 years.

"He's Mr. Consistency. He under no circumstances misses a class, not ever," said Buckels, who holds a black belt in jiu-jitsu, too as kru in Muay Thai kickboxing.

In those 15 years, prior to Pace, Buckels had only awarded one particular other jiu-jitsu black belt, and it was to another teacher.

"The most effective way to summarize Gene is the fact that he just carries out everything you teach him to perform," Buckels said. "If you show him a move, he will go after that move."

Despite the fact that Buckels admits that he is cautious whom he pairs with Pace, being a more mature student Pace just isn't one to take too lightly.

"Gene can still pick me up - and I'm a 180-pound man - and toss me to the ground," Buckels said. "He practices with people as much as 55 years younger than him."

Pace fell into the Brazilian martial art right after registering for a martial arts course to keep fit - and to humour his grandkids.

"I thought to myself, 'Well, OK, they can't kill me, and besides, maybe I'll learn something,'" Pace said, with laughter.

"Once I got started, I had to think, 'Do you just walk away [and] embarrass your grandkids?'" Pace carried on. "Nah, you can't be disrespectful like that. And everyone just stuck with it."

Pace's fascination with martial arts moved to jiu-jitsu after meeting Buckles and preferring his form of training.

A large amount of that style resonated with Pace's finish-what-you-start mindset.

"The things learn you here are discipline and techniques, which you apply to situations, but you never walk around like a peacock," Pace said. "But, as Mike says, if someone won't back down, you finish it."

BJJ Instructor Spotlight - Pedro Sauer 8th Degree Black Belt

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:05:00 +0000

Pedro Sauer is an 8th degree Red-Black Belt under Helio Gracie

Professor Sauer attained his Black Belt from Helio and Rickson in 1985. Long recognized for the superior technical efficiency of his Jiu-Jitsu, he then began his career as an instructor in 1986 when asked to teach with an organization recognized in Brazil as Corpo/Quatro (Physique of Four) where he taught and continued his training under renowned Jiu-Jitsu instructors Alvaro Barreto (who is a Red Belt Master under Helio Gracie).

Just after moving to Utah in December of 1990, he coached as one of just two non-Gracie black belts under the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy (run by Rorion and Royce Gracie). In October of 1996, he became an official representative Black Belt Teacher under the Rickson Gracie American Jiu-Jitsu Association.

At the moment, Pedro resides in Virginia where he teaches at One Spirit Martial Arts and at Jeff Gordon's Self Defense Academy. He also has many affiliated schools throughout the country, and he visits them on a regular basis to provide intensive instruction for the students and instructors. He is among the most highly sought-after teachers inside the U.S. (of any martial discipline) and has presented 100s of public seminars about the nation.

In 2007, Professor Sauer was presented the prestigious red belt under Rickson and Helio, one of only a handful on the planet. Professor Sauer is deemed by many to be among the leading five Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners and trainers in the world.

Pedro has created Pedro Sauer Online which for the first time gives BJJ practitioners around the globe, the opportunity to learn from one of the worlds best. Rare topics are covered which will give any BJJ athlete an advantage over their competition regardless of belt level;

Escapes and Sweeps

3 Ways To Escape Knee On Belly

Arm In Guillotine Escape

Elbow Escape

Escape Back With Hooks

Escape Side Sweep and Back

Ghost Escape

Head and Arm Escape

Hip Bump

North South Pass

North South Roll

Prevent Harpoon

Reverse Knee Mount Sweep

Sitting Guard Escape

Upa Mount Escape

Guard Passing

Anchor Guard Pass

Butterfly Pass

Knee Wedge Pass Sweep

Passing Open Guard

Preventing Guard Pass

Scissor Pass

Cross Sides

Collar Defense Rear Mount

Collar Trick From Guard

Counter Kimura From Side

Defending Guillotine From Bottom Side

Guillotine Cross Side

Knee On Belly Armbar

Side Control Pressure and Guillotine

Jiu-Jitsu Theory

3 Side Mount Secrets

Seat Belt Grip

3 Tips White Belts

Self Defense - First Talk

Language of Jiu Jitsu

Taking The Back

Turtle Defense

Upa Flexibility

50% off with Gorilla Gym Martial Arts Stoke On Trent BJJ MMA

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 23:40:00 +0000

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Looking for BJJ Instructors for the Aberdeenshire area

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:45:00 +0000

Can anyone help?

Looking for instructors in the area to Take BJJ Classes or Wrestling. Along with owning a strength and conditioning gym I have expanded the gym to have a dance and fitness centre, which will be fully kitted for any instructor just to walk into.

Along with the gym advertising I will promote the classes and can gaurantee that they would have a great turnout, various options could be open to the right instructor.

If anyone knows or would be interested please get in touch.

Get your FREE BJJ Competition Scoreboard Point System

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 23:45:00 +0000

Tournament organisers, head on over to here and get your own FREE online BJJ scoreboard.

From the creator, "I originally put this together at the request of an instructor of mine and since then many people have commented on how useful and easy to use it is. I always intended this to be for free use so I'm disseminating it to whomever wishes to use it. I'm sure a lot of people will find it helpful for small in-house style tournaments."

Martial Arts East London BJJ MMA - Get 70% off a 30 DAY BJJ trial at Edson Carvalho UK

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:40:00 +0000

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Wed, 26 Oct 2011 19:05:00 +0000

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If you are looking for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) Mixed Martial Arts Classes (MMA) in Inverness - we are a 40 minute drive from Inverness.

Karl Tanswell Seminar

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 17:50:00 +0000

He's back in Aberdeen and you're invited. So you had better be there...

BJJ black belt, SBG UK Regional Director and most importantly world class coach Karl Tanswell is visiting Granite City Grappling.

Karl will be coaching on Saturday October 29 from 12-3pm and Sunday October 30 from 4-7pm. Both classes are at Banks o' Dee Sports Centre in Aberdeen.

The cost is £20 for one day or £30 for both sessions.

What not to expect is a hundred techniques from which you will only remember a couple, not much help when you aren't quite getting things right and a frosty atmosphere.

Do expect a focus on improving performance, a good vibe with jokes and some cool tunes. Oh and beautifully effective jits taught in an easy to understand manner, that will make you better on the mats.

It's an experience not to be missed. If you have any questions, ask at:

http://www.facebook.com/GraniteCityGrappling

Submission Wrestling Competition in Dundee - 27 November

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:50:00 +0000

Dundee Mixed Martial Arts are hosting their first No Gi Submission Wrestling Competition on Sunday 27th November.

Weigh in at 11:30am and first bouts will be starting 12:30

Entry fee is £10

Semi final and finals will all be in our 20' cage

Spaces are limited to 60 competitors so email your confirmation to admin@dmmayacsa.com

Special guest referee will be Gracie Barra black belt and Cage Rage veteran Dave 'Speedy' Elliott

I look forward to seeing you all on the day!

Facebook Event Page

British Open West Midlands - 23rd October

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:25:00 +0000

The No Gi British Open is back again! We are proud once again to be hosting Britain’s largest event of its kind. We very much look forward to seeing you all and thank you once again for your support in helping the British Grappling community grow.

Best wishes,

Braulio (Estima)

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