Throughout my nearly 18 years of training jiu jitsu, I have always made it a point to learn from the best. Early on, I had the honor of learning daily from absolute legends like Renzo Gracie, Sergio Ignacio, and Luca Atalla. Then I studied primarily under Rolles Gracie Jr for a number of years, mixing in visits to Renzo Gracie NYC and Garry Tonon’s Brunswick BJJ. All held their own unique perspectives, and helped me to develop my overall understanding of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, the martial art I’ve devoted the last 2 decades of my life to, and will continue to study until the end.
Throughout those years, I’ve also made it a point to travel in order to train with and to learn from as many of the greatest minds in the sport at camps, through seminars, and taking private lessons. Among the masters I’ve been able to learn from legends including Braulio Estima, Roger Gracie, Daniel Gracie, Kyra Gracie, Ralph Gracie, Kurt Osiander, John Danaher, Helio Soneca, Gustavo Machado, Kenny Florian, Karel Pravac, and more. I’ve also been able to learn directly from, and in many cases train with modern champions including Igor Gracie, Gregor Gracie, Garry Tonon, Gordon Ryan, Nicky Ryan, Damien Anderson, John Combs, Richie Martinez, Keith Krikorian, Kade + Tye Ruotolo, Travis Stevens, William Tackett, Ffion Davies, Gezary Matuda, Danielle Kelly, Jacob Couch and Jonathan Thomas come to mind.. Then there are the elite level coaches I’ve been able to take lessons from including Dima Murovanni, Jay Regalbuto, and Kyvann Gonzalez (if you don’t know him, look him up- he’s doing great things).
When I arrived at the location about 25 minutes early, I was let in by a Professor named James who was going to be Rickson’s uke for the lesson, He told me Rickson was in the back getting changed and directed me back to the locker area to get ready . As I approached the back, Rickson walked out and I introduced myself with a bow and a handshake. Similarly to my first interactions with Roger and Kyra, the legend Rickson immediate came across as genuine, and down to earth as he introduced himself and welcomed me to the lesson.
The lesson started with Master Rickson teaching me his famous breathing method, then he began speaking about concepts of base. He asked me to step forward ready to engage as he approached me, then explained the good and the bad aspects of my stance. I initially thought it was solid, but he showed me that it was sub optimal. He then had me make a few small, conceptual adjustments that thoroughly improved the strength of my base.
He then went on to discuss theories on connection. This lesson started with a handshake, and he explained that one can learn a lot about someone’s intentions by the way the connect. Rickson’s handshake was firm, and established a respectful, welcoming feeling of personal connection- very much in line with the way I tend to shake hands with people I meet.
We looked at gi grips, and he instructed me on adjusting grips proactively based on my intentions, and I was very much surprised by the functional strength gains from these small adjustments.
From there, we moved on to adjusting base to stop your opponents’ attacks. We worked on reacting properly, and efficiently, in such a way that we did not create counter opportunities for our opponent. We did this from multiple angles, including from behind.
From there, we moved to the ground, and worked on some movement, Rickson first showed a movement, and then had me apply it in a realtime technique (a teaching method that I often use) we gave me a new perspective on a mount escape which was pretty mind blowing, and in opposition of theories I’ve learned from other world class professors, which pretty much blew my mind, he blew up standard arm bars, solving one of the main battles by simply not allowing it to happen.
He then showed me a modification to one of my main closed guard attacks (which I’d learned from John Danaher’s Closed Guard instructional, which was so efficient, eliminating all necessity of strength or athleticism.. again, pretty mind blowing stuff.
The last lesson he taught was on base and posture in the guard. Again— small adjustments which require focus and precision, but yielded significant gains in strength of position.
When I told people I was going out to take this lesson, some questioned if i was going to learn, or if it was going to be more of an experience. I can say with absolute truth and certainty, it was both. Meeting the legendary Rickson Gracie and spending individual time with him was an absolute honor, and the lessons he shared will, over time, with deliberate practice and attention, make big improvements to my jiu jitsu, which I am very excited to pass on to my own students at Bayshore BJJ. For years my study has had multiple purposes: to better myself, and to help me better coach my students. In the past 6 years, the focus has been almost all about becoming a better instructor. When I watch my students at Bayshore BJJ grow in the training room; when I watch them succeed on the competition mats, and when I see how my students are received when they drop in at other schools, it fills me with pride knowing that what we’ve been doing together has been working, and it continues to be worth every ounce of effort we into it.
If you look up what every elite level black belt who has trained with Master Rickson has to say about him, it seems almost unbelievable. After spending 2+ hours with him, I can tell you it is all true. He is the master of invisible jiu jitsu, and learning from him is life changing.
