As I near the 20th anniversary of when I started training Jiu-Jitsu, I am compelled to say thank you to my instructor, my master, who has made this incredible journey possible.

Thank you for sharing your art, your creation, your craft. Thank you for sharing your passion, your commitment, your resolve. Thank you for sharing Jiu-jitsu with us: your students. And when I say “your students” I mean each and every one of us. I mean those of us who are wearing black belts and those of us who are wearing white belts. I mean from people who have spent twenty years on the mats with Master Renzo to everyone training around the world today. As students of Jiu-Jitsu we owe a debt of gratitude to your family. Because while changes occur and new creations are made you have always been here for us. For that I am very grateful.

I could write stories about driving to New Jersey two hours in each direction to train with Master Renzo. And I could talk your ear off about all of the times when I felt defeated by the complexity of jiu-jitsu and by my own limitations as a student, but I came back anyway. And, of course, each of these stories would end with how it was all worth it. It’s commitment that keeps us coming back to training.

But what keeps someone coming back to the same instructor day after day, year after year? Loyalty. I truly believe that love is important to build a strong relationship, but it’s loyalty that creates a family. Sure there are temptations in the world that challenge our loyalties and there are always going to be people that attempt to lure us towards those temptations. But I chose my instructor the day I met Master Renzo. And opportunism won’t change that. There is a Japanese proverb that reads: “Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher.”

We can embrace new trends without abandoning fundamentals. Just because we spend time learning and mastering the tornado guard doesn’t mean we forget the guard that Master Carlos and Master Helio taught to their children, and their children’s children. The berimbolo won’t soon make us forget the scissor sweep. And there is no trend or fad or fashionable instructor that will ever lead me to lose sight of the people who believed in me so long ago – and have stayed with me ever since.

I have never sought another teacher, just as I’ve never sought another family. To me, there is far more to our training than finding the coach that will accept the credit for the next tournament win. The stakes are much higher than that: our integrity, our history, is on the line. And without loyalty or integrity, there’s little else.

I am a Renzo Gracie Black Belt. And I have every intention of fulfilling your family vision – our family vision – of training to 9th degree.

Your student,
Gene Dunn

A friend of mine, who I haven’t seen in years just contacted me on Facebook. He asked me “can I start rolling now that I’m 40 years old.” My response is its never too late. Actually starting is then easy part. Staying takes work. And it may take your 40 years of experience to be able to do it. He came across an article that made a lot of really great points and stated the case for starting regardless of your age ( http://www.revolutionbjj.com/news/can-i-start-bjj-if-im-over-40/). The truth is that choosing your school can be the most important decision you make- no matter how old or young you are. When it comes to the longevity of your training its important for you to look at the long arc. Don’t necessarily envision yourself as a 40 year old doing jiu jitsu. Try to picture yourself as a 50 or 60 year old doing jiu-jitsu. And don’t picture yourself ad a 60-yr old with a walker. Be one of those old guys on the viagra commercials! That will help you prepare yourself mentally for a marathon rather than a sprint. If you’re serious about becoming a martial artist and about getting a black belt there are some things that really are worth mentioning:

1. Find a place that isn’t solely committed to training fighters. In fact, if you’ve been reading this blog, you know that I recommend you find a school that isn’t at all into fighting or competition.

2. Watch a class. Pay attention to the pace and the faces of the students. Are they being aggressive and competitive or are they being playful and having a good time? If someone accidentally gets bumped in the face (and it happens from time to time) does his partner care? This will give you an indication of the temperament of the school.

3. Meet the instructor. Make sure he’s someone that has time for you. Ask him if he thinks you’re too old or too out of shape or too whatever. If he does, move on. Someone else will be willing to give you the attention that you deserve. Forget about who he/she got his/her black belt from and really whether or not he/she has a black belt yet. First find out if he cares about safety and about people.

4. Some young guys are always acting like they have to prove something. And the older guys are quick to point that out. Make sure you’re not pulling the ol’ Al Bundy* and trying to relive your glory days of when you were a star athlete in high school. Don’t act like a competitive jerk at any age. Don’t try to beat anyone.

5. Start slow and pace yourself. I know you’re excited to learn. And to know more. And to “get good.” But just relax and settle into a rhythm of 2-3 classes a week.

6. Here’s a big one. There will be a lot of students that are a lot younger than you that are your seniors in the martial arts. Give them that respect. Listen to their coaching and their guidance. Chances are, if their instructor has coached them well, they’re right.

Assimilate with the culture of the school and you’ll do just fine. Enjoy your training. It can be incredibly profound and rewarding. It can teach us infinite lessons about life and relating to others. It can help you get into and stay in the best physical shape of your life. And again, starting might seem challenging so just get it over with. The next, and most important, step will be to commit fully to getting your black belt. Oss!

Students gather in anticipation of a Black Belt seminar at Brooklyn BJJ’s 13th Avenue school.

Each month we enjoy seeing students progress in their BJJ practice and watching each school grow as new students join our community. We work hard to make sure classes stay engaging for current students and provide special seminars each month that focus on specific life skills for both our students and the Brooklyn community.

In April not only did we welcome new faces through orientations and leadership training, but we grew our community in Bully Buster  and Women’s Safety seminars. Stay tuned for special seminars coming up in May!

Women's Safety Class - learning how to stay safe with basic training specifically for women.

BBJJ welcomed women from the community to learn about the basics of self-defense.

Our Bully Buster class is designed to prepare kids for how to safely and effectively stand up to bullies, and to avoid confrontation

Practicing the clinch from the over-under tie in a no-gi class.

What should a new student expect from training at BBJJ? Don tells you here.

I always found it incredibly admirable when people are able to turn their biggest challenges into their greatest victories. Many of us have been inspired by stories of Beethoven and his ability to overcome deafness and write some of the world’s most beautiful symphonies.  Closer to home, we’ve been able to watch countless students turn their low self-esteem into an ever-growing positive self-image.

When I was younger I was extremely fearful that I wouldn’t be accepted or worse, rejected.  I thought I wouldn’t be able to make friends or have girlfriends.  I thought people would laugh at me if I tried out for the team and looked foolish or didn’t make it.  I took everything so personally.  If I called someone and they didn’t call me back it was because there was something wrong with me.

A lot of us allow fear to dictate so many of our decisions.  We stay in relationships that lead us down negative paths and we are afraid to risk any level of vulnerability to enter new, good relationships.  It reached a point where if someone was willing to influence me I would let them.  It didn’t matter if they were influencing me in a positive or negative direction.  This led to a series of very poor decisions which left me holding on to my integrity by a thread.  I lied, cheated, and stole in order to avoid being rejected.  This is a recipe for disaster.

Years later, I started to read books, listen to my teachers and train.  I became more and more introspective and I started to witness myself acting almost solely out of fear.  Once I started to see it, I couldn’t NOT see it.  And that gave me the impetus to go to work.  BBJJ gave me the confidence that I didn’t have to do the work alone.  There was a lot of comfort for me knowing that my teachers had my back. So I did what they told me to do- I read more, and I listened more.  I learned to discern who could help me and who might not.

Ultimately, this new path lead me to BBJJ where we can develop the confidence and the direction that we need to continue a positive life.  I’ve been able to swing the pendulum so far in the other direction that I am actually able to BE a positive influence on so many people. I can’t say that I never make decisions out of fear anymore.  But I can say that its rare. And I can look myself in the mirror and know: I turned one of my greatest challenges into one of my greatest victories.

This experience has given me a brand new perspective on challenges.  Challenges have the potential for greatness- not just despair.  I recently dealt with an injury and I immediately looked at how it will eventually add to my Jiu-Jitsu practice and my life rather than detract from it. Professor has always told me that tough times don’t last…tough people do.

New schedule for 13th Ave is here: Schedule 2013.

Need info? Please contact us:

Ave. U: (718) 946-9072
13th Ave: (718) 331-5487
Bay Pkwy: (347) 312-3174
Myrtle Ave: (718) 403-0067
Columbia St.: (347) 799-1960

Blog: brooklynbjj.tumblr.com

Need info? Please contact us here:
Ave. U: (718) 946-9072
13th Ave: (718) 331-5487
Bay Pkwy: (347) 312-3174
Myrtle Ave: (718) 403-0067
Columbia St.: (347) 799-1960

Blog: brooklynbjj.tumblr.com