Rustic B. Martial arts and Parkour expert. (Interview)

Rustic Bodomov

Rustic Bodomov has over a decade of experience in martial arts with training specialization in Judo, TKD, Karate, Jiu-Jitsu, and boxing. He also has 7 years of Parkour and freerunning experience. He's been featured on camera in films, television and commercials on numerous occasions. 

How did you get your first paid gig as a stunt person? 

I moved out to Los Angeles specifically to pursue stunt work. Before I moved out, I already had a little bit of screen fighting experience (gained from making videos with my friends), and several years worth of parkour videos I used to make..so I cut together a showreel for myself in order to market myself.

Right after I moved to Los Angeles, I started training at several gymnastics gyms in the area and asking around about where the stunt people trained. After meeting a couple of working stunt people, and making some friends, I was referred to do some tumbling on a music video as a favor for a friend. My first paid stunt job came as another referral after that music video, I was asked to be the main character for this video - https://vimeo.com/40581867

If one wants to break into action movies, do you think it's easier to start out as a stunt person and then become an actor or is it better to go straight into acting?

I don't have a straight answer to this one. Both paths are difficult for their own reasons, I would recommend for the aspiring action actor and/or stuntman to decide which direction you want to go for yourself, then take it. Becoming good at acting, just like stunts, takes hard work and time to get good at. If you want to be an action actor like Jackie Chan, starting with stunts will teach you set etiquette and how a film is run, as well as educate you on how to safely perform your own stunts.. but going directly into acting will start getting you established as a "name" which can be attached to sell a movie.

How many times on average does one have to do a stunt before the director is satisfied with it?

This varies from stunt to stunt, and director to director. If a stuntman is asked to do a high fall, or a similarly large stunt or wreck, everyone will be pushing for only one take. From personal experience, I've only been asked to do a "big" stunt for a maximum of 2-3 takes.

When you get into fight choreography, the amount of takes will start to rise because you have more factors involved (such as a moving camera person, several performers, varying energy levels), and you can start seeing upwards of 5-10 takes per shot. Jackie Chan is known for doing some of his "trick" stunts over 100 times to get it just right!

At what martial arts skill level would you recommend someone to make a showreel of themselves for marketing purposes?

If you are going to be pursuing a career in the action film industry, I'd recommend getting yourself some good looking footage soon. The sooner you have something you can use to get jobs for yourself, the better. If you don't have the ability to create something that accurately reflects your skill, I'd wait until you start working with other people and get enough good footage for a 1 min video (this is a good, short, sweet length for a reel).

Important Side Note!! Martial Arts skill level is not important when it comes to screen fighting skill, and they often times aren't even in the same boat. While Martial Arts will teach you proper body control, and will definitely help you make your Martial Arts style movement look great, you still want to train with some screen fighters in order to make yourself look good on camera. I come from a Martial Arts background, and I struggled for the longest time to be able to translate my skill level to film. (Martial Arts movements tend to be small and efficient, while good-looking screen fighting movements tent to be bigger, more showy, and sometimes aren't even proper technique.

What do you find is the best way to network in the martial arts community?

Honestly, I haven't really networked much with the Martial Arts community. I have made good friends with fellow Martial Artists in the stunt world, but my main networking happens within the stunt community in Los Angeles.

There are several ways to network in the stunt community. Several times a year, different groups of people host "stunt networking" events..and there are several awesome stuntmen who have great training equipment set up in their backyards, and let people come train with them. 

Personally, my favorite way of networking (and where most of my work stems from) is to become a real friend to the people I meet. I try and leave a good first impression while remaining honest to myself. People can usually tell when you're being sincere and open minded, and it will take you far in life. :)

No one teaches Parkour in our area. What's the best way to get started with it?

I also started learning Parkour when there were no gyms or instructors around! There are plenty of online resources for learning various parkour moves safely (I learned almost everything from YouTube), and you don't need to leave the ground (aka go on roofs) to learn how to do every type of movement!

My advice is, don't be afraid, get out there and start moving around and have fun! If you'd like a starting point, check out how to do a parkour roll 

What kind of diet do you have to keep up your strength and stamina?

I don't follow any set diet plan, but I do try and keep my food intake clean. This means that on a good week, I will stay away from any bread, fried or processed food. I don't drink soda. I try to eat as many green vegetables as I can, along with a good source of protein (chicken, beans, etc). Greek Yoghurt and Chick Peas are amazing too... I might be getting too particular here, but my basic nutritional philosophy is to stay away from anything processed, deep fried, or carbonated. It just feels so good to eat clean!

What projects are you currently working on that can we can look forward to in the future?

I'm currently helping produce my first feature film, called "Boone: The Bounty Hunter", which stars my friend John Hennigan (aka, WWE's Johnny Nitro).

Also, I just doubled one of the main actors on "SMOSH: The Movie" which comes out later this year/early next, and I'm waiting on a couple of VFX-heavy projects I starred in last year to be finished. My side project for the time being is my youtube channel.

Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers?

You've probably heard this before, but it's true.. only you can do anything you set your mind to! I've learned time and again that the secret for creating success in anything you set out to do is to do it with a positive attitude and to really invest in yourself with hard work. What would the future, successful you be doing right now? Training? Writing? Filming? Be the person you see yourself being in the future, today! 

Thank you very much for your time, and for asking such great questions guys! :)

Interview with Monty Hendrix

TaeKwonDo

Master Monty Hendrix is the Founder and Owner of Essential Martial Arts.  Master Hendrix is a published author and his column "The Essentials" is currently featured in each issue of the international martial arts magazine, "TaeKwonDo Times," (sold at Barnes and Noble).  Master Hendrix holds the rank of 7th Dan Black Belt in TaeKwonDo, 4th Degree Master in HapKiDo and is a Full Instructor in Contemporary Jeet Kune Do. He also has 10 years of experience in Philippine Martial Arts and several years actively training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu/Submission grappling.

Which of your accomplishments means the most to you? Why?

I don't really think about life in terms of accomplishments as much as I enjoy the journey. I have a room full of major championships along with belts and certificates but I feel my greatest accomplishment is seeing a student make a personal improvement - on or off the mat - and then having them come back to me and say our martial arts program helped them make it possible. 

You hold a black belt or instructor level in numerous martial arts. What are the strengths and weaknesses of each? Which one do you recommend people start with?

All arts have strengths and weaknesses.  However, these strengths and weaknesses are different for each person.  I like the diversity of HapKiDo. I like the aggressive nature of Jeet Kune Do. I like the softness of Tai Chi. I like the extreme nature of the knife and stick and I like the simplicity and work out of traditional Taekwon-Do.  The weakness of any art is held within the personal limitations of the individual studying that art. 

When do you advocate for a child to fight back against a bully at school? Many schools have taken on the policy to suspend anyone participating in fighting even if it's self defense? 

When the other option is to be injured physically.  The rules are secondary if bodily harm becomes imminent. 

It seems systems like BJJ and Jeet June Do do not have forms. However, systems like Taekwondo feel they are instrumental? So, how important are forms if some awesome systems don't use them?

Forms are simply a set of combinations along with a method of solo training that is handed down from instructor to student in order to build: Technical ability along with physical fitness and mental discipline.  Nothing more and nothing less.  All legitimate fighting systems have combinations and solo training drills that build these attributes.  Some use formal "sets" and some use a hanging bag, while others simply use mat space.  It is up to the individual to find a system and training method that suits them physically and mentally.  

When we go to tournaments we see young kids with black belts. We also hear people speaking negatively about it. What is your take on young kids being awarded black belts?

I can not criticize how anyone trains their students. Each system has different emphasis. So, that system may or may not be appropriate or feasible for a young person to meet certain training goals and make milestone achievements.  I have styles such as HapKiDo, Knife Fighting, Jeet Kune Do and Tai Chi that children are not allowed to even participate.  In our Taekwon-Do program, an individual must be at least 16 years old to achieve a full ranking black belt. Below that age they can only earn a "junior" status black belt. I do this because I have no personal desire to train a child the same way we would train an adult.  Therefore the black belt designation must be different for us.  

Critics claim there is little or no punching in TKD. Is this so? 

There is little punching seen in Olympic style TKD sparring b/c of the rules.  However, I have seen many Olympic TKD stylist perform incredible feats of breaking with the hands. Additionally I have seen their forms and they have a full arsenal of hand techniques.  However, we only teach traditional Taekwon-Do.  The system we teach has many more hand techniques than kick techniques and hands and feet are both often and regularly used to score in sparring both to the body and to the head.  The confusion for non TKD stylist is that both branches of TKD teach powerful kicks as well as spinning and jumping kicks.  These kicks are very dynamic visually so I believe some people outside of the TKD community believe TKD must only be kicking b/c kicks are the hallmarks of the style.  I could see this being an innocent mistake.  

Why do we see so many Jeet Kune Do experts also specialize in Kali or a type of Philippine Martial Arts?

You see this a lot b/c both systems involve hand traps at close quarters. Also, JKD does not actually use weapons so FMA is a great way to learn the stick and knife for any stylist.  

What changes do you see happening in modern martial arts? What are  your thoughts on them?

I think you will see martial arts continuing to spread. Some people will continue to love the traditional arts. Some will love the self defense systems. Some will love the diverse and mixed systems while others will enjoy the systems that teach fitness and relaxation. With the Internet being such a large part of our lives now, I see more people becoming aware that there is a martial art out there for everyone.  As a result of that you will also see more martial arts schools opening up and probably closing down. Just because you love something doesn't mean everyone will love it. Just because you can "do" something doesn't mean you can teach it. So buyer beware.  

How to do you insure all 3 of your schools get enough personal attention?

We have a full staff of professional certified black belts at each location.

Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers?

Train hard and enjoy the journey no matter what art or arts you train.  All arts have something to offer. Don't let anyone tell you differently.  I believe there is no BEST art but there might be a best art for YOU !  Just remember not to disrespect what is the best for someone else on your path of discovery.  

Thank you Master Hendrix for your valuable time and well thought out answers.

Interview with Nicolas Gregoriades - Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Nicolas Gregoriades - Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Nicolas Gregoriades is an expert in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and owner of Jiu-Jitsu Brotherhood. He was the first person to be awarded a black belt by Roger Gracie. He was featured in Martial Arts Illustrated in 2009 and has won the following competitive titles:  

Paris Open Champion
(2006)

London Open Champion
 (2005)

ADDC-UK Champion
(2006)

S. African National Grappling Champion (2005), Grappler of the Year – France (2007), Gracie Invitational Champion (2006, 2007), Absolute Submission Fighting Winner (2008, 2009), British Open Grappling Champion (2009), Abu-Dhabi Pro European Qualifier (2010), British Open Champion (2012)

BKO Kung Fu: You started with Submission wrestling (after Judo) when you couldn't find Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training in South Africa. What is the difference between the two?

The major difference is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is usually practised in a 'Gi' or 'Kimono', whereas Submission Wrestling is usually performed in shorts and a t-shirt (or rashvest).

BKO: Were you the first black belt with Roger Gracie because you were one of the first to train with him or were you just so dedicated you bypassed everyone else? What made the difference. 

Nicolas: That's a difficult question. I think it was a combination of the two. I focused all my mental and physical resources on jiu jitsu when I was training with Roger, and it allowed me to progress quickly. 

BKO: You have been an instructor at some of the best schools in England. Why did you decide to branch out on your own?

Nicolas: Despite all I learned from Roger, It's the natural progression of things to want to branch out on your own. If nobody did that then their would be no progression or evolution. Roger has done the same by creating his own organisation after his time with Gracie Barra.

BKO: Very few people would deny that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the foremost self defense style in the world today. Do you feel it is still important to cross train in other martial arts to be a well rounded fighter? What system do you feel would compliment BJJ the most?

Nicolas: Absolutely vital. Jiu jitsu represents only a part of the repertoire a person requires to be able to consider himself a complete martial artist. I believe the best compliments for jiu jitsu are wrestling, boxing and Muay Thai.

BKO: In your interview at http://athletego.com/2013/05/17/nicolasgregoriades, you state relaxation is a major key to a beginner’s progress. How would you recommend someone to relax when the rest of their day before class is all chaos?

Nicolas: The best way to relax is to change your breathing. When is slows down and becomes deep and even, the body relaxes. 

BKO: How do you manage your time between traveling the world, giving seminars, training and teaching?

Nicolas: It's tough! God has blessed me with the time and freedom to do this, so I owe it to him to make most of it. 

BKO: You promote yoga quite a bit. What can someone expect from their first few months of Yoga? What if they are someone who does not exercise?

Nicolas: It's dependent on their current levels of athleticism and fitness. But almost everybody will notice improved flexibility and an increased sense of well-being after a few months of consistent practise.

BKO: Tell us more about your Podcast.

Nicolas: The Journey is a show hosted by my close friend Paul and I. We discuss all aspects of the human experience and life in the modern world. We also have unique and accomplished guests who share their perspectives. You can listen to it here: www.thejourneypodcast.com 

BKO: Thank you for taking the time to answer our question. We look forward to following your career. 

Ian Schaffa Interview. Ellite MMA fighter from Australia

Ian Schaffa Suplex

Ian Schaffa has earned a formidable reputation in Japan and Australia. His achievements include:

XFC World Champion, Austral-Asian Vale Tudo Champion, Bronze Medalist at the 1999 Australian National Greco-Roman Wrestling Championships, 2 x Kickboxing Champion, 2 x Full Contact Karate Champion, Ranked top 10 Australian Boxing, Ranked top 10 Australian Kickboxing. He holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a black belt in Kyokushin

BKO Kung Fu: As a profession fighter for 10 years, what tips would you give yourself when you first stated if you could go back in time?

Ian:  Don't listen to negative people.
         Believe in your ability. Practice.
         Dream big.

BKO: What's your best training technique to get better at blocking?

Ian: Have people come at you with different attacks and get used to it. Practice defending. 

BKO: Do you feel fighting against as many different styles as possible has given you unique insight? How so?

Ian: Having to train for different styles in a short period of time taught me to adapt very quickly and perform.

BKO: Where there anything that caught you off-guard when you started to fight in Japan? How did you adjust?

Ian: The Japanese culture caught me of guard. I wasn't used to alot of things. Japanese food, language, etiquette etc but i quickly learned.

BKO: We read about your drinking and fighting in the past? What would you tell someone who does this also?

Ian: If it's caused by personal issues, maybe see a professional to get those issues dealt with. Aim to change your focus. If you can successfully drink and have street fights, then you can use the same amount of energy succeeding in something a little more positive.

BKO: Did you run away from home when you were younger? What was that about?

Ian: Yes, I was a troubled teenager. I had personal issues that had to be dealt with. I held alot of anger and did not know how to deal with it. 

BKO: How did you overcome your anger issues?

Ian: I found something new to focus on and channel my anger through.

BKO: We understand you have a huge interest in helping others less fortunate. Are you currently working on any projects in this field? How can others help?

Ian: Yes I have been visiting a group of homeless people for the last couple of years. I make food and share it with them. They are very grateful. They make me happy. I am not asking for any help directly although if you do know of someone that is less fortunate that requires help please give.

BKO: What are you goals for the next 10 years?

Ian: My main goal for the next 10 years is to continue to grow my business. I want us to be the leading program in the Australian fitness industry.

BKO Kung Fu: We look forward to seeing this happen and wish you all the luck. 

Be sure to visit http://mmaxfit.com.au/ to find out more about Ian's fitness business. 

Interview with BJJ Blackbelt Jeff Messina

Jeff Messina is a well-known and respected expert in the world of mixed martial arts. His impressive wins in professional MMA fights help to prove it. He has trained with legends like Tito Ortiz, Fransico Albuquerque, and Rodrigo Medeiros to name a few. He has spent time training in the home lands of BJJ and Muay Thai; bringing his knowledge back to share in the United States. He currently owns 3 successful MMA training centers and is consistently involved with the training at all levels. (Expanded Bio)

BKO Kung Fu: Jeff, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer our questions today.

You have traveled to Brazil to train in Jiu-Jitsu and have traveled to Thailand to train in Muay Thai. We have noticed some other martial artist do this also? Do you believe this helps in a martial artist career? Why?

Jeff: Traveling to the homeland of BJJ and Thai boxing is a great experience to learn from the source and get the history and culture of your martial arts. I'm lucky to have spent the last 10 years going back and forth to train and compete in Rio. My coach has a gym in Rio Called Nova Geracao. I'm actually going next week. I feel privileged to be part of my team. The team is a close knit group and full of integrity with skilled fighters.  It helps to put yourself among others that are just as serious about training as you are and to get away from your routine and daily distractions; to just focus on your training.  When I first started, getting quality training was hard here. So, I went to the source.

Jeff Messina Highlight Reel

BKO: What do you wish more people knew about BJJ?

Jeff: I wish more people knew BJJ is a culture and a lifestyle that is for everyone and will help anyone and much more than they could understand. There's no other martial art as effective or life changing as BJJ. It takes the longest to master but is the fastest to become very effective in. I have seen BJJ change people and even save people’s lives.  There is no realistic martial arts without bjj period. Other styles must incorporate bjj to become effective, not the other way around.

BKO: What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment in martial arts? Why does it stand out over everything else?

Jeff: I have many good memories from competing in bjj. I feel the best ones haven't come yet but probably the one that sticks out is when I won the IBJJF nationals at brown belt in the absolute category, submitting all 3 opponents, and then receiving my black belt from my coach Rodrigo Medieros on the Podium.

BKO: Tell us about your school in Katy, Texas? What can people expect if they want to become students?

Jeff: I have 3 schools; one in Katy, one in downtown Houston and we just opened one in Richmond/fulshur. A student can expect the highest quality instruction and training in a family environment. You will be adopted into my family and feel important no matter what your goal is.

BKO: What is the hardest thing about leading a martial arts school? How do you deal with it?

Jeff: I would say the hardest thing about running a martial art school is the business side. Keeping people motivated to not give up. Real martial arts are tough and the reward is slow in regards to belts. Most people give up when the going gets tough, not just in bjj but in life. Those who are successful in bjj are usually successful in their personal lives or will become so because of what bjj can teach you.

BKO: Do you train any professional fighters that are actively fighting? Can you name a few?

I have several tough MMA fighters. I would say my top two pro fighters are Domingo Pilarte and Larry Crowe. I have been training Domingo since he was a teenager. He's very talented and dangerous in all areas. Larry is also very dangerous and has huge potential. In addition, I have several great amateur fighters such as Perry Scott, Quetin Kiper and Colby and Sage Northcutt. I have many more that will be making their debut shortly.

BKO Kung Fu: Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers?

Jeff: Come give us a try, I will change your life for the better. www.revolutiondojo.com

Interview with Sergio Silva BJJ

Master Sergio Silva has been studying Martial Arts for over 30 years. He specializes in Muay Thai, Judo and BJJ. His list of achievements in competition is impressive to include: 1st Place at the 2012 International Championships SFO Open - Black Belt Medium Heavy division, 2nd place at 2011 US Open Championships Heavyweight and Previous Southern Brazil National Champion.

Brandon: What inspired you to get in Martial Arts?

Sergio: Martial arts was something that I was introduce too at an early age; (3yrs old). My uncle was a black belt and a teacher at a Judo school in Brazil. My dad used to take me to the Judo class and just drop me off while he would go to work. After getting my green belt in Judo, I ended up stopping for a while. Then when I was about 13 years old, I got to watch a guy get into a fight on the street against a much smaller skinny guy that knew BJJ. The skinny guy took the big guy down and took his back without using force or throwing one punch or kick. It was amazing. I could not believe that a small person could take such a bigger and strong fighter without the use of excessive force but the little guy did it without any problems. I asked the skinny guy, what does he practice? He told me, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Brandon: What does it take to become a black belt in BJJ? How many black belts have you promoted?

Sergio: To become a BJJ Black Belt it takes a lot of patients. You must train and be able to perform the techniques properly in real sparring sessions. You must have a game plan and a strategy in all areas-Guard, Guard pass, side control, mount position, submissions and defenses. To get a black belt you must master all this areas really well.

Brandon: What is your favorite submission hold and why?

My favorite submission hold is the Kimora with a transition to the bow & arrow choke. I love the transition and it fits very well in my game.

Brandon: If you had to pick a fighting style that would be the most difficult for a BJJ expert to defend against, what would it be and why?

Sergio: Wrestling-They are very similar then BJJ and most of us that fight wrestlers usually… they are hard work with tons of intensity.

Brandon: Do you still practice Capoeira? Why is it effective?

Sergio: I stopped practice Capoeira a long time ago (When I was 17 years old).I love the art of Capoeira a lot. It taught me a cunning way to hit someone. Capoeira is effective for given you the opportunity to hit someone without exposing yourself too much. It’s cool to dance and hit people at the same time.

Brandon: What can one expect when attending a BJJ tournament?

Sergio: Expect a lot of excitement and of course fun.

Brandon: What inspired you to compete in the Pan American Championships?

Sergio: The desire to be a champion

What was the toughest challenge you ever faced? How did you overcome it?

Sergio: The toughest challenge is to be a dad. I provided the best for my family.

Brandon: Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers?

Sergio: Never give up on your dreams. Always stay positive even when things are not good and everyone around you is negative. Be very careful who you surround yourself with. Be friends with smarter people than you and always be positive!

Find out more at http://www.teamsilvabjj.com/

Master Silva, we appreciate the time you have taken out of your busy schedule to answer our questions. We look forward to following your team on Youtube and Facebook.

Read our latest post at BKO Kung Fu

Interview with Sigung Kelly Corder - Kajukenbo

Sigung Kelly Corder is a 7th degree black belt in Kajukenbo. He runs Kajukeno Arizona, a successful MMA school, in Arizona. He continues to develop his skills by learning new martial arts styles and training with some of the best MMA fighters in the world. He has earned a Pit Black Belt from John Hackleman and is currently training to receive his black belt in BJJ. He has been requested to teach seminar not only all over the United States but in multiple countries as well.

Sigung Kelly Corder Breaking a "ton" of bricks

Brandon: You teach Kajukenbo. On your site, you say this is like street Karate. Why is this different than Classroom Karate?

Kelly: Kajukenbo was formed as a street defense system.  Each black belt brought their techniques and they were examined for real world application.  Basically, they took the best and threw away the rest.  One example is the use of wrist locks and other small joint maneuvers.  Perhaps a larger defender can "muscle" an opponent down but smaller, older students need sure fire ways to beat anyone of any size.

Brandon: I understand you started training with regular Kenpo than you started learning Hawaiian Kenpo. What are the differences?

Kelly: Kajukenbo quite simply offered more. Kenpo is a huge part of what Kajukenbo is about. However, adding Judo, Jiu Jitsu, Kung Fu and Karate makes it very well-rounded.

Brandon: Congratulations on your achievement of becoming a seventh degree black belt. What does it take to move through each black belt level.

Kelly: I am under Grandmaster George Lim. His requirements include time and dedication to Kajukenbo and our Ohana and representing Kaju as our founders expected. I also recently received my PIT Black Belt Level One under Kumu John Hackleman. For him, it is about technique, time and physical ability.

Brandon: Walk us through what a first year student can expect under your training.

Kelly: Our classes are multi-level so a beginner will work with all levels.  We recommend training twice a week for material retention and fitness.  A new student can expect with diligent attendance and practice, to achieve the level of orange belt or orange/purple. The student can also expect to gain confidence in pushing themselves outside their comfort zones, be able to begin to defend themselves and also be more physically fit and generally happier.

Brandon: Tell us about your training experience with Chuck Liddell. Did you learn anything?

Kelly: Chuck is an amazing fighter and huge part of the PIT. He is a soft-spoken, loyal man. So, he practices what he preaches. He has demonstrated to me that with determination and dedication, anything is possible.  (Check out his book for more insight on Chuck).

Brandon: Can you tell us about your visit to Portugal?

Kelly: It's always an honor to be asked to teach in Portugal.  The Portuguese people are so giving and appreciative of all they receive.  I love going to not only spend time with them teaching my style but learning what they have to offer.  It's an action packed 3-4 days but totally worth it!

Brandon: What three goals do you hope to accomplish in the next 10 years in Martial Arts?

Kelly: I plan to open more schools to share my passion of Kajukenbo with more people in Arizona.  I intend to continue learning and to earn my BJJ Black Belt.  I will continue to support my mentors and instructors to the best of my ability and honor my Kaju lineage.

Brandon: Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers?

Kelly: Martial arts can and will improve all areas of your life.  Kajukenbo has done that for me and I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to share Kaju with my family, friends and Ohana.

Interview with Christy Thomas BJJ

Christy Thomas is the first female black belt in Relson Gracie’s Organization. Relson Gracie is credited for helping develop Gracie or "Brazilian" Jiu Jitsu. BJJ is arguably the most popular martial art style in the last 20 years.

Brandon: Since Royce Gracie won 3 of the 4 first UFC tournaments, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has really taken off. Why did you choose to learn BJJ over everything else and why would you recommend it over other systems?

Christy: Frankly, I got into this martial art/sport/lifestyle due to my boyfriend (at the time) and his involvement. A short time after getting into the classes, I was hooked. It was the practicality and the fact that you can see, learn, and then apply. You can find out what you can or cannot do and fix or better your technique. I recommend Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, hands down for the function, effectiveness and ease in which someone can get into it and absorb information. Since the application is immediate and with an instructor and peers present to assist, the fear factor and rigidity is removed from the learning environment. 

Brandon: We know true Martial Artists respect your achievement for becoming the first female Black Belt in Relson Gracie’s organization. Have you been discriminated against for owning a Jiu-Jitsu school by others?

Christy: Well, let’s just say - not to my face. I don’t know if anyone has any issue with me being a female and running a school that I own and am the primary instructor. In my honest opinion, I would think someone weak for thinking that way and pity them for the hardships they must face in life otherwise.

Brandon: How would you deal with this if it came to your attention?

Christy: If this issue were brought to my attention, I'd most likely feel sorry for someone's insecurity or assumption of my potential but ultimately I'd have to respect their decision.

Brandon: You mentioned you have had to use Jiu-Jitsu in real life before. How do you size up an unknown opponent?

Christy: I don’t necessarily think I size anyone up & they are not automatically less dangerous from lack of size. If a person wants to initiate any type of control or attack, it doesn't matter the sex or size. It’s already a self-defense situation no matter what the issue may be.

Brandon: Let’s say someone is looking for a Gracie affiliated school. How can they find one in their area?

Christy: These days, the internet is the best option. I have a lot of students who travel and ask the same thing. We try to go to our own association and when we can’t we look for the best option. I would use Google first and type in BJJ and your locale, FaceBook is fine too since so many people have place pages now. Relson has his associations listed on www.RelsonGracie.com

Brandon: If they can’t find one, how can they determine which school is best?

Christy: What I suggest is to figure out (by asking or on their website) who is the actual top tier instructor of any organization. You can then research them and their affiliates and credentials, etc. You can also ask someone higher ranked or well traveled what their opinion of someone may be. There are frauds so the best bet is to ask questions until you are satisfied. If the answers to your questions don’t come or if things get weird, move on.

Brandon: Do you plan on competing in additional tournaments in the future?

Christy: I love competing and I will most likely do many tournaments in the future.

Brandon: How do you decide which ones are worth your time and money?

Christy: I see tournaments as a sporting event. There are risks/dangers and there are events that want to be extreme to seem cool and get people excited. I look for quality events and I prefer the ones without a money prize.

Brandon: Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers?

Christy: It's my opinion that Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is the best empty handed street self-defense system available. It’s a fantastic idea to get yourself, family and friends into. We accommodate all ages, sizes & experience levels.

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. We look forward to following your career at http://www.facebook.com/christy.thomas.3956