"The Ground Is My Ocean, I'm The Shark, And Most People Don't Even Know How To Swim."

I love this quote.

It is hands down one of the most bad ass things to say to a newbie during their first class. I have heard it credited to Rickson Gracie, Renzo Gracie, Royce Gracie, and even Rolls Gracie.

Closer to it's originator (but still incorrect) is Jean Jacques Machado, and Rigan Machado.

Well, I found the source.. I was reading though old Black Belt Magazine issues in Google Books and came across this...

Black Belt Magazine, November 1994, Page 27

The quote is attributed to Carlos Machado and appears on page 27 of the November 1994 issue of Black Belt Magazine in an article about Royce Gracie's take-downs

The full quote is

"After the clinch, it doesn't matter what happens, one way or another, we're going to hit the ground, and we'll be in my world. The ground is my ocean, I'm the shark, and most people don't even know how to swim."

Cool quote... it's even cooler that it is attributed to the right person.

Mike

2012 RCJ Machado CAMP

This years annual Machado Camp is in the greater Dallas area on October 26, 27, 28th

 I didn't get a chance last year to go as I had a scheduling conflict with work (I was in Vegas for our industries trade show.). Our instructor and a handful of teammates went down to support and learn from all five brothers. They all came back looking inspired, more dedicated, and full of new techniques that they subsequently used on me

Check out some of the other "RCJ Camp" posters in my post on the Machado Photo History

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As it was explained to me by a close friend who attended last year, "Each brother is slightly different in their philosophy, focus and "main goal" when it comes to their respective BJJ games". "As the seminar progressed, the five brothers different strengths complimented each other, and provided slightly different perspectives on each technique". I equate what he was saying to the old adage "Five fingers individually, are never as strong as when they work together and form a fist".

The Machado family has a Facebook page set up to help promote the event. "Like" their page to help get this opportunity out to everyone. 

Being able to learn from a group of five world renowned BJJ masters, who are willing to share their insight in BJJ is a pretty special event. I know Jake over at "The Ground Never Misses" is completely stoked

Even with the new baby, and the fact that Jesslyn's birthday is the day before, I will still do everything in my power to attend.

I hope to see you there.

Mike

The Details:

2012 RCJ MACHADO CAMP

Held at RCJ Machado Dallas

4887 Alpha Rd. Ste.#270

Farmers Branch, TX. 75244

For more information, or to register via phone contact MeganThompson at:

214-620-7078

rcjmachadopro@gmail.com 

RCJ Machado Camp Regsitration

$499 Advanced Registration

$599 Week of Camp

Single Day Attendance is Available as well, please call!

Open To All Levels & Belts, 

One Thing Is Asked;

Leave Your Ego At The Door!

Unheard of access to all five brothers who will be sharing the latest techniques and submissions with the following training schedule as well as special dinner with the family.

October 26 (Fri): 9am - 12noon
                            2pm - 5pm
October 27 (Sat): 9am - 12noon

                            2pm - 5pm

October 28 (Sun): 9am - 12noon

Around The "Machado" World This Week...

I have been away to Ohio for a few days. While I was down there, I took the opportunity to train at Jorge Gurgel's MMA. While Professor Jorge is a accomplished MMA fighter and Jiu Jitsu wizard (see season 2 of The Ultimate Fighter), the gym is probably best know as where Rich Franklin trains. I had a blast and will elaborate on my experiences there in a separate blog post. When I came back, I was surprised to find several new videos and news from around the "Machado World"

First and foremost I heard about the news of Joe Rogan's Black belt promotion in 10th planet Jiu Jitsu. 

"I just gave @joerogan his 10th Planet black belt... Here's the pic of @joerogan getting his black belt :)" -Eddie Bravo
 

 

Eddie Bravo presented Joe with his new belt on Tuesday night (June 26th). It was an emotional moment for Joe, and my respect goes out to him. Congratulations.

Joe and Jean Jacques Machado

While not technically a Machado black belt, I know Joe received his brown belt from Professor Jean Jacques, and Eddie Bravo is a two stripe Black bel under Professor Machado. I am a dedicated listener of The Joe Rogan Experience and have really come to enjoy Joe's insight and candor into the world of MMA and jiu Jitsu. 
Joe has the ability to sum up the reasons why I do Jiu Jitsu nicely with rants such as this:

"[There’s] something that my Tae Kwon Do teacher told me when I was a little kid that I never forgot was that Martial Arts are a vehicle for developing your human potential, and nothing in my life has ever put me in face with reality better than Jiu-Jitsu, ‘cause I think in life we can all distort our perceptions of things in order to make ourselves more comfortable, in order to except where we are, and there are a lot of people out there running around life full of s—t. You can’t be full of s—t when you do Jiu-Jitsu,” he said. When you do Jiu-Jitsu, it’s impossible to be full of s—t, because reality comes at you in the purest form possible. A life or death struggle using your determination, your focus, your techniques, your mind, and your training over and over again. And its reality, and if you f—k up, and you get caught in a triangle, you gotta tap and that is the end of the story. It’s as real as it can get, and that has made me a better person. It’s made me a better man, it’s made me understand myself, my weaknesses, my strengths, the s—t I need to work on. Jiu-Jitsu has been one of the most valuable tools that I have ever had in my life.”

You can check the video of his promotion here...

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 My fellow blogger "Jake" over at The Ground Never Misses published an excellent interview with John Will, one of BJJ's "Dirty Dozen". John is a Rigan Machado Black Belt and has some great stories about traveling to Brazil for the first time with Professor Rigan.

Click here to get to read Jake's excellent post and interview, as well as see some cool vintage footage of tournaments.

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It also seems that Jean Jacques Machado  has been traveling and has done another couple of techniques and interview for Jiu Jitsu Mania (a-la-Jits Magazine when Professor Machado came to our school)
 

It is always interesting to hear what Professor Machado is doing and what his opinion is on different topics.

The first technique video goes over a killer "Loop Choke" from Halfguard. My half guard is rarely an offensive position for me, I generally focus all of my energy to passing. I really like this technique and can see some real possibilities, though I feel like surprise is a considerably advantage when trying it out in rolling.

The second technique is a "crucifix" set-up from the butterfly guard. When I watch these techniques, Professor Machado moves so fluid. When I try these techniques, I feel clunky and robotic...something to work on for sure.

Awesome stuff,

Hope you enjoyed it

Mike.

Jean Jacques Machado Interview and Technique

Professor Machado recently came by our school for a seminar (my 4th JJ Machado Seminar...where does the time go?) While he was there he spent some time with Matt and David from Jits magazine giving them an interview about his philosophy on Jiu Jitsu, progression of the students in Canada, and an interesting sweep-to-crucifix when someone is passing your guard...

But first... the seminar photos (faces blurred out of respect for peoples privacy)

The Seminar Begins

Congrats Shihan for a stripe on your Black Belt

I get to be the "Uke"

"The Three Musketeers"

King of the Mountain

Professor Machado goes over our technique questions one by one.

All-in-all a great seminar thanks to Shihan at ACMA for bringing him in, and thanks to Jesslyn for taking these awesome pics (check out her photo blog)