Posts Tagged chris stolzman
Behind The Scenes At USAJJ
Posted by USAJJ in Tournament, USA Jiu Jitsu, seminar on April 5, 2010
USA Jiu Jitsu National Tournament Director, Chris Stolzman, has had a busy month doing a lot of really cool things for Jiu Jitsu.
In the beginning of March, Chris flew out to Los Angeles. There he worked alongside Johnny Ramirez, owner of New Breed Acadamy, rolling out a new series of staff development seminars for four of Johnny’s gyms. Staff from Portland, Chicago and, of course, the L.A. branch were in attendance. While Chris was there, Johnny also officially chartered his school.
While on the west coast, Chris also visited Kazeka Muniz, who has been Chris’s primary coach for the past several years, as well as his good friend. Chris also made Kazeka an official member of the Black Belt Council. And while Chris was there, Kazeka also officially chartered his school. Kazeka Muniz is also flying to England this week in order to run the training camp at the Wolf’s Lair for Rampage, who will be fighting Rashad Evans in an upcoming UFC match.
After Chris finished on the west coast, it was back to D.C. to spend a week organizing the National Tournament. He is trying to arrange airline and hotel sponsors, as well as finalize the venue location. USAJJ is very excited to bring another international level of competition to the U.S.
And while he was here was when we had our visit from Master Behring. Chris was honored to assist Master Behring with the seminar at Fort Meyer for the Level 2 Combatives. Also, Papa John and Matt Larsen are initiating a program to certify all the Level 4 Combatives graduates as Blue belts in Jiu Jitsu, recognition they certainly deserve.
Mark Selbee, Laura Hart, Master Murgel, and Chris Stolzman
From D.C., Chris headed to Atlanta. There he was able to practice with Master Ricardo Murgel at KnuckleUp. Chris was very impressed with the direction Master Murgel has taken the Jiu Jitsu program. Master Murgel’s team has recently won the NAGA Nationals. Master Murgel is also a member of the Black Belt Council and we are excited to have him help drive the future of Jiu Jitsu in America. Master Murgel also agreed to hold a seminar at the NTC in the beginning of May and we are looking forward to that.
Then it was up to Cincinnati to meet with Jorge Gurgel who just opened a new academy in Westchester. They talked about the future of USAJJ and holding the Mid-West regionals in Cincinnati. Now Chris is back in D.C. to finalize the National Tournament.
And with all of this going on, our Director, Chris Stolzman, STILL managed to train at least 3 days a week.
Pictures from Master Sylvio Behring’s Visit!
Posted by USAJJ in USA Jiu Jitsu, seminar on March 27, 2010
Master Sylvio Behring and USA Jiu Jitsu
Master Sylvio Behring visited the National Training Center this week, and it was incredible! Hopefully you were able to come and meet Master Behring for yourself.
It was a busy trip for Master Behring. He and our National Tournament Director, Chris Stolzman, both took a trip to Ft. Meyer and to Ft. Belvoir. At Ft. Meyer, Chris was honored to assist Master Behring in teaching a class on Master Behrings Progressive System to the Army Combatives class.
At Ft. Belvoir, Master Behring was presented with a Challenge Coin by the base commander, Colonel Kevin McKenna.
We had a full turn out for the seminar!
Monday and Tuesday evening’s, Master Behring taught his Progressive System to over one hundred people over both nights. Everyone had a lot of fun, and learned a lot. For those of you who didn’t make it, we will be putting up a video shortly.
We would like to thank everyone who was able to come. But we would especially like to thank Master Behring, and we were honored he was able to visit our Jiu Jitsu organization.
First Details of USA Jiu Jitsu Tournament!
Posted by USAJJ in Tournament, USA Jiu Jitsu on March 25, 2010
Part of the plan for our Jiu Jitsu organization has always been to hold an official USA Jiu Jitsu tournament. And now, that plan
is finally coming to fruition. The first official USAJJ tournament is being held August 7th in Las Vegas!
Commissioner Papa John Gorman, Tournament Director Chris Stolzman, and NTC GM John Eidman have all been working long and hard to get this off the ground and in action. And while many of the details are still being ironed out, we are urging people to start pre-registering now. Many schools and teams have already committed, including New Breed Academy, Behring Jiu Jitsu, and KnuckleUp.
The location for the tournament in Las Vegas has been narrowed down to two venues, and once one is decided on, we’ll be sure to post it immediately. Once we have a better idea of the number of people who will attend, we can work out all the rest of the details.
Also at the tournament, we will be posthumously presenting an award to founder Helio Gracie for his dedication and perserverance in making Jiu Jitsu what it is today.
Sorry for the scant details, but we wanted people to know this is finally happening. So mark your calendars for August 7th, and start training now. The first USA Jiu Jitsu tournament is now official!
Robert Drysdale to Speak with USA Jiu Jitsu
Posted by USAJJ in black belt council on March 9, 2010
Robert Drysdale Talks To Usa Jiu Jitsu
Robert Drysdale is going to do an interview with USAJJ National Director Chris Stolzman! This is an exciting opportunity for USAJJ.
Brazilian-American Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Robert Drysdale has been training and competing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 1998. Robert was born in the USA and then moved to Brazil with his family at the age of 6. As a teenager Robert returned to the USA to attend college in Las Vegas. There he began training with the Lewis-Pederneiras (Nova Uniao) association. It was quickly evident that Drysdale was a natural at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It was during that time in Las Vegas that Robert decided he would dedicate himself fully to the training, competing, and teaching the art of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.
Robert returned to Brazil in 2000 where he lived until 2008. During that 8 year period Robert Drysdale owned and operated a Jiu-Jitsu Academy in the town of Itu, Sao Paulo, Brazil. While in Sao Paulo Robert trained with the Maromba Club and later with team Brasa Jiu-Jitsu Club. His personal commitment to teaching, training, and competing at the sports highest level was absolute. He trained several times per week with his fellow teammates at Brasa Jiu-jitsu club headquartered in downtown Sao Paulo, Brazil. This elite team of world-class Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighters is composed of some of the best black belts in the world. It was at Brasa in 2004 Robert received his black belt from Leo Viera. In 2008 Robert relocated to the USA and is currently teaching and training in the city of Las Vegas, Nevada. Also, USAJJ is honored to have Robert Drysdale on the Black Belt Council.
This is going to be a comprehensive interview, and it’s exclusively with USA Jiu Jitsu.
So check back soon to see it. It’s going to be great!
Seminar With Grandmaster Flavio Behring a Resounding Success
Posted by USAJJ in jiu jitsu grandmaster, seminar on February 22, 2010
GM Flavio Behring & Chris Stolzman at KnuckleUp Atlanta
On January 24th and 25th, “Papa” John Gorman and Chris Stolzman attended a seminar held at USAJJ affiliate KnuckleUp Fitness Atlanta featuring Grand Master Flavio Behring.
Flavio Behring is a 9th degree Red Belt in Jiu Jitsu, a rank he achieved under GrandMaster Helio Gracie himself. He shares that in common with the other three Grandmasters members of the Red Belt Council.
Grandmaster Behring started practicing Jiu Jitsu in 1947 at the age of 10. Training under the tutelage of Helio Gracie, Grandmaster Behring battled childhood illness and at 14 was chosen by Carlos Gracie to represent the school in an international match.
Grandmaster Behring has done technical demonstrations at universities, the Naval Academy in Annapolis and for the FBI to name a few.
Grandmaster Behring has also studied Judo extensively to further strengthen the potential of Jiu Jitsu. In November of 2009, Grandmaster Behring was made a member of the International Red Belt Council, cementing his place at the forefront of the Jiu Jitsu community.
GM Behring and some of the attendees at KnuckleUp Fitness Atlanta
The seminar was a resounding success. Over 100 people attended; it was a full house.
Papa John was honored to provide the introduction for Grandmaster Behring and spoke about the need for strong leadership and how the masters and grandmasters are an integral part of the sport. Grandmaster Behring then talked about the fundamentals of Jiu Jitsu. He demonstrated the specifics of chokes and why they are misunderstood, and also discussed arm bars.
Afterwards, Papa John was able to sit and speak with Grandmaster Behring about the future of the sport, Olympic participation and the role of USAJJ in these endeavors. Hopefully their conversation will lead to new and exciting things in the near future.
If you missed this opportunity to learn from Grandmaster Flavio Behring in Georgia, make sure you see his son Master Sylvio Behring at the NTC in Washington D.C. Master Sylvio Behring is president of the International Black Belt Council and this is a learning experience you shouldn’t miss.
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