I had the pleasure of teaching the first half of a seminar with Michael Jen. This was a great opportunity for me, as I had the chance to do what I love (teach) and do more of what I love (train) in the same day. Michael Jen is by far one of the most technical instructors I have ever had the pleasure of training with. Everything he showed was simple, yet highly effective. He took plenty of time to help each student (including me!).

Everything went so well, I have decided to bring Michael in for another seminar in January of next year. All those who wish to attend should email me ASAP and start making travel arrangements.

Here is what some of the participants had to say about it:

• "Gene, I just wanted to send you a quick note of thanks for hosting Michael Jen for a seminar and thanks as well for your great instruction during the first half of the seminar! Please keep me on an email list for future seminar notification. - Bill Cogswell"
• "Gene, Thanks for letting me attend the seminar. I had a great time and learned alot. You guys are both great instructors. - Gary"
• "In my 15 years or martial arts training, this was probably the best seminar I have attended, from a techniques learned standpoint." Greg Davis (GD the Train)

For most of August, and part of September, I was living and working in Kansas City, Missouri. It's an interesting place, but not really any more special than anywhere in the Midwest. The city is noticeably divided into well to-do sections, business districts, and the ghetto. This isn't unique at all, but certainly not what I was expecting when I set out to travel there.

Lucky me, I was designated to spend my days in the historic Northeast (a.k.a. the ghetto), working for the government, getting to know the people, and ultimately participating in (not to mention getting racially profiled at) numerous September 11th commemorative programs throughout Kansas City. Northeast Kansas City is not wildly dissimilar to Poughkeepsie. It's a wasteland where many people have abandoned hope for lives of crime or drugs. Men with missing limbs and women with a price tag on their zippers are everywhere to be found. Perhaps most depressing is the condition of the children, who daily have to battle with substandard education and a life of poverty. Apathy glows in some of their eyes as does the sad resignation to the notion that they'll never escape. It's a notion I've seen in the eyes of many people I've encountered throughout my life. It's a notion I've even caught in my own eyes at times. One of the programs I was working with was helping "at-risk" youth find alternatives to a life on the street by providing tutoring and educational assistance to them in the after-school hours.

Now kids and I don't always jibe. Despite the Peter Pan ideals I coveted as a child, I lost touch with that innocence a long time ago. Kids smell. They yell and scream for no reason. They pay no attention when you talk to them. They get an attitude with you like they know what they're talking about when they're really nothing more than a glorified piece of blue sky. Yet and still, they are our future. They are the savage little monsters that will someday become the crotchety old men and women that perpetuating the nursing home industry. For whatever warped reason, when I was a kid, I always wanted to be treated like an adult (to an extent) and so, I tend to talk to kids as if they were adults. This doesn't mean that I sling invectives at them and tell dirty jokes, but just that I expect a certain degree of responsibility and maturity from them (absurd, I know) and I occasionally insult them in an…endearing way. So what could a juvenile misanthrope like myself give a bunch of snotty-nosed kids who don't care much about anything anyone has to tell them that they haven't heard or gotten bored with already?

Grappling.

I reasoned, "hey, if I can't talk sense into them, at least I can put them in leg locks." The first batch of kids I dealt with were a pain. One kid in particular kept talking and making WWF references. I smiled wryly and let the sadist in me out. It's permissible as a government employee. But there were at least two kids who were really into what I was showing them. Both of them were middle schoolers and seemingly mature enough to handle what was going on. I set up a curriculum full of basic techniques all having to do with positions and no submissions. I wanted to gauge the level of responsibility in these children before I started teaching them how to maim or kill one another. The only submissions I wound up showing them were self defense techniques. You know, the ones that only work if you're attacked a certain impractical way. But, for the most part, I just showed them the upa, the escape drill, the sit-out, the mount, side-mount, guard, and rear-mount. I rolled with them myself and tapped them out at will for kicks, but didn't bother to explain what I was doing because I didn't want anyone accidentally arm-barring their little sister in a fit of rage.

A couple weeks later, I ran into one of the kids I'd been training again. I asked him how he was doing and he told me, without missing a beat: "I had to use what you showed me last time." I paused and stared at him for a moment, finished up another conversation and then pulled him aside. He proceeded to explain to me that he was outside with his sister and another boy when the boy suddenly got angry about something and called his sister "the B word." Like any red-blooded male, he got in the boy's face and told him to apologize. The boy pushed him and he fell. The boy proceeded to pounce on him, but instinctively, he bridged and rolled, mounting the boy. He then just stayed stable, holding him down and not throwing a single punch. After he told me this, he mentioned how I'd told him the importance of controlling the opponent as a means of winning the fight. He then proceeded to tell me the fight ended when his mom came outside and asked what was happening, causing everyone to jump up and pretend to be friends (and isn't that always the way?).

When I look back at all the techniques I've learned, all the people I've tapped out, and all the amazing feats grappling has made me capable of, none of them measure up to this story. I could beat Rickson Gracie to a pulp and then go twelve rounds with Mike Tyson (two things that'll never happen) and still not be as happy as I was when I heard that little tale. Not only did I help save a kid from a beating, but I also awakened in him the principle of control, even when dealing with something as primal as fight or flight. For once in my life, beyond a shadow of a doubt, I've made a difference. And I didn't do it by being a sneering intellectual or an uncompromising brow-beater. I did it simply by sharing what I know. Keep this in mind next time some "punk kid" walks into your school or even by on the street. You never know who you could change. Happy Halloween and no matter what, keep on rollin'…

Diami J. Virgilio
August, 2002
kneeblock@yahoo.com

It is a honor to announce that my Prof.Roberto Correa(Gordo) will be conducting a seminar in Va Beach on October 5th.

WHO:
Roberto ( gordo) Correa
3rd degree black belt-Gracie barra

WHERE:
GRACIE BARRA-VA Beach-VA
1933 VA Beach Blvd. suite 101
Virginia Beach-VA - 23454

WHEN:
Saturday, October 5th - 2002.
11:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M.

COST: $60.00

Private classes are also available! Contact me for more info. graciebarrava@hotmail.com gustavojjmachado@hotmail.com or call me at 757-4772008.

Don`t miss this chance!

Sincerely
Gustavo Machado
Head Instructor
Gracie Barra-VA Beach
www.gmachado.com
www.graciebarra.com.br

FIGHTERS WANTED!

The SportFighting Mixed Martial Arts Championships will take place Saturday, November 9th, 2002 at Marist High School in Bayonne, New Jersey.

Event information:

The event's rules and regulations have been approved by The New Jersey State Athletic Control Board and Mr. Larry Hazzard. For complete rules and the current line-up, go to: http://www.Grapplers.com

General Admission and Ringside Tickets will be available (after October 1st online) in the Grapplers.com Store and at-the-door.

Want to Fight?

We are looking for all weights and skill levels for the November 9th card in New Jersey. If you or someone you train with is interested in participating in the debut of SportFighting, please send a complete fighter resume (name, mailing address, training academy and style, experience, if any, etc.) Please email me your complete fighter resumes to: President@Grapplers.com

Upcoming Grapplers Quest Supported Events:

Visit: www.roycegracie.tv. Look bottom right and click on Joe Hurst BJJ Academy And/Or go to www.imppro.com/joesdojo

For more information: JOE HURST at jiujitsujoe@hotmail.com or GARRETT BARGER at gbtroopr@hotmail.com

2002 Relson Gracie U.S. Nationals

Date:       October the 26th, 2002
Location:   Greater Columbus Convention Center
            Columbus, Ohio 43215
            614-645-5000

The 3rd Annual Relson Gracie U.S. Nationals is one of the most prestigious and competitive Jiu-Jitsu/Submission tournaments in the United States. This years competition will feature an amateur Gi and No-GI format. Winners from the amateur No-Gi competition will qualify for the Professional Arnold Schwarzenegger World Gracie Submission Competition, which will be held in late February 2003. The top 3 teams will be awarded cash prizes and trophies with individual competitors receiving Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.

Online Registration and information will be available on October the 20th by going to www.gracienationals.com

All inquires should be directed to gracienationals@aol.com or Call 614-238-3662

Weigh-ins and Registration will be conducted on October the 25th, 2002 at the Columbus Downtown Red Roof Inn-Located directly across from the Columbus Convention Center.

THE BEST RUN TOURNAMENT IN THE MIDWEST

Saturday, November 2nd
Earle Brown Heritage Center:
Carriage Hall A
6155 Earle Brown Drive, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430

Pre-Registration Fee: BJJ $25.00 Submission Wrestling $25.00 Both $40.00 (Payment must be received by Friday 10/18/02) Add $15.00 per division after 10/19/02

1st, 2nd, 3rd Place Medals, Team Trophy, National Recognition

Sponsored and Endorsed by:
Zebra Mats
Pedro Sauer Jiu-Jitsu

Brought to you by
Minnesota Martial Arts Academy
1916 57th Avenue North, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
For Tournament info and to Pre-Register contact (763) 560-5696
Or go to: www.mmaacombatzone.com

HOTEL INFO: AMERICINN BROOKLYN CENTER
(763) 566-7500 or 1-800-634-3444
Discount Rate for tournament $69.00 per night