Faixa marron! Brown Belt promotion!

Well I can't believe I'm saying it but I graded to brown belt tonight here in Barcelona at Club Anaconda Jiu Jitsu under Mestre Chen Moraes 8th degree coral belt.

I have worked really hard to get here training and coaching 6 days per week leading up to this moment and now I realise how far away I am from being content with my Jiu Jitsu and how far it has to come to reach black belt level.

I was also tested in teaching a full class and given a brown belt test to complete which was nice showing the class approximately 40 techniques, escapes, attacks and sweeps.

Although saying that, training with a master of the sport at Coral belt really brings home the truth that the black belt is only the beginning.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

My style has now become more direct with an emphasis on taking the finish and maintaining top position all coming from Mestre Moraes teachings under the Luta Livre and grappling expert Mestre Jonas de Silva Olivieras who trained under Roberto Leitao for example.

I'm also happy to say that now I'm considered a true Anaconda after spending 3 years here and having contact for over 4y with the team. This is the first belt I have graded under the Anaconda Jiu Jitsu academy banner and I couldn't be happier with the improvement's and different teaching style I have been shown coming from the Fadda lineage.

Inside and outside of the gym I am trying to set a positive example for the students below me and I recognise my role as coach, teacher and influencer to the new members of our small family.

Although I am glad to say I feel like I have done my time at purple belt which is now over 3 years. I have hundreds of mat hours, improved my conditioning, changed my diet for the better, competed in competitions and have had some memorable moments of winning + losing and this has helped me evolve in to a new better athlete with a positive outlook.

''There are no limits. There are plateaus, but you must not stay there, you must go beyond them. If it kills you, it kills you. A man must constantly exceed his level.''

Brown belt is about attacking more and cut out all the unnecessary fluff from my game.
Cut a movement from 5 steps to 3 and from 3 to 1.
Be direct, Be ruthless and show no mercy!

Now I have something new to work towards, a new challenge lies ahead and new available submissions are at my finger tips to master and to apply in competitions mainly being my favorite - the kneebar.

''Use only that which works, and take it from any place you can find it.''

I am also very grateful for all of my team for sticking by me and giving me the space to grow within the team as a coach and I feel privileged to be considered a role model to my friends and training partners coming up the ranks.

Without you all I would be nothing!