I started training in 1998 under Professor Marcello Mello, a black belt under Carlson Gracie. I remember my first promotion. It was approximately after a year of training, there was no ceremony, and I did not receive a belt; he looked me and the eyes and said, "next time you come to class, wear a blue belt." These were the good old days. Everything was so different. If you had an attitude, you were kicked out, which usually meant that your bags and clothes were on the street. We were learning crucifix and heel hooks; we were punching each other with gloves while training Jiu-Jitsu, and the energy was so intense. We were all young, and Marcello was preparing for UFC 20. Promoting someone was strictly based on fighting, and it was tough. I was in the perfect place at the ideal time in my life; I was young and ready I had just finished my tour in the Army and was in top physical shape, running five miles and swimming five bays in Rockaway Beach in New York, where I was a lifeguard and doing pull-ups all day long. I thought I was obviously invincible until I entered the mats and learned quickly about what Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was about.
The times have changed drastically, our art has snowballed, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is no longer for those who want to fight and prove themselves. BJJ is a beautiful art form where you have to use every single part of your body and brain; it's about memorization, flexibility, agility, strength, endurance, skills, and discipline. Everyone is training now, from kids to seniors. So how do we test our students' knowledge of this beautiful art? Competition, of course, is one way. Still, only some people want to enter the arena of competition. I have also seen how wrestlers with experience can dominate the competition by executing takedowns and staying defensive. Usually, they get promoted faster than the usual student. I have seen great competitors I asked to perform a simple technique, and they have difficulties performing the move; why is that? I asked myself if they did so well in the competition. Because many factors contribute to winning a match, those include strategy, strength, endurance, agility, and experience in competition. We must remember that regardless of competition, we are practicing a martial art but more important than that, we are sharing knowledge, and you want every one of your students to be a Professor one day. That is what we must focus on. Students must perform the techniques they learned in front of their peers and professors. Executing the techniques in public builds confidence in the student and the professor. It reflects on what the professor is doing at the school and gives the student a sense of accomplishment. I test my students from their first stripe on their white belt. This is my opinion feel free to comment below. Visit our Instagram and Facebook pages @killerbeessouthflorida.
Respectfully,
Professor Andres AKB Association.
