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ROCIAN GRACIE JR.
When I was a young boy I had a hard time to socialize with people and especially to talk about my ideas, my thing was to be part of a group. So I would go to the school to train but I didn’t see any meaning on that technique. I never learned what they thought and everything looked very difficult. It seemed that the only goal of everyone of my colleagues was to beat me, so they could later look at me from above and say ( I beat a Gracie) To me , since little, training was never a personal matter and I don´t even know why I insisted on going on to the school to train, it looked like everybody thought different then me… but , I was always ended up on the mat (J)
Even though back then, I didn´t understand the essence of jiu-jitsu, I felt that there was a big barrier inside me that blocked me from understanding jiu-jitsu: I didn’t care enough to try to learn… But I blamed myself for not knowing Jiu-Jitsu, this was really frustrating.
When I became 13 years old a new point started in my life, my basic survival became also part of my concerns. I started to value different things; the basic needs of survival became very important and fundamental to me. The hard life situations I lived in taught me to understand the difference between reality and illusion. I was taught harshly at times to learn to distinguish between real and fake.
I tripped, I stumbled but I learned to stand up and walk forward, many times without looking back... I always counted on myself for everything. I found out that these falls and tumbles were from the negative perspective that I was watching.
On the mat, I started to search for answer to my technical and mental doubts and I found out that almost nobody knew about what they were talking about. So , I started to observe and learn by myself without judgment, I begin to realize my own way of fighting, my base, my balance, and I then started to test which moves worked for me.
I never liked to use strength but I discovered that there are moments where strength plus technique is essential to achieve a goal. I also found out that balance is the base and that a negative situation won’t last forever neither will a positive situation, but this great balance in Jiu-Jitsu training is fantastic so Jiu-Jitsu doesn’t become boring and monotonous. Besides that the dynamic of learning Jiu-Jitsu makes us stronger, gives us inner aware, awakens our spirit and develops a fast thinker and in the end helps us on our progression in the art of Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Years later after working hard and earning my Black Belt from my uncle´s own hands Grandmaster Carson Gracie made me feel great. I then went on to teach in Santa Ana and at my brothers Konrado Spillmann’s school in Aliso Viejo were we both trained together for many years and learned so much from each other. I got married and moved back to São Paulo to open an academy to teach.
Each year that goes by I realize newer exciting things. The mat and my students are my teachers. These wonderful lessons I learn everyday in the classroom keeps me motivated and makes me believe in the true power of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. These same powerful lessons I learn every day I use in my daily life. It is these positive lessons and life choices I show to my students and to my beloved Ana Clara and Conrado.
I visit my brother Konrado and his family one to two times a year and he also travels to Brazil often to train with me and my students. I am sure you are in great hands and I know with his vast knowledge in martial arts and positive philosophy you will learn so much. He is a great instructor and caring person towards his students and all that know him. I am sure he will share and teach you my Grandfathers, Fathers and Rocian Gracie Jr. Jiu-Jitsu in a positive powerful exact manner.
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