Posted on May 3, 2008 - by Jim Hughes

Congratulations to Royce Gracie Black Belt Jim Hughes!

A note from New England Chief Instructor, Jim Hughes, regarding his promotion to Black Belt by Royce Gracie:

“Yep, its true. Some of you were there to see it. Royce promoted me to black belt.

I really feel this is an acknowledgment of our collective work together as Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu coaches and students. When Royce promoted me he said “its been a long road Jim.” It really has.

Obviously, no one achieves any type of meaningful success without very good people around them. So, thank you each of you for being part of the making of this promotion. I appreciate your help and support along the way very much. There is a little bit of this black belt in you and you in it.

The weekend was very trying for everyone involved. Coaches came from all over the world to train at Jeremy’s new school near DC. Things were especially tuff for my family at home. Judy and the girls were all sick while I was gone. I was sick also during the training. I basically forced myself through it. But, it seems that there was, and is, more at work here than one’s individual will power alone.

Our families and friends put up with a lot because of our way of life. So thank you to each of your family members and friends for enduring the ride on the “Gracie Train.” It is that sea of support for which I am most grateful. With that in mind, it is important for me to acknowledge my Athletic Trainer, Perry Siegel, who I sometimes like to call “The Human MRI Machine.” Perry is guiding me through a serious injury and has helped me to avoid surgery. He has helped me keep going when there were many good reasons to quit. I can carry my children, teach, and train because of Perry’s care and investment in me (and in our network of schools and people throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, New England and beyond).

Obviously, I am deeply appreciative of Royce Gracie and his father, Grandmaster Helio Gracie; Rolker Gracie; Royler Gracie; and Rodrigo Gracie. Also, to Rolls Gracie, who I have only met once in a dream, and who I experience as having a substantial guiding hand in what is happening with those of us connected with Royce.

The Gracie Family took me under their wing way back and stuck with me through thick and thin. They have always treated me like part of the family. Their history is much like my own family where my grandfather and father inspired us to never quit and to always work towards developing our resources and being creative in solving life’s problems, and my mom’s examples where she always demonstrated open hearted compassion (many of my wayward friends could sit at our table and live at our house as long as they followed the rules). And thanks to my grandfather’s third grade teacher who had the whole class dig a hole in the hillside next to the school house in Sweetwater Illinois. She told them to bury the words “I can’t” thus forever removing it from my family’s vocabulary. My grandparents and parents got me ready for this when I was really just a baby.

Gracie Jiu Jitsu is not a practice where you always win. It is a way of life and attitude where you learn to endure and solve problems creatively no matter the situation or obstacle.

I keep getting the question: “So, what does it feel like to be a Black Belt?” All I can say is that I feel surprised and elated but mostly, I feel a sense of very deep personal responsibility to the Gracie Family, especially to Royce and Helio, and to my coaching staff at all our locations and to our current and future students. I feel a real sense of urgency to come back to the basics and to continue learning and growing and sharing what I know in a way that accurately preserves and fosters Gracie Jiu Jitsu and the Gracie Family tradition.

Thank you again. My deepest appreciate and blessing to each of you reading this message and to each of you following the Gracie Way.”

Jim Hughes

NEW FLASH: March 1, 2008, West Hartford CT: Jim Hughes, Head New England Instructor promoted to Black Belt by Royce Gracie:

Jim Hughes, Head Gracie Jiu Jitsu Instructor for CT, MA, RI and New England recieved his black belt from Royce Gracie March 1st, 2008 at the annual RGJJN Coaches gathering. The event was well attended by many of Royce Gracie’s top coaches and students. Also in attendance was Royler Gracie, Rodrigo Gracie, Ralek Gracie, and Black Belt Greg Thompson.

One of Jim’s original students, Jeremy, runs a successful Gracie Jiu Jitsu and MMA school in the Washington DC area (where the event was held in his brand new facility). It is noteworthy that Jeremy was promoted to brown belt by Royce at the event.

Leave a comment for Jim

It’s a great day for training Gracie Jiu Jitsu. Royce Gracie Jiu-Jitsu New England school of Self Defense, MMA, and Muay Thai Kickboxing has classes everyday of the week at a location near you. We have excellent locations serving Hartford, Glastonbury, Southington, Danbury, New Haven, Norwich, UCONN Storrs, Agawam MA, Boston, and seminars in Puerto Rico. Come in to any of our locations for more information. Check out locations and schedules in the margin, and get in here —-you cant eat if you don’t sit at the table. So stop going hungry for what you really want and by all means, don’t eat or drink some watered down version of Royce Gracie Jiu Jitsu. Jim Hughes is a BLACK BELT direct from Royce Gracie after years of training Royce and and his father, Helio Gracie, the grandmaster of Gracie Jiu Jitsu. Jim’s top training partners help him teach throughout New England. He and Royce hand picked each of our coaches who help Jim and Royce guide our students in their training.

Gracie Jiu jitsu is open most major holidays, especially, Canadian Boxing Day, which, we have on good authority, has nothing to do with martial arts, self defense, or boxing . . . still . . . its a great excuse to get out of the house and do something for yourself that nobody else can do… it’s Royce Gracie Jiu Jitsu all the way — and the BEST WAY — to all your exercise, health, fitness, and self defense goals.

ROYCE GRACIE JIU JITSU SCHOOL FOR SELF DEFENSE AND FITNESS. IT IS PROVEN, SAFE, AND FUN. Gracie Jiu jitsu is the origin of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It is a Fast and Easy way to build CONFIDENCE, HEALTH, AND WELLBEING. Join the world wide evolution of martial arts!

Jim Hughes and Royce Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: 10 Academys in the New England area of Connecticut and Massachusetts including Boston, Agawam, West Hartford, Southington, New Haven, Norwich, UCONN/Storrs, Glastonbury, Danbury, and seminars in Puerto Rico. Come learn Gracie Jiu jitsu (GJJ) from the premiere source. Brazilian Ju Jutsu, or BJJ, was created by the Gracie family particularly, Royce’s Father Helio. Don’t be duped by imitators. Come learn Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu self defense skills, values, attitude and way of life handed down by Royce, and his father Helio Gracie for years. The secrets of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and BJJ are right here waiting for you! It’s Martial Arts and Self Defense that actually works and makes sense. So what are you waiting for? Get in the best shape of your life and make the best friends you will ever know! Get on the Authentic GRACIE FAMILY TRAIN!

News Flash: Royce Beats Sakuraba in the rematch of their historic 1 1/2 hour bout from 2000. Jim just returned from the fight and has a lot of good stuff to share from the pre fight training strategy.

Rodrigo was a big help to Royce as a training partner and corner. He will be training with us again soon. Be part of something great and get in here and train with K1 HERO’S Fighter Rodrigo Gracie.

JIM WAS INVITED TO FAIRTEX AND THE BIGGEST WBC MAUY THAI EVENT EVER! FOR MORE ON THE STORY CLICK N THE PICTURE OF JIM AND FAIRTEX CEO ANTHONY LIN IN THE RIGHT MARGIN

See what this is all about:

There are many good reasons to join Jim and Royce’s schools in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Improving self defense skills, confidence, health, fitness, and overall wellbeing are common benefits of training.

If you currently train and want to develop your groundwork and grappling, or if you have been thinking about studying martial arts and want to learn how to defend yourself and your family and have considered adult or kid’s karate, judo, jujutsu, ju jitsu, kung fu, tae kwon do, krav maga, aikido, wrestling, or kick boxing –you have found the right place here with Jim Hughes & Royce Gracie Jiu-jitsu. Elements of all these martial arts are found in Brazilian jiu-jitsu Self Defense, and as you may already know, Gracie Jiu Jitsu strategy has been proven effective over and over in the UFC (as shown on Spike TV and Pay-per-view), Pride, and K1 vale tudo and No Holds Barred arenas and tournaments such as NAGA, Gracie-Jiu-Jitsu National Tournament, The Arnolds, Mundial, Pan Am Games. Who knows, it may even become an Olympic Sport like Greco Roman Wrestling was in the original Olympic competition.

Whatever your interest may be, this is your opportunity to become part of something really great and to help make it even greater! You belong here!

Contact one of our coaches right now to schedule a time to observe a class. YOU WILL LEARN A SKILL THAT CAN REALLY HELP YOU!– “IT’S FITNESS WITH A PURPOSE”:

email: jimhughes at gracie-jiu-jitsu dot com

Please let us know which area is closest to you and one of our coaches will contact you to schedule a time to come in and observe a class. You can expect to see how Royce and his family and students train on a day to day basis. You will likely learn a skill that can save your life –even by simply watching class. This is exactly how Royce’s father,Helio, got started in jiu-jitsu. You can expect that the class environment will be SAFE, FUN, and FRIENDLY!

Our School supports the Military and Law Enforcement. We develop specialized ongoing Military Combatives Training as well as self defense training for Police. We have trained numerous agencies through our relationship with the US Army, the Hartford Police Department Dignitary Protection School, and the Hartford SWAT TEAM. Many of our members participate in helping our friends in uniform.