Archive for October, 2009

Posted on October 29, 2009 - by Jim Hughes

West Hartford CT Royce Gracie School moves to 276 Park Road Saturday 10/31 join us for Open House

To all members of Jim Hughes and Royce Gracie Jiu Jitsu New England, SuperKids Academy, and friends:

Gracie Jiu Jitsu, created by Royce’s father Helio, is all about loyalty to our family and friends, courage in the face of impossible odds, persistence in improving our position, and the love of life.

We love to learn and we love to put what we know to the test. That is the legacy Grand Master Helio has given us.

In the spirit of continous improvement, we have formulated a plan to move the West Hartford School up the street 5 doors to 276 Park Road. The soon to be “old school address is 262 Park Road.”

One of the important benefits of moving is that we will have a better buffer between the street and the front door. This is important because it improves our ability to keep the children in our SuperKids Academy Karate and Jiu Jitsu program safe. As a parent with children who train, my preference is to not have a driveway immediately outside the door. I’m not complaining here. I have really liked the space we are in. However, with the new space, we will be able section off a “safe” area where our children and families can transition to and from Karate and Jiu Jitsu class more easily.

The improvement in our position will require that we function with a smaller changing room and one bathroom instead of two. The mat area will be a little longer and a little narrower. Generally, the space will be a little more efficient all the way around. That will help us keep costs as low as possible, another important consideration.

The new Jiu JItsu school will look a little different. We are installing a rack and some equipment such as heavy bags and double end bags.

There will be a much improved observation area with more seating, a cozy little electric fireplace and a coffee machine. Please enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and a snack by the fire with a friend or training partner. We installed a very good water filter. It filters water as good, if not better than the water people buy in the store from various so called “springs.” Those little plastic bottles we all throw away will be banned in the West Hartford Gracie Jiu Jitsu school. It occurs to me that self defense has to be more about others than ourselves. It has to include a concern for our environment. Throwing bottles in the land fill hurts future generations and wastes our resources. Please get a reusable water bottle and fill it up over and over. Its the least we can do. Also, drink water close to the source.

Drink water close to the source…on that note, you will see a picture in the new school from each of Royce’s fights and what that fight reveals or “points to.” You’ll see what i mean when you get here. There are also four pictures to the right immediately when you walk in. The first is titled AUTHENTIC. Its a picture of me training with Grandmaster Helio Gracie. Royce’s father has been very kind to me over the years. He always treated me like part of the family. I have an extreme sense of loyalty to him and Royce. When you are a member with Royce Gracie Jiu JItsu and MMA, you are as close to the source as you can get. Alot of people make a lot of fancy claims. Even some of my and Royce’s prior students. Those who are on our team are in the flow and spirit of the brilliant creation of Helio Gracie, the authentic origin of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, the most proven form of self defense in the world. Those who are not on our team are not. They are just doing their own thing and riding on the coat tails of the rest of us who are true to the process. More on that later.

Please join us in the new school. Invest time to just sit and reflect on the pictures and qualities they represent. Enjoying the company of new and old friends is an important part of the training experience.

We are enhancing our schedule. We are adding dedicated Royce Gracie MMA Stand-up Kickboxing classes for self defense, competition, and fitness on Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30pm. Please wear gi pants or shorts and a Gracie Jiu Jitsu t-shirt. If you don’t have any Royce Gracie Jiu Jitsu stuff, see Janis and she will hook you up.

Also, we realize that we have many members who have spouses and significant others who want to work out, but who do not necessarily want to do martial arts. To support our members more deeply, Janis, Paul, and Katie have become certified to teach Zumba. Zumba is a fun way to get fit. For our current members, we are giving a complimentary one month unlimted Zumba pass. You can give your pass to your spouse or significant other to use for Zumba, or you can use it yourself. Go to www.WestHartfordZumba.com for more details.

We will officially start in the new space on Saturday October 31

Let’s get together for a house warming and pizza party Saturday October 31. We will have a childrens self defense class at 9:00am; a trial Zumba Party class open to adults and kids at 10:00 and adult jiu jitsu open training at 11.

Then join us for pizza and open house from 12 to 2.

(Also, we are going to shift the Saturday night sparring class to a 5:30 start time beginning this Saturday in the new space).

The event and food is complimentary. Please RSVP with Jannie at 800 260 0981so we can plan the food.

We really appreciate your participation over the years and hope that the changes in space and the schedule of activities work well for you. Thank you in advance for your support.

If you received this and you are not a member, get off your hiney and get signed up! Learning the best self defense in the world is its own reward, and in this day and age, if you care and feel loyal and responsible to at least one other person aside from yourself, then it is your sacred duty to be training.

See you on the mat, or at tea.

Warm regards,

Jim Hughes
Jim@gracie-jiu-jitsu.com