Archive for the ‘agawam’ Category

Posted on August 13, 2008 - by Jim Hughes

Springfield & Agawam Mass Karate and Self Defense expert, Jim Harpe thanks Gracie Jiu Jitsu regarding recent Championship Win!

Congratulations to Jim Harpe, head coach in Agawam, MA. Jim is a true modern day samurai. He’s a swordsman, an archer, a Sabaki Challenge participant, and a long time Jim Hughes and Royce Gracie New England Coach. In the spirit of putting it to the test, Jim traveled to Brazil and competed in one of the toughest competitions around–the Senior Masters Tournament. He will return a bonafide Champion with two gold medals. The metal detector at the airport is going to be working over time!!! Please join Royce and I in a hearty congratulations for an amazing performance.

Jim Hughes

Check out Jim Harpe’s note below:

I would like to thank everyone at Jim Hughes Royce Gracie New England for helping me in this journey to Brazil for the annual Senior Masters International Championship. Your friendship and mat time was a great help. I have alot to say about this challenge and it was a challenge. The atmosphere at the Championship was CRAZY.

This was my first tournament in Brazil but not my last I have already started training for next year championship. Participating in the tournament was a great experience and one that will continue for along time. It was great to see competitors my age and older on the mat doing their best. I am in seniors four and expect to continue through seniors five. It was great to see the sportsmanship of most participants and the rivalries between academies. I represented Royce Gracie and Gracie Humaita through Royler and Rolker Gracie. It was great to be a part of and a contributor to Gracie Humaita’s six consecutive team win.

I prepared a lot for this championship. The hardest thing was the waiting for your turn to fight and the fear that you might miss your name to fight. This was a new experience being at the Tijuca Tennis Club and being in such an electric energy filled environment. I was focused for my match with a another member of Royce Gracie network from Ireland. We started off trying to establish a grip and I jump guard to transition to a sweep from guard. After I completed my sweep getting 2 points I established mount and got another 4 points then I went on to finish the fight with a submission –a choke from mount for the win. 6 pts to zero and a submission. My game plan was to finish with a submission. So for 2008 I was the Masters Seniors International Champion for Seniors 4 Purple belt gold medal and for my weight class (heavy weight).

Posted on April 21, 2008 - by Jim Hughes

Royce Gracie Jiujitsu and Sabaki waza

I have been studying Sabaki waza for over twenty years. I have learn these techniques from both Kancho Ashihara and Kancho Ninomiya. My bias is that the science behind both Sabaki and Royce Gracie Jiu Jitsu is a perfect match. At the Agawam site of Jim Hughes and Royce Gracie New England you can experience this combination. These techniques can be used for self defense and MMA. Sabaki is a technique of getting to your opponents blind spot where you can have the greatest chance for success. Acquiring the advantage position where you can escape or finish your opponent with strikes, throws and/or jiujitsu techniques.

Coach/Sensei Harpe