Professor Yamasaki joins the show to discuss cross training, why BJJ won’t be in the Olympics, Women’s Jiu-Jitsu, take downs and building a kids program. He also tells the story of removing a drug dealer from a favela with the Brazilian Federal Police! Click “read more” for show notes! SHOW NOTES:
- His diverse experience in grappling
- Growing up in Sao Paulo, Brazil
- The relationship between Judo and Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil
- Being labeled a traitor in the 90’s
- Why BJJ will probably never be an Olympic sport
- How he crossed over from Judo to BJJ
- Marcelo Behring
- The types of people who did Jiu-Jitsu in the 80’s and 90’s
- Sexism and machismo that existed in BJJ previously
- Women’s Jiu-Jitsu today
- A comparison of Judo’s newaza and Jiu-Jitsu
- The evolution of Judo’s rules over time
- His intro to Wrestling and adapting to new grappling styles
- The benefits of cross training
- Take downs in BJJ
- Seeking take down skills if your school doesn’t offer it
- The Pummel
- Marcelo Behring’s brutal bamboo stick motivation
- Being demoted to Brown Belt
- Changes in Jiu-Jitsu once it got to the US
- Enjoying the journey
- Focusing on your own journey
- Losing his instructor Marcelo Behring
- Staying focused on the journey while mourning
- The value of lineage
- Working with the Brazilian Federal Police
- His favela special operation police story
- Bodyguarding for Brittany Spears
- The early days of being in the US
- The value of building a strong kids program
- How he approaches his son’s training
- The level of kids Jiu-Jitsu today
- Jiu-Jitsu’s future
- His goals