The winner of TUF 13 sharpens his ground skills at Paragon Jiu-Jitsu, in Ventura, California.

His professor, black belt Ricardo “Franjinha” Miller, took the time to explain how the position came about and also show how it works.

Take a close look and add this efficient submission technique to your game.

Click here to watch Ferguson using it in the UFC.

Ricardo Miller and Paul Walker

Paragon leader Ricardo “Franjinha” Miller announced a few days ago that late actor Paul Walker had received his black belt in memoriam during the funeral services.

The star of the “Fast and Furious” franchise died in a car accident on December 1st, in Valencia, California.

The decision to grant this last honor to his dear friend, who was an active brown belt, was mostly well received as it made news around the world, but a few people felt that it was not to be.

Franjinha decided to address those who thought Walker did not deserve to receive the in memoriam new rank.

Here is what he wrote about it:

Paul Walker was an old friend and fellow martial arts student of Paragon BJJ dating back to our studies in the middle of 2000. Paul was both an actor and unique person/martial artist. He understood it in a depth that few men have. He was tasked in the past few years to spread in the big screen the martial art that we all love. While he knew and understood the BJJ moves, Paul’s kindness and actions in life on and off the mat showed that he had a far greater understanding of the martial art spirit as a whole. For that reason and conversations between us in later years, I believe that Paul was the true modern father of this particular martial art system and honors him as such.

Paul, like so many other great people in this world, was taken from us way early. He will be sorely missed.

Unfortunately, only people with a young soul as these haters still do not understand how big he was for our community. How much he was helping to spread Jiu Jitsu around of the World and consequently help others get access to the benefit that only our art gives to who practice It. In other words makes people have a better art if you know what I mean and If you really do the right Jiu Jitsu.

Jiu Jitsu is not just tournament medals or showed moves in the proper way. Is not just “bust your ass on the mat every single day”.

It is about commitment to the art, to help others in need, keep always improving your soul until you die and, the more important one, avoid get stuck in the sins of life.

God Bless the haters out there.

In my heart and vision Paul Walker is a Paragon Black Belt (in Memoriam) and for those who doesn’t know the mean of our name;

Paragon means model of Execellence

Paul was a person that a lot of us should use as a model in our live.

Please fell welcome to share and spread this message for them to understand It.

Respectfully yours,

Ricardo “Franjinha” Miller

Paragon BJJ

GMA member and Paragon BJJ leader Ricardo “Franjinha” Miller decided to a last homage to late actor Paul Walker.

The star of the Fast and Furious franchise passed away December 1st, after a fiery car accident in Valencia, California.

Paul was BJJ brown belt at the time of his death.

Franjinha wrote on Paragon’s site about the decision of making Walker a black belt.

“Paul Walker first walked into my academy and my life in 2004. It was our old academy. We had one bathroom, no showers, and the mat space could not have been more than 700 square feet. A mutual friend had sent Paul my way, but I did not recognize him when he first walked in the door. In part, it was because he did not carry himself like a movie star, or a Hollywood big shot. Without the burden of a heavy ego, he was easy going with a ready smile. Like the Spartan setting of the gym, he was simple and unpretentious.

Although he came looking for lessons in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, our bond went beyond the student and teacher dynamic. We became fast friends. He brought me down to Ensenada for the filming of “The Life and Death of Bobby Z.” We travelled to L.A to watch the UFC. More recently, Paul had me in Montreal to add a personal touch to the fight scenes in his movie, “Brick Mansions.”

He always wanted to showcase Jiu-Jitsu in his movies. Rather than the punches and kicks so common to many action films, he wanted to use his movies as a stage for Jiu-Jitsu. Some of the Jiu-Jitsu techniques from our training sessions were utilized in the Fast and Furious series. Paul would always tell me that he did not just want to be known for fast cars. He wanted to be known for fast cars and Jiu-Jitsu. He wanted to be an ambassador for Jiu-Jitsu.

His dream fight sequence was to end with a bow and arrow choke. We even worked out a sick Hollywood-style set up for the choke. Unfortunately, it was not to be.

His passion for Jiu-Jitsu extended to his relationship with the Paragon academy. Paul became a regular sight at the academy, showing up with his dog in the bed of the truck. When students would see Paul around town, he was always excited to talk Jiu-Jitsu and was never too busy for anyone in the Paragon family.

As I reflect back on his life, I remember one of our first conversations. Sitting in our gis on the mat, Paul was like many white belts; he wanted to know about becoming a black belt. I told him that at Paragon we don’t give away black belts. I said that I didn’t care who he was, I was not giving him a “celebrity black belt.” He loved that! He said that he knew that he was starting late (he was 31), but he was determined to become a black belt. He said “I will get my black belt, even if I need to get it in my coffin.”

Now in the wake of his death, I would like to reward Paul Walker the black belt that he wanted so much during his life.”

For more info, go to paragonbjj.org.

Paul Walker and Franjinha

Sad and unexpected news for the BJJ and acting community this Saturday.

Actor and BJJ brown belt Paul Walker passed away after a car accident in Santa Clarita, California.

The star of the series “Fast and Furious” was said to be returning from a charity event when the car he was riding as a passenger hit a tree and caught on fire.

Walker trained with Paragon BJJ leader and GMA member Ricardo “Franjinha” Miller.

Recently, GRACIEMAG.com posted on how Franjinha was helping Walker to prepare for a upcoming action movie entitled “Brick Mansions”.

Franjinha posted on Facebook his reaction to the unexpected sad news: “No words can describe my feeling right now, just RIP Bro. Your kindness and friendship will be missed. I just can’t believed it. But, I want to thank you for the great times and memories that we shared together. I will Never forget It. Go in peace my friend.”

The GRACIEMAG team joins in the thoughts and prayers to Walker’s family and friends in this terrible moment.

Here’s a video of Walker sparring with Franjinha.

Franjinha is currently on location in Montreal, Canada working with actor Paul Walker (Fast and the Furious movie series) as the fight scene coordinator in his upcoming movie Brick Mansions.

Paul has been a Jiu-Jitsu student for four years and will now have the opportunity to display his skills on the big screen as an undercover cop who tries to take down a ruthless crime lord.

With Franjinha’s guidance Paul’s goal is to help display the beautiful martial art of Jiu-Jitsu around the world. Paul says, “ I hope this is just the beginning. I plan to add BJJ in my future movies and help to put the name of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu out there. BJJ has helped me so much lately and I really fell in love with it, mainly through seeing Franjinha’s own passion for it. His passion for Jiu-Jitsu is so contagious that if you learn from him you pretty much fall in love with it.”

Brick Mansions is scheduled for release in 2014.

See Paul Walker training below:

Ricardo Franjinha. Foto: Arquivo Pessoal

O ataque nas costas é uma das posições mais fortes do lutador de Jiu-Jitsu. Está posição pode definir um combate, e deve constar sempre na cartilha do bom praticante.

Hoje, para seu arsenal de ataques ficar mais completo, Ricardo “Franjinha” Miller ensina o estrangulamento arco e flecha.

O detalhe principal é dominar a gola do pescoço sem apertar muito, conforme explica Ricardo.

Aos 39 segundos do vídeo, o líder da Paragon BJJ ensina a dominar a pegada na gola e mostra como usar o peso do quadril em cima do oponente.

Feito isso, Franjinha apoia a mão esquerda nas costas do aluno Bill Cooper e faz base para subir e passar a perna direita por cima dele (veja a 50s).

Com a perna passada, Ricardo explica por que o pé deve apontar para a frente. Note, a 1min, que ele não solta a pegada do pescoço.

A 1min17s, o professor explica como fazer o rolamento para a frente. Observe que ele olha para o lado direito, o que ajuda a rolar com mais facilidade.

Na hora do rolamento, use a perna esquerda como alavanca para ajeitar o oponente e ajuste a pressão no pescoço para finalizar (1min34s).

E aí, perfeito para usar hoje na academia ou não?

GMA member school Paragon BJJ has scheduled a nice attraction for January 25.

Black belt Aurelio Gallegos will be at Paragon RGV BJJ, in Edinburg, TX, for a seminar.

He will be teaching exclusevly sweeps.

For more info, go to paragonrgvbjj.com.

GMA member school Paragon BJJ will host a world class seminar next month.

Ricardo “Franjinha” Miller will welcome in Santa Barbara, California, the world champion and fellow GMA Rafael Lovato Jr for a class on November 7th.

The cost for the seminar is US$ 60 to pre-register or US$ 80 at the door.

For more info, go to paragonbjj.net

His student and BJJ black belt Bill “The Grill” Cooper was added to the card of Strikeforce Challengers 20.

Bill is 2-0 at MMA and will be facing Matt Ricehouse, also undefeated.

The fight will be for the lightweight division and is scheduled November 18, in Las Vegas.

For more info, go to paragonbjj.net or strikeforce.com.

Franjinha and Milton

GMA member Ricardo “Franjinha” Miller, head of Paragon BJJ in Santa Barbara, California, has some great news.

He just promoted another of his students to the rank of black belt.

Following Jeff Glover and Bill Cooper, Milton Bastos has joined the club.

Franjinha has only good things to say about his pupil: “He was the 2009 No-Gi world champion, brown belt 2009 Pan champion and 2010 world champion. As a black belt, I’m sure he will be a handful for his opponents”.

Congrats to Milton nad his professor Miller.

For more info, go to paragonbjj.net

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