Franjinha e Paul Walker, astro de Hollywood.

Astro da série “Velozes e furiosos”, Paul Walker morreu no dia 1 de dezembro, durante um assustador acidente de carro em Valencia, Califórnia, EUA. Paul era faixa-marrom quando faleceu.

Seu professor e amigo, Ricardo “Franjinha” Miller decidiu conceder ao ator a faixa-preta póstuma, numa homenagem bonita. E comentou a atitude, no site da escola de Jiu-Jitsu Paragon:

“Lembro que Paul entrou na minha academia e na minha vida em 2004. Era nossa academia antiga. Tínhamos um banheiro, nenhum chuveiro, e o espaço de tatame não era maior do que 65 metros quadrados. Eu não o reconheci quando ele chegou. Em parte, porque ele não se portava como estrela de cinema. Sem ego, mantinha o bom humor e tinha sempre o
sorriso engatilhado. Como a estrutura espartana da nossa escola, ele era simples e despretensioso. Nossa ligação foi além da dinâmica de aluno e professor. Tornamo-nos amigos depressa. Recentemente, Paul me levou a Montreal para acrescentar um toque pessoal às cenas de luta em seu filme ‘Brick Mansions’.

“Ele sempre queria mostrar o Jiu-Jitsu em seus filmes. Em lugar dos socos e chutes comuns em filmes de ação, ele queria usar seus filmes para divulgar o Jiu-Jitsu. Algumas das técnicas das nossas sessões de treino foram utilizadas na série ‘Velozes e Furiosos’. Paul dizia que ele não queria só ser conhecido pelos carros rápidos, queria ser
conhecido pelos carros e pelo Jiu-Jitsu. Ele queria ser um embaixador do Jiu-Jitsu. A sequência de ação dos seus sonhos era um estrangulamento arco e flecha. Ele até bolou um formato hollywoodiano para o golpe. Infelizmente, não houve tempo para usá-lo.

“Aos que criticam a homenagem, sinto na obrigação de lembrar que nosso Jiu-Jitsu não se resume a medalhas em torneios ou aplicação de golpes. Não é apenas estar ralando a bunda no tatame diariamente. É, sim, um comprometimento em relação à nossa arte, uma vontade de auxiliar quem necessita, uma vontade irresistível de estar sempre melhorando sua
alma até o dia de sua morte e, principalmente, evitar a estagnação nos becos e pecados que a vida botam no caminho.

“Na minha visão e no meu coração, Paul Walker é um faixa-preta in memorian da escola Paragon.

“Por fim, ainda lembro de uma das nossas primeiras conversas. Sentados de kimono no dojô, Paul, como qualquer faixa-branca, quis saber sobre como alguém se torna faixa-preta. Eu lhe disse que na Paragon nós não distribuímos faixas-pretas. Disse que não importava quem ele fosse, não receberia uma ‘faixa-preta de celebridade’. Ele adorou. Disse que
sabia que estava começando tarde, aos 31 anos, mas estava determinado a virar faixa-preta. E me disse: ‘Vou ganhar minha faixa-preta, nem que seja no caixão'”.

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.

Ricardo Franjinha e Paul Walker. Foto: Divulgação

Uma triste e inesperada notícia acertou forte a comunidade do Jiu-Jitsu e do cinema.

Ator e faixa-marrom de Jiu-Jitsu, Paul Walker faleceu em um acidente de carro em Santa Clarita, Califórnia, EUA.

Conhecido por protagonizar filmes da série “Velozes e Furiosos”, o ator estaria voltando de um evento de caridade no banco do carona do veículo de um amigo, que bateu numa árvore e pegou fogo.

Walker treinava com o líder da Paragon JJ e GMA Ricardo Franjinha, que postou em seu perfil no Facebook a seguinte mensagem:

“Não há palavras para descrever meu sentimentos, apenas descanse em paz. Sua doçura e amizade farão falta. Eu ainda não acredito. Eu quero te agradecer por todos os ótimos momentos que passamos juntos. Eu nunca vou esquecer. Vá em paz, meu amigo”.

A equipe de GRACIEMAG deixa seus sinceros sentimentos aos familiares e amigos de Paul Walker neste momento tão difícil.

Confira abaixo o treino de Paul Walker com Franjinha

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 e Paul Walker. Foto: Divulgação

Fundador da escola Paragon BJJ, o faixa-preta Ricardo “Franjinha” Miller está em Montreal, no Canadá, para uma missão cinematográfica. Mesmo. Ao lado do ator Paul Walker (“Velozes e Furiosos”), o professor atua como coordenador das cenas de luta do próximo filme do astro, “Brick Mansions”, ainda sem título em português.

Paul é faixa-azul e treina Jiu-Jitsu há cerca de quatro anos e agora tem a oportunidade de mostrar suas técnicas na telona, na pele de um policial disfarçado que se infiltra numa organização criminosa para capturar o chefe do bando.

Com a ajuda de Franjinha, o astro pretende ajudar a disseminar o Jiu-Jitsu pelo mundo. “Espero que isso seja apenas o começo. Pretendo colocar o Jiu-Jitsu nos meus próximos filmes e ajudar a divulgar a arte marcial pela qual me apaixonei. O Jiu-Jitsu me ajudou muito ultimamente, e o Franjinha tem me ensinado com uma devoção contagiante. Se você aprende a arte com ele, acaba se envolvendo também”, declara o ator.

O filme tem previsão de estreia em 2014.

Veja o ator Paul Walker treinando Jiu-Jitsu: