Ricardo greets readers weekly in his musings on Facebook. Photo: Gustavo Aragão.

Ricardo “Cachorrão” Almeida has been keeping himself busy in his post-UFC life. Almeida, a GMA of ours in New Jersey, where he has been teaching Jiu-Jitsu for nearly a decade, spends a good chunk of his time training UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, Kris McCray and the up-and-coming Jimy Hettes, among other stars of the octagon.

During “off hours,” he takes care of his three kids, judges MMA fights for the Bellator promotion, teaches at his school, trains Jiu-Jitsu, and shares his knowledge with the public over Facebook—always a source of inspiration for the GRACIEMAG.com team.

TEACHING JIU-JITSU, FEAR AND OMMISSION

This Monday, Cachorrão got on his web page and posted a strong statement, inspiring broad reflection. To Ricardo Almeida, teachers who refuse to train with their students are frauds. That’s right, frauds.

“Instructors who don’t train with their students are frauds. A lot of the time it’s because they’re scared of getting subbed in front of the group,” the Renzo Gracie black belt posted. “The day I get scared of being subbed I’ll stop teaching.”

Check out the full post, and be sure to let everyone know your thoughts about it in the comments field below.

Instructors who don’t train with their students are a fraud.

A lot of the time it’s because they’re scared of getting subbed in front of the group.

The day I get scared of getting subbed I’ll stop teaching.

And I hate tapping out!

It’s not because I’ll think I’m worse if I lose a match or sparring session.

It’s because I’m a perfectionist, and I’m really bothered by technical blunders.

Being a black belt has nothing to do with invincibility; it has to do with the art of improving on what we do and persevering in the midst of adversity.

Have a great week—in and out of the academy.