RABJJ kids. Photo: Janice Sarcomo

By Ricardo Almeida – Forth degree black belt

I grew up in Brazil playing soccer every single day. We played soccer at school, when we came home, at the beach and on the weekends we played some more.

I love soccer and follow it diligently to this day so this article is not a soccer bashing but rather a highlight of Martial Arts benefits over School sports.

I didn’t start practicing Jiu-Jitsu until I was 15 years old which by world class standards in any sport is way too late.

I did however, have the unique opportunity to study in a world class Academy (Gracie Barra) under a world renouwned Instructor (Carlos Gracie Jr).

Among the ranks at Gracie Barra I was nowhere near the top level of talent we had on the mats, but the fact the I was surrounded by some of the all-time Jiu-Jitsu greats made all the difference in the world.

Growing up with Jiu-Jitsu has given me goals, sense of purpose and the drive and discipline to go after those goals.

I believe there is no program out there that encompasses physical education and character development like Martial Arts does.

Below are a few reasons to consider Martial Arts for your Child or Adolescent over or in addition to Team Sports:

1 – Self-Defense

This is the number one reason why most people decide to study  martial arts, and pretty much any style is a great way to learn how to defend yourself. Martial arts teach you the techniques to defend yourself, but also the way to think about defending yourself – anticipate and avoid potential dangers. Training also helps  build up the reflexes you need if you’re ever in a dangerous situation, and give you the confidence to stand up for yourself and fight back if needed – which brings us to our next topic…

2 – Self-Confidence

As children become more proficient in their selected style of martial arts, their confidence gets a big-boost. They become more self-assured and confident. Their Professor’s (Teacher’s or Sensei’s depending on Martial Art style) encouragement goes a long way to help them achieve this goal, but the confidence level will extend far beyond the Academy (Martial Arts Studio).

It is all about the kids at the 2013 Pan Kids IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu champiobnship

3 – Belts and Ranking

Belts and rankings are a public recognition among peers for the student’s effort and progress. Martial Arts ranking system helps teach children to set goals and achieve them, to persevere and prioritize.

4 – Discipline

Martial Arts training is a physical expression of ‘practice makes perfect’.  In a class a student may execute a single movement  or series of related movements, hundreds of times. This teaches the student that the progress that always happens during small improvements in technique and stamina, flexibility or power – will come through endless repetition.

Even during randori ( or sparring)   – where the student shows how creatively he or she can apply their well-honed skills – there are still rules and protocols to be followed.  All of this teaches children to respect one another, their opponents and colleagues, and how to play games fair and square – lessons that follow them in their non-Martial Arts lives. It also teaches them to commit, to go to practice even when they don’t feel like it.

5 – Individual Achievement: No one sits on the Bench

Many kids have the chance to experience the benefits of Martial Arts early on, however a big number of children abandon their martial arts training when reaching the teen years in order to participate in school sports. Although there are many lessons to be learned from team and individual varsity sports, the ‘make the team’ model often favors the more physically developed players while alienating the late bloomers. Coaches have access to a endless supply of players that renews itself each year, the big and strong get picked and get to  play while the less physically developed watch from the bench, this leads to a even greater disparity in skill development as the season goes by.

At the RABJJ Academy, our mats are packed while the benches are empty, all kids get equal ‘playing time’. Naturally some kids develop their skills and physical abilities earlier than others but we personally find that many kids who start out with underdeveloped athletic attributes such as strength, speed and size, end up blooming onto some of the finest technicians we have in all of our programs. If  your child is an athletic wonder who is able to stay ahead of the game with his natural talents, athletics may very well bring out the best in him or her. But if want your child’s full potential to be nurtured through years of disciplined and diligent training look for a martial art school who offers a serious program taught by world class accredited instructor.

6 – Gender Equality

I am sure that while many parents would consider martial arts for their sons, not nearly as many would consider it for their daughters. However the martial arts are one of the few sports where both boys and girls can play together. At RABJJ Academy we have a large amount of girls in our Jr Program and in many classes they outnumber the boys. The girls are among the most technically proficient students we have and often dominate many of the local, regional and national competitions they enter. Martial Artist also gives brothers and sisters an opportunity to practice together and learn from one another as well (not to mention the convenience of having all of your kids in one place at a time).

7 – Weight Control

Childhood obesity is a global epidemic and rising trends in overweight and obesity are apparent in both developed and developing countries (CDC stats). The typical  martial arts class will often be comprised of warm-up calisthenics, teaching and practicing of moves and possibly some sparring, as well as some active games. The warm up and practice comprise the bulk of the time, and for that time your child will be constantly on the go – stretching, crunches, takedowns, grappling, punches and kicks. The workout each child gets will not only assist in the natural development of his or her muscles, but also help them build stronger Cardio-Vascular systems. Even in the most active of team sports such as Basketball or Soccer, children don’t get that much of a workout simply because they generally don’t play the whole game and even if they do, there are still breaks in the action.

8 – You can do it with them

Most martial arts schools offer classes for both adults and children. While classes do not run  simultaneously, they are usually one right after the other. This means that you can watch your children workout, and then they can watch you. If you have the proper space for it, you can practice with each other at home, and learn from one another. This will give you a special activity to use as a bonding tool with your kids. You can also become physically fit together. At RABJJ Academy we have many families that come to class together and either take class simultaneously or watch each others sessions. Avoid schools that have children and adults in the same class.

Kids competing in BJJ

9 – The Never-Ending Season

Many team sports, especially those primarily played outdoors, or in specific weather (think Soccer, Baseball and even wrestling) are seasonal. In Martial Arts we have classes year round. This consistency and availability also helps build upon discipline, and allows children to progress at a much quicker pace in the Martial Arts than in Team Sports.

…and 3 more reasons that they should specifically learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Since I am, after all, a Jiu-Jitsu Instructor, I would absolutely reinforce  and recommend Jiu-Jitsu above all other Martial Arts:

10 – Jiu-Jitsu isn’t about brute force, it is about control

Grandmasters Carlos Gracie Sr and Helio Gracie, reinforced that Jiu-Jitsu should be practiced with the mindset that your opponent will be bigger and stronger than you. That technique  and mental toughness should be pursued above all physical attributes.

11 – Athletic Development

Jiu-Jitsu’s main goal is technical prowess and preseverance but the training itself is a whole body workout – Grips, Feet, Hips and Head all need to move in fluid and exact timed motions to properly execute a throw or a fight ending submission. Many world class professional athletes such as  NFL players take up Martial Arts in order to improve their game skills.

12 – Jiu-Jitsu is Global

Jiu-Jitsu has experienced a World Wide growth in the past 10 years unlike any other Martial Art. You can find a Jiu-Jitsu school in any corner of the of any continent. If a Karate practitioner travels to another city he or she might have a hard time finding a school to work out in that has the exact same style and philosophy as their home dojo.

In Jiu-Jitsu, a student may travel to any school and they will still be practicing the same hip throw, arm lock or choke that are taught at his Academy. In fact I encourage all my students whose jobs involve traveling to always bring a Gi and visit other schools. Even when my students go away on vacation they tell me stories of training from the other side of the country to the other side of the world.

Know more at ricardoalmeida.com and newtownbjj.com.

Almeida demonstrates how to defend against various strikes such as roundhouse kick, overhand punch, thai clinch, push kick and some takedowns to use that put you in charge of the fight.

Check it out:

Ricardo, his son Renzo, his daughter Flavia. Photo: Ricardo Almeida’s archives

April is Autism Awareness Month. Supporting this cause, GRACIEMAG reached out to black belt teacher Ricardo Almeida, owner of RABJJ academy in New Jersey, NY, for some guidance on how practicing Jiu Jitsu is beneficial to children diagnosed with autism.

Almeida has an accomplished carrier in Jiu Jitsu and MMA. Besides being a world-class competitor, Almeida is also a renowned coach. He trains world champions in Jiu Jitsu, Submission Wrestling and Mixed Martial Arts, like former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. Ricardo is a veteran of the UFC and Pride. Nowadays, Almeida is officially retired from competition, focusing most of his time at the RABJJ Academy. Recently, he became an Official MMA judge for the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board.

In this exclusive interview, Professor Ricardo tells us how he suspected that his son Renzo, now 12, had autism and explains the benefits of Jiu Jitsu that can positively affect children to overcome this disease.

According to http://www.autismspeaks.org:

“Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. Autism appears to have its roots in very early brain development. However, the most obvious signs of autism and symptoms of autism tend to emerge between 2 and 3 years of age. ASD can be associated with intellectual disability, difficulties in motor coordination and attention and physical health issues such as sleep and gastrointestinal disturbances. Some persons with ASD excel in visual skills, music, math and art. Autism statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identify around 1 in 68 American children. Studies also show that autism is four to five times more common among boys than girls. An estimated 1 out of 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls are diagnosed with autism in the United States. ASD affects over 2 million individuals in the U.S. and tens of millions worldwide. Moreover, government autism statistics suggest that prevalence rates have increased 10 to 17 percent annually in recent years. There is no established explanation for this continuing increase, although improved diagnosis and environmental influences are two reasons often considered.”

GM: When did you find out Renzo had autism?

Ricardo Almeida: When Renzo was 4-5 years old he began to miss a few developmental milestones when it comes to socializing. He wouldn’t interact with other children on a playground for example, always looking to do what other children do but on his own. He also began to show repetitive behavior, which is one of the characteristics of children in the spectrum. When Renzo was diagnosed at 5 years old he had great difficulty expressing himself verbally and couldn’t put together meaningful sentences; his communication was basically one word at a time.

GM: How long has Renzo has been training BJJ?

Ricardo: Renzo began training in 2009 when he was 7 years old.

GM: How does Jiu Jitsu help him?

Ricardo: The structure of a Martial Arts class is extremely beneficial for kids in the Autism Spectrum. Almost all martial arts classes follow a similar structure: Warm up, Technique, Games and conclusion. This structure allows kids in ASD spectrum to flourish. When kids know what to expect and they clearly understand what is coming next, they are able to perform in class perfectly. Renzo still has difficulty with the “rolling” aspect of class, as he is very sensitive to the grabbing, pushing and pulling that happens in a live sparring session. He sometimes doesn’t know what to do and becomes frustrated. But with the help of his instructors, everyday he learns something new and the confidence he gains from being in class as well as his improved strength and coordination have been essential to his development. Another very important benefit for Renzo has been the social one. It is hard for him to make friends so his Jiu Jitsu classmates have a key role in his social development.

GM: A while ago you participated in a fundraising campaign that was a SUP (Stand Up Paddle) race around the island of Manhattan dedicated to Autism research, right? Tell us about this experience.

Ricardo: This event is called the Sea Paddle NYC. It is an annual fundraiser event for Autism Awareness and Environmental issues. I did it in 2010 and in 2011. My brother Flavio Almeida joined me. It is a 28-mile paddle around the Island of Manhattan that teas about 6 hours to complete.

Watch Ricardo Almeida talking about the event:

Now, check out a video from the SUP event:

Learn more about Autism at:

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/detail_autism.htm

http://www.autism-society.org/about-autism/

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/index.html

On March 8th, celebrating the International Women’s Day, GMA Ricardo Almeida Jiu Jitsu (RABJJ) will be hosting a  a special Rape Safety & Personal Safety Class.

Prof. Ricardo is putting together a class that incorporates fitness elements of interval training with self defense techniques designed for rape and abduction prevention. The special class is happening this Saturday, 9:00am at RABJJ in New Jersey – 380 Corporate Blvd, Robbinsville, New Jersey; and 10:30am in Pennsylvania – 2829 S Eagle Road, Newtown, Pennsylvania. It is open to all members, families and community.

For more information visit www.ricardoalmeida.com or call (609) 208-2000.

GMA member Ricardo Almeida celebrated his birthday this Tuesday, November 29th.

The leader of RABJJ had all the reasons to celebrate.

He is the leader of one of the largest Jiu-Jitsu academy networks in the USA, an UFC veteran and victorious Jiu-Jitsu competitors.

During the entire day, Cachorrão received happy birthday wishes.

He wrote about the date on Facebook: “The best birthday gift I could have asked for is the realization that I am truly blessed. I love what I do and the people I am surrounded with: family, students, team mates and teachers. I don’t have a perfect life and hustle hard every day like everyone else. But at the end of the day I rest my head care free knowing who I am and what I stand for. Thank you all for the birthday wishes and for being a big part of my life.”

GRACIEMAG also wish Almeida a long and happy life.

For more info, go to ricardoalmeida.com

The leader of GMA member school Ricardo Almeida BJJ took part in the Sea Paddle event for the second time, an initiative in New York City created to raise money and awareness about autism and environmental issues.

To be a part of it, each participant had to raise at least US$ 1,000.

Ricardo and his brother Flavio Almeida completed the course in over six hours.

Cachorrão wrote about the experience: “Some days you just have to dig deep into your soul to find out what you are truly made of and what you are all about. Luckily today I had my brother Flavio Almeida by my side and many of you on my corner.”

Here is a video Ricardo made before the paddle.

For more info, go to seapaddlenyc.org, ricardoalmeida.com.

The leader of RABJJ Team and UFC fighter will Seapaddle arround Manthattan on a fund raising event.

Almeida's new board

Every participant in the paddle and race has to raise a minimum of $1,000 with a goal of $1,500.

Last year the paddle raised almost $250,000 dollars with proceeds being split between our choosen Autism organizations and Surfers’ Environmental Alliance.

Cachorrão is already practicing with a brand new board.

For more info, go to seapaddlenyc.org.

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