Health is not the absence of illness. If you want to be healthy you have to have a regular practice of cultivating health.

I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to everyone on our Team. We have a really great group of people who love dedicate themselves to this art. I appreciate all your help and support over the years and for sticking with me through thick and thin. So many of you have contributed so much in so many ways to make our school a great place train and develop as individuals and as a team. So again thank you all im grateful for everyone in our little community.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSc0O72NHFDNz0A9LiY4Qqw

No classes this Thursday or Friday am, Happy Thanksgiving!

No classes on Monday, Happy Halloween!

If you train at OBJJ and would like to see your Jiu-Jitsu family tree, here it is. William Vandry (My direct instructor) earned his Black Belt from Master Carlos Machado. Vandry is recognized for his technical ideas and cutting edge style of his Jiu-jitsu, and his unique knowledge of leglocks, counters and escapes. Vandry began his official introduction into BJJ at a seminar in Austin, Texas in 1995, meeting John and Carlos Machado. Beginning in January 1996, Vandry traveled weekly to Dallas, Texas to maintain training in group classes and private lessons under Machado. Vandry is also one of the highest-ranking BJJ Black belts in Texas, and one of the highest ranking American BJJ Black belts in the world (5th degree). History and lineage of BJJ Grandmaster Carlos Gracie was the founder of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Carlos married Carlos Machado’s Aunt Layr, and cousins with Grandmaster Gracie’s son Carlos Jr. He was the Grandmaster until he passed away, and his younger brother Helio Gracie took the mantle until he too passed away. The Machado brothers created a legacy following their Uncle’s footsteps. Carlos, Rigan and Jean Jacques Machado are 8thth degree Black belts, John and Roger Machado are 7thth degree black belts. Emon Isomata Fukuda Hachinosuke Kanō Jigorō https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kan%C5%8D_Jigor%C5%8D Kanō Jigorō (嘉納 治五郎?, 28 October 1860 – 4 May 1938) was a Japanese educator and athlete, the founder of Judo. Nakai Baisei (a friend of the family who was a member of the shogun‘s guard), mentioned that jūjutsu was an excellent form of physical training. He showed Kanō a few techniques by which a smaller man might overcome a larger and stronger opponent. Kanō decided he wanted to learn the art despite Nakai’s insistence that such training was out of date and somewhat dangerous. When Kanō attended the Tokyo Imperial University in 1877, he started looking for jūjutsu teachers. He first looked for bonesetters, called seifukushi. His assumption was that doctors knew who the better martial art teachers were. His search brought him to , who had been a student of Emon Isomata in the Tenjin Shin’yō-ryū school of jūjutsu. Yagi, in turn, referred Kanō to Fukuda Hachinosuke, a bonesetter who taught Tenjin Shin’yō-ryū in a 10-mat room adjacent to his practice. While under Iso’s tutelage, Kanō witnessed a demonstration by the Yōshin-ryū jūjutsu teacher Totsuka Hikosuke and later took part inrandori with members of Totsuka’s school. Kanō was impressed by the Yōshin-ryū practitioners and realized that he might never be able to beat someone as talented as Totsuka simply by training harder: he also needed to train smarter. It was this experience that first led Kanō to believe that to be truly superior, one needed to combine the best elements of several ryū, or schools, of jūjutsu including Yagyu Shingan-ryū Taijutsu. Toward this end, he began to seek teachers who could provide him with superior elements of jūjutsu that he could adopt. After Iso died in 1881, Kanō began training in Kitō-ryū with Iikubo Tsunetoshi (Kōnen). Iikubo was expert in kata and throwing, and fond of randori. Kanō applied himself thoroughly to learning Kitō-ryū, believing Iikubo’s throwing techniques in particular to be better than in the schools he had previously studied. It is Iikubo who issued Kanō’s only verified jūjutsu rank and teaching credential, namely a certificate of Menkyo (not Menkyo kaiden) in Nihonden Kitō Jūdō, dated October 1883. Mitsuyo Maeda https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsuyo_Maeda Mitsuyo Maeda (前田 光世 Maeda Mitsuyo?, born December 18, 1878 in Funazawa village, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan – November 28, 1941), a Brazilian naturalized as Otávio Maeda (Portuguese pronunciation: [oˈtavju mɐˈedɐ]), was a Japanese judōka (judo expert) and prizefighter in no holds barred competitions. He was also known asCount Combat or Conde Koma in Spanish and Portuguese, a nickname he picked up in Spain in 1908. Along with Antônio Soshihiro Satake (another naturalized Brazilian), he pioneered judo in Brazil, the United Kingdom, and other countries.Maeda was fundamental to the development of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, including through his teaching of Carlos Gracie and others of the Gracie family. He was also a promoter of Japanese emigration to Brazil. Maeda won more than 2,000 professional fights in his career. His accomplishments led to him being called the “toughest man who ever lived” and being referred to as the father of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Carlos Gracie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Gracie Carlos Gracie (September 14, 1902 – October 7, 1994) was a Brazilian martial artistwho is credited with being one of the primary developers of modern jiu-jitsu in Brazil. Along with his younger brother Hélio Gracie and fellow students Luis Franca andOswaldo Fadda, Gracie helped develop Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) based on knowledge from Mitsuyo Maeda, and is widely considered to be the martial-arts patriarch of theGracie family. Carlos Gracie acquired his knowledge of Jiu-Jitsu by studying in Belemunder Maeda and his students. Luiz França Filho https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luiz_Fran%C3%A7a Luiz França Filho was a Brazilian martial artist and one of the primary founders ofBrazilian jiu-jitsu.[3] França was a student of Soshihiro Satake, Geo Omori, and Mitsuyo Maeda, from whom he learned Kodokan judo (known prior to 1925 as Kano jiu-jitsu). Helio Gracie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A9lio_Gracie Hélio Gracie (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈɛlju ˈɡɾejsi]; October 1, 1913 – January 29, 2009) was a Brazilian martial artist who, together with his brother Carlos Gracie, founded the martial art of Gracie jiu-jitsu and with Luiz França and Oswaldo Fadda the martial art ofBrazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ). machadobrothersandvandry Carlos, Jean Jacques, john Machado, William Vandry, Rigan, Jean and Roger Machado William Vandry met Carlos and John Machado and was introduced to BJJ in October 1995, and has trained with them in the art of BJJ ever since. Carlos Machado, William Vandry and John Machado 1995 Carlos, William and John Machado 1995 Carlos Machado, William Vandry and John Machado 11 years later in 2006 Carlos, William and John Machado 2006 Carlos, William and Rigan Machado 1996 Carlos, William and Rigan Machado 2008 In 1996 William Vandry became the first and longest running RCJ Machado representative currently in the world to teach and spread Jiu-jitsu in the state of Texas. Originating in Killeen, Texas in 1996, Vandry relocated to Austin in 1999, and still teaches today. William Vandry has also competed on a world level many times, and on all belt levels representing Team USA under the Machado brothers taking Gold and silver medals. Despite an injury that kept Vandry from competing for over four years, he resumed competition and still plans to compete in the future, although his chief duties are operating his academy and overseeing his association schools in Texas, expanding his Jiu-jitsu Association USA. Vandry also has coached his own competition team, which has shared first or second place state team points multiple times. panam6 panam5 panam4 panam3 panam1 panam He began teaching and formed his headquarters. In 2000, Vandry formed his VCATS program (Vandry Combative Arrest Tactics and Strategies) for all law enforcement officers, security or DPS troopers. Vandry has taught private clinics to many law enforcement agencies and continues to this day. His research on LAPD death statistics gave him theories to develop for all branches of law enforcement techniques. Vandry has also received awards from the US Army and from the Dept. of Public Safety. Department of Public Safety gives award to Professor William Vandry for teaching Troopers VCATS Professor Vandry teaching VCATS seminar to Central Texas police officers William Vandry has also reached out to women and children to overcome stronger opponents. Vandry has taught women in BJJ since formally starting a Women’s class in 2002. Vandry teaches many clinics and classes for women year round to reach out and develop self defense, confidence and abilities to protect themselves. William Vandry is the no. 1 BJJ Black belt in the world on support for his community. Vandry has assocation schools that have mandatory training, teaching and learning instructions and to develop a message for a person to feel comfortable learning Jiu-jitsu. Community events such as support, and working with Children to teach Anti Bullying seminars, overcoming helplessness, and to develop a way of dealing with bulllying in schools among children and teens. Morale is vital to a community, and clinics are important to educate those that feel they have no where to go or are alone. They are not. Vandry also does not believe handicaps are limitations, simply challenges to overcome. Vandry has worked with and taught clinics over the years at Criss Cole and The Texas School of the Blind to show support, and to also reach out to those who have a handicap, and a way to overcome. To see pictures go to this link http://www.williamvandry.com/bi/

Wanna be a Ninja or just an extremely well rounded Martial Artist? TKD Unlimited and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu on Main Street in Cottonwood is the only Martial Arts school in town offering instruction in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, TKD, Judo and Wrestling. All instructors with a minimum of 15 years experience in their discipline, stop by and check us out!

Noticing a very different Mike Herrick on the mat these days, look out everyone he's a killer! Good to see all your hard work and consistency paying off Mike.

One of my favorite moves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeoH_CKDtd0

Great training tonight everyone! No more free side controls for Joshua, his armbar game is getting too dangerous! Nice work Joshua