NEWS & UPDATES – * * * * * UNITED FIGHTING ARTS INSTITUTE

1 week ago

Prof. Gavin Dragon Wageman and our friends over at SigSauer HQ in Epping, NH are hosting a no-gi seminar tomorrow with world champion Giancarlo Bodoni: 2 blocks to choose from 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm. If anyone is interested, I highly recommend going! Details in the link. sigsaueracademy.com/giancarlo-bodoni-seminar?fbclid=IwY2xjawHJj6xleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHbzvzoAiPY5SGOK... ... See MoreSee Less

Giancarlo Bodoni Seminar | SIG SAUER Academy

sigsaueracademy.com

View on Facebook

United Fighting Arts Institute is at United Fighting Arts Institute.

1 week ago

I'm still trying to take this all in...the last week has been a whirlwind. I'm very honored tonight to be promoted by my Prof. Mike DesRosiers (who I've known for about 28 years). Also by; Prof. Nic Gregoriades, Prof. Brent Burniston & Prof. Kit Dale (Subconscious BJJ - LA), to BJJ balck belt after approx 14 years training in this art. Special thanks to all the UFAI BB's who've helped me on this journey and to Prof Bridget Grace (at Renzo Gracie HQ NYC) for working with me and being a mentor over the last few years, when I'm in NYC. I greatly appreciate the time & knowledge you've given me. I know this is just the beginning, and I have so much more to learn. Thank you to EVERYONE who has supported me on this journey. #BJJ #WarriorSpirit #Community #GirlsWhoRoll #VT #SouthBurlington ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook

United Fighting Arts Institute

1 week ago

There is so much to say here, but can say in my 27 years of doing BJJ, the greatest joy and honor I have is promotion nights. Seeing everyone who puts in the time, the work, the sweat, the tears, ranking up. Being able to give them the knowledge I’ve learned, and continue to learn in this journey. To see them take what I show them, make it their own, and flourish in this extremely unforgiving and hard martial art is amazing. Tonight we saw Sam Moulton and Joe DesRosiers take that second step and receive their blue belts. Both just fought last weekend in MMA and Muay Thai respectively, and still did BJJ. Seeing Justin Couture reach that “mid belt”, with purple. Probably one of the most dedicated and determined practitioners I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. Seeing Jon Calderone, who can’t sit still for the life of him. Doing judo and BJJ tournaments, doing spartan beasts, working out at 4am, getting his masters degree. Getting ranked in JJJ SIX days ago, get his brown belt tonight. Having professor Kyle Mills come up and finally bring, long time student and overall amazing person, Christi Bulman up and give her a well deserved brown belt! She is always the first one to roll with me when I go do seminars at 607 Grappling - Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & Martial Arts!We now have Professor Debra Kay, who has been doing BJJ since I’ve known her. Took time off at times, then came back with a vengeance. Bombarding me with BJJ clips on social media, going to train at Renzo Gracie’s in New York. Pushing through injuries and rolling, also who just ranked up in JJJ SIX days ago. It was my honor to give you your black belt!Finally long time friend, Dave Clements, flew up from Florida and I was able to give him his first degree he was due back in July. I’ve known Dave for well over 25 years. We trained together at a previous school, we would train at BPD in a back room with Vincent Guy and Chris Owen at times. Also how close Alex Bandanza, Julian Mele, Kyle Sargent, Kyle McGuire, Logan Loftus, Geno Baccaglini, are to levelling up and recieving stripes. KEEP SHOWING UP!I’d like to thank SubConscious Bjj, Brent Burniston, Nicholas Gregoriades for having me on board for over 9 years now and trusting me to pass along BJJ to others. Also to professors Dennis Sherman, Sergio Nunzio, Craig Macdonald, Ali Abdulrazak, Kyle Mills for making it tonight. Also like to recognize other black belts I’ve had the honor to give with Gavin Dragon Wageman, Laura JW, Lucas John, Eric Bruno for the work put in over the years. Keep. Showing. Up ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook

United Fighting Arts Institute

1 week ago

BJJ PROMOTIONS TOMORROW! WE START PROMPTLY AT 6! To save some speech time, here is what I think slows down people’s promotions. 1: ATTENDANCE; This is the main reason why you may not be getting promoted as fast as you assume. I always say the secret of BJJ is to show up, and that isn’t a lie. Life comes up and I understand that, with injuries, family, work, and more. If you come sporadically, or have taken months off for various reasons, or are late a lot (I don’t mind late as long as you show up), etc then don’t expect to advance quickly. 2: SKILL; this means different things to different people. Skill doesn’t just mean you wipe the mats with everyone, skill doesn’t just mean you know the name of every move, skill doesn’t just mean you compete all the time, skill doesn’t just mean you are able to teach. What skill means and what I look for is a blend of all of the above and more. Some ppl progress faster than others, some have the “wall” that they hit and may not progress as fast as before. Some can compete and win, but can’t remember moves. Some ppl do well rolling, not great in competition, but can break down moves perfectly. I see all of these things and make determinations from there. 3; ATTITUDE; This is one I don’t discuss much but I always pay attention to. How you are with other classmates? Do you talk in class more than drilling the moves? Do I always need to remind you to “keep going”? Everyone knows I’m very laid back, and don’t mind some talking, joking, etc. on the floor. There is a limit, and I expect more from the higher belts than lower belts.I of course expect more from you, the higher in rank you go. I’m very critical of my brown and black belts, as not only are you representing yourself at that rank, but also reflects on my jiu jitsu. This in turn reflects on the school, on my instructor and their school, and on their instructor, and so forth. Our lineage goes back to the founder, and as such, I do again ask for more from the higher belts. Lastly I converse with the other instructors as I’m not there every night, and get everyone’s input on where people are rank wise. After promotions if you have questions, I have no doubt you can ask any of them for opinions. Here are some of the thoughts I have on each belt, and what I expect: White: Hardest belt as it’s not easy to start, and you don’t know what you’re doing 90% of the time. Dont try to coach people, your job is to learn and survive.Blue: The “Quit belt”, as it takes around 2 years average to get. Then you realize how bad you really are when higher belts go harder on you. This is where your will, will be tested. You need to survive, learn, and start using what you know.Purple: The “Mid belt”, looking at 2-4 years as a blue average. This is where our people tend to get lax and quit. Pretty sure I’ve told blue belts not to quit so much, when they get here they relax and leave. At purple you realize how much you don’t know, and start to chain moves together. You are able to attack, defend, and higher belts stop showing you mercy.Brown: I consider this the most dangerous belt, in that brown belts are grizzled, hungry, and usually angry. These are people who have trained 4-8 years, have been beaten, have been around the block. I expect them to be able to troubleshoot what they can’t do, and know the “why” a move works. Also expect them to know when to use moves, how to set them up, and how to escape them.Black: this is where it gets interesting, as you’ve reached the “false summit”. Most this takes ten years of consistent training to achieve. This is also where the smallest tweaks and adjustments to basic moves, are the ones that excite you. Black belts are usually broken in some manner, yet keep on trucking. I expect them to be able to know moves in detail, who and how they work, and when they work. You’ll notice our black belt numbers have increased a lot over the years, and these are the ones who dug in, got through hard times, and continue to do so.Degrees; black belts receive degrees, which denotes how long they’ve been a black belt. As long as they have been training, I will degree them. 1st degree = three years2nd degree = six years3rd degree = nine years4th degree = fourteen years5th degree = nineteen years6th degree = twenty-four years7th degree (red/black belt) = thirty-one years8th degree (red/white belt) = thirty-eight years9th degree (Red Belt) = forty-eight yearsOthers may have different takes on what each belt means, and that is completely fine. This is just how I look at belts, and an explaination on that. Just. Keep.Showing.Up.The rest will happen, when it happens!Mike D ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

United Fighting Arts Institute

2 weeks ago

Congrats to all our juniors and adults who were promoted last night. Solid work was put in by everyone. And I got my 2nd sticker too! Big Congrats to all! #japanesejujutsu #UFAI #warriorspirit #neverstoplearning #community ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook