1st degree Black belt Jesus Armas, 8th degree Master Carlos Machado, 1st degree Ed Aiken and 4th degree Professor William Vandry
We have had a busy month in February, and despite certain cold weather here in Austin, we managed to have a great clinic with my instructor, 8th degree red and black belt Carlos Machado. Master Machado showed some very intricate details on his guard defense, with the 2 in 1 sleeve control defense to counter guard passes. Carlos always develops new ideas, strategies and techniques. I enjoyed his new ideas. I learned a lot, and to develop new strategies.
Professor William Vandry via Master Carlos Machado award Jesus Armas the first degree BJJ black belt
The turnout and support was just awesome, and I always feel when your students support your seminars and keep the training, those are the true martial artists. The next day it dropped 60 degrees in Austin, so we certainly had a stroke of luck. One of my black belts from the valley had a blowout on his tire, and ended up delaying his arrival to the seminar with his students. Carlos was so gracious to extend his seminar to catch up due to the flat tire. I heard some very positive feedback from my current students, and new ones along with new students from the valley. Some comments were surprise that Carlos and I sat and talked, discussed, had conversations with all the students after. I told them that we don’t teach seminars and then leave like paid actors. Our goals are to develop better technique, and to develop the student. We were then with sky high metabolism and we ate at the Asian Market. We then enjoyed coffee, cheesecake and a very good community socializing. My wife and I saw the last of guests leave around 3:30am. Of course Carlos and I caught up, and at 5:27am I thought it was probably time to go to sleep, as his noon flight was the next day to return to Dallas. I enjoy seminars for many reasons. You meet new students all the time, and you influence students in a positive way. I started my Association in 2003. My goal was to simply work with students from other cities that did not have access to learning a formal program of Jiu-jitsu. Its this form of community bonding that are part of Jiu-jitsu, not simply the aspect of combat.
Professor William Vandry