Quote:
Originally Posted by gekko  SweepEm, Glad you enjoyed your trip. 
Did you get a chance to train with both Tim Shears and Marcus Soares? I'm eager to join a BJJ school here in Vancouver and I'm having trouble deciding between these two guys! 
Am I making too much out of this?
Would there be any difference between the two instructors? Like would Marcus be able to teach me that much more than Tim?
how did you pick your school? What to look for? I have a feeling there is no bad choice, really. |
I only got one night to do what I wanted to do so I went to Tim's school. I met Marcus Soares when he came to our school to do a seminar the Thursday before the UFC here in Los Angeles.
Yes, you're thinking too much about two great choices in schools.
Gracie Barra is a huge organization of schools around the world.
The Carlson Gracie organization is large but very small in comparison to Gracie Barra.
Here in LA, the choices for BJJ schools are huge. There are lots of schools all over the place so there are many choices. I always tell people to go watch several classes at the potential schools, talk to the instructor(s), the students and see the interaction. Location or distance to travel to your school can be important but even more so, you have to really like and enjoy your school to keep the regular schedule of training.
I originally trained with Royce Gracie since I started training Jiu Jitsu before the UFC and stayed there for about 3 years.
I left with the handfull of guys who went to start and open Bevery Hills Jiu Jitsu Club. I stayed there for 3 years too.
I got discouraged at my progress at Jiu Jitsu and almost quit. I decided to go on a search and find a new instructor and to see if a change would help me and my direction.
I found Rey Diogo (
www.reydiogo.com) teaching at a Kung Fu school within a few blocks from my house. I decided to leave BHJJC, informed my sensei Marcus Vinicius and went to train with Rey. I did find my lost direction, my sense of what I wanted out of training and have been with Rey ever since.
If you're lucky, you stay with one school, one instructor. I know some guys jump from school to school but sometimes you do need to change to find that right fit in what you're looking for.