Laying on his back, a student’s head casually locked between his shin and forearm, Coach Vandre Ramos described how to achieve the triangle choke submission he was demonstrating to his adult Brazilian jiu-jitsu class Tuesday night.
Just another day at Blitz Fitness, where beyond yoga and spinning classes Islanders of all ages are learning Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a grappling martial art where fighters use leverage and technique to force their opponent to submit.
There is no one size or shape that is best suited for jiu-jitsu, said Mr. Ramos, a master brown belt.
“It’s a self-defense martial art, so the weak can fight the strong, the shorter can fight the taller,” he said. “The basic principal is don’t be scared of somebody, no matter who we fight.”
Nestled in the sleepy farm town of West Tisbury and owned by Catie Fuller and Tim Merriman, Blitz Fitness first offered a Brazilian jiu-jitsu class in 2013.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a sport, an art and a lifestyle, said Mr. Ramos. The 35-year-old has been practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu for 13 years, delving deeply into it after a wrestling career at college in his native Brazil.
He has been teaching Brazilian jiu-jitsu on-Island for six years, and at Blitz fitness for three.
Most of the class is spent on the mat, reviewing techniques and adjusting them for each person’s size and build.
The students are of all body types, ranging in height from barely over five feet to towering at six foot two inches. As varied as their heights, students cross all levels in participation and ranking. White belts practice alongside blue and purple belts and students choose whether they wish to compete or not.
“There is no such thing as a tournament class,” Mr. Ramos said. Whether students compete or not, they can all learn from each other, he said.
Neila Silva and Nigel Smith recently competed at the North American Grappling Association tournament with Mr. Ramos and two other advanced students. They brought home a first place belt and five medals altogether. But at practice they grapple with Leonardo Bonjour and Jean Cabonce, who did not compete.
Students have varied reasons for joining the class. Mr. Bonjour joined after Ms. Silva urged him to; the two used to do capoeira, a Brazilian martial art, together.
Class begins with stretches and a series of warm ups, including a backward somersault that was pressed into a hand stand on the fists.
“Back roll into the squat position,” Mr. Ramos instructed. “Knees off the ground, of course.”
A class specifically for children began a little over a year ago. Mr. Ramos said younger students start at a different pace than adults, focusing more on controlling their body at first.
“The kids, they need to create muscle strength. It’s not natural movements for them,” he said. Children of all levels learn together. There is a specific class for adult beginners on Monday nights, and they join the standard class when they are ready.
Students come to Mr. Ramos as young as four and there is no age limit, he said.
“I had a student who was 67 years old,” he recalled. “He comes to bring his kid, and said, oh I can’t do that. I said, come and join us. So he came, he was doing everything as good as anybody.”
Mr. Ramos calls Brazilian jiu-jitsu a “live sport” that changes from person to person. He said if a student used his own techniques on him, he wouldn’t recognize it until it was way too late to escape.
“Everybody is going to develop their own technique, that’s what fascinates me about jiu-jitsu,” he said.
The kids’ class ended with high-five time, as each student hopped their highest trying to slap the palms of Mr. Ramos and his assistants. The adult class ended with the students sprawled in a circle chatting amiably, in no hurry to leave the mat.
Blitz Fitness is located at 497 State Road. For information on classes call 508-776-7032.
Comments
Comment policy »