The Head of our Association, Saulo Ribeiro,  will be teaching at Toronto BJJ from Jan 4-8 and 11-15.

What to expect?

Every time Saulo comes it's always been at a different time in the relationship between our Academy and his Jiu Jitsu Association.

During class, there is a real increased focus of intensity, discipline and work ethic.You will learn new ways to drill, to breathe, to stretch, to move and warm up. You will also learn from a man who 'is' jiu jitsu. Saulo is respected because of what he knows and how he rolls.

TBJJ & Becoming Ribeiro

(thanks to facebook photo's date stamps)

I cannot speak on 'how' TBJJ became an affiliate. To me I remember clearly, after 1 stateside tournament towards the end of 2007 Josh started making us wear patches because TBJJ was now apart of Saulo's BJJ family..To be honest I did not yet know much about him.

Then came the time Saulo and Xande arrived. Like a General arriving to meet his new troops. This was December 2007...

At this time we were not doing forma so you can imagine what it was like when Saulo called FORMA. A mess and also an embarassment.

He even said "I don't know what I'm really doing here" - I gather this relationship sort of 'happened 'and now he was left to actually make something of it...but you could tell he had accepted the challenge.

I had been training for 6 months. This was around the time I started training 3 times a week instead of 2. I was inspired by Saulo's discipline. This was what I needed in my life. A bit of a kick in the ass and wake up call.

After he left - I really thought we would start to do 'Forma'...we would at least try...I was wrong. Kareem just kept his own things going own which was very loose and informal.

Ascension would be Kareem's last Tournament as our coach..This was Feb 2008 (and he still didn't know my name)

Then Saulo returned in April 2008, I would assume he expected that we had at least learned the 'Forma'. But when he called it - it was a gong show. And this time he called out our black belt Kareem in front of everyone. He basically executed him with words in front of us. The lesson was clear and Saulo was mad. The story Saulo spoke of, which involved a war story about a General executing his own soldiers to make a point, made a point.

The next few months I would describe as 'Turbulant' - Kareem was leaving... everyone knew...he wouldn't show up to class..classes were being held together by Blue belts..but there was bickering about technique and who was correct...

I was close to leaving but by this stage we knew that a 'Saulo Black Belt' was being sent as a 'Disciple' of the Academy to head our Team. I had an inkling he would turn up and turn things around.

• Christmas Dinner at Evergreen with TBJJ (2009-12-25)
• Marcos 'Shaolin' Rua at Toronto BJJ (2009-12-17)