Diary > Brazil vs USA
09/08/2009
Many students dream of going overseas to train and often they ask me if they should go to Brazil or the USA. The two are quite different and the experience you have will be quite different.
Brazil is the home of BJJ and training there is hot and then hotter ( you get the idea ) even in the middle of winter is roasting and humid, which is great as a a place to run away to over the aussie winter as Ive done three times now. Its a little expensive to get to as you fly half way round the world and change flights lots but its worth it for the experience of being in the spiritual homeland of our art.
Once there you have to know the rules. Its a rough and tough place for many of the people there and crime is high as a result, but I never felt threatened or unsafe. Its simple, don´t walk around looking like you have money ( easy for me ) and don´t look all over the place like you´re a tourist.
I was lucky enough to have a good mate ( Breno Sivak now of Fight Quest fame ) to show me the ropes and the do´s and don´ts of Rio. If you´re considering going just drop me a line and Ill hook you up with Breno as he always has guys staying at his place.
Getting around is usually done by sharing cheap taxis, buses or if you´re like me by bike. You take you´re life in your hands either way as they drive like they fight, fast. I loved the freedom of taking my bike and going sight seeing ( called getting lost really ) and being able to go at my own pace.
Its a unique experience training there as its far more formal than most western academies are and again you´ll find out the rules really quickly!
Training in the USA is a little easier as there is no language barrier ( most of the time ) but its not Brazil. It doesn´t matter how many world titles the instructor may have, and he may even be Brazilian, its still not Brazil.
The lack of a language barrier certainly helps as you´re able to really talk about technical stuff which in Brazil can be hard sometimes. Usually if you want to know any more than what as taught in class a private lesson is needed which again is different than in aussie, its not really a scam for more cash but saying that its hard to really address issues when surrounded by thirty other loud sweaty guys.
Im off to the USA again soon, this time to Los Angeles to train with Kron and Rorian Gracie and Saulo and Xandre Ribiero so should be one hell of a trip. Also heading off to UFC 104 so will try and fly the aussie flag in the crowd, the UFC will be in Sydney in Feb so will be off to that too. Anyway, must run , more classes to teach, catch you soon.
