Caio Terra Academy Irving

Martial Arts Irving

family

What a way to end the month and start the year!  We had tons of kids and adults compete in the Jiu-Jitsu World League Tournament on January 22nd and they all did amazing.  Several were first-time competitors who rose to the challenge while our experienced students continued their winning ways!

A week later, we took the time to honor four very hard working students with their promotions to Blue Belt.  Malcolm, Miguel, Jared and Gregg are all big parts of our academy and team, as it’s rare to attend a class without at least one of them in it.

They have all dedicated years to their training, attended hundreds of classes and spent hours learning, drilling and evolving on the mat.  When they were evaluated and tested, we discussed why they started training, why they’re still training, and how we can ensure they’ll train forever.  When we can pass on a lifestyle rooted in Jiu-Jitsu and healthy habits, that’s more valuable than any rank worn around our waists.  Congrats again to these gentlemen, so well deserved!

To celebrate our tournament performances and our new crop of Blue Belts, we took our talents to Pinstack!  Whether we were bowling, playing video games, laser tag, eating, drinking, or just catching up with teammates, we closed out last Saturday with a bang!  We were able to bring together both our adult and youth students along with their families to relax and unwind for a bit.  The amount of fun we have off the mat is the only thing that compares to how much fun we have on it! One Team, One Family!

Several members of the CTA-Irving crew recently participated in the Jiu-Jitsu World League's tournament held locally and did an absolutely incredible job!  Equally as impressive as our team's performance was the support that cheered our athletes on from the stands.

Each tournament, I get to see parents and spouses and children and teammates huddled together, cheering in unison for someone who is more than a friend. They're family. It's a really cool dynamic to be a part of as an instructor...it's pure, organic, and quite simply - beautiful. I thank my students all the time for continuing to cultivate the environment that we have in the academy and I can't wait to see what's next.

One Team, One Family.

After just returning from CTA Camp in San Jose, CA, I’m knee-deep in laundry and my brain is still scrambled from all the techniques.  Rather than try and sort it out, I decided to procrastinate and blog instead lol.

Our 5th Annual Camp started with the IBJJF San Francisco Open, where CTA had an impressive performance and we took home the team trophy!  It is so incredible to see how this team improves and evolves year after year, and that success is a direct result of the preparation and support that we have for one another.  The camaraderie at the tournament was amazing!

After a long day in San Francisco and a late dinner, training started the next day.  We began the camp with a relaxed Q&A Session with Professor Caio, addressing different questions from the tournament while we recovered from the long day, and that night classes began!

Watching Professor Caio teach technique is nothing short of watching an artist create a sculpture from marble.  The way that his mind is able to address every grip, every angle, and every ounce of applied pressure and convey it to his students is incredible.  We addressed something as simple as a side control escape, but his evolved details made it seem like a brand new technique.

We also had the opportunity to train with 10th Planet Black Belt Denny Prokopos, who trains at CTA Headquarters from time to time.  Denny showed a lot of Half Guard techniques and demonstrated several different positional options from Eddie Bravo’s system.  At the end, he spoke very highly of Professor Caio and the team in San Jose.

No-Gi Classes with Professor Yuri Simoes were unbelievable.  From his details on takedowns, to the small adjustments he added on Guard Passing, Yuri changed my Jiu-Jitsu yet again.  After some intense drilling, we got the chance to train with each other and we were able to immediately apply the new techniques!  After another late night dinner, it was time for Fortnite.  Apparently this is a big thing among the CTA family, so I’m downloading it on my PS4 now as I type this lol.

To close the week, I got my annual time in the chair with my CTA brother Matt Tillman, an incredible artist at Hold Fast Studios in Redwood City, CA.  It is an image of Benkei, a Japanese warrior who has a really awesome story – displaying incredible dedication and loyalty until his death.  In addition to the amazing story, it also represents the Japanese roots of Jiu-Jitsu, prior to the art migrating to Brazil.  If you are ever in the area, definitely look him up!

More than anything on this trip, I learned a lot about myself and my team.  I was reminded of how much these people TRULY care about each one of their students, their affiliates, and their students as well.  The Caio Terra Association is so much more than amazing technique.  It is a family that supports your goals, encourages you to chase your dreams, and is there to help you make them a reality.  In my five years with CTA, no-one – not Nick, not Professor Yuri, not even Professor Caio himself have ever been too busy to answer a question, offer advice, or just have a conversation and catch up on each other’s lives.  I love this team because they are so much more than that – they are my family.  We are CTA.

CTA IRVING FREE 2 Day Trial (972) 674-9770
At CTA Irving, we believe in the one team philosophy! Regardless if you are a world champion or taking your first class, our instructors are there to help you along your way. Everyone is welcome, regardless of affiliation, fitness, or skill level. When we say welcome to the family, we really mean it!
Send