Xpereince : Continuing On

"Every New Beginning Comes from Some Other Beginnings End"- Seneca

Well it seems like my awesome two year venture with  Xande Ribeiro and Gang has come to an end as I now find myself back where I started in 2011 with no BJJ home ( wow talk about full circle). I cant begin to explain how  blessed I am to be apart of such a great team and instructor and although it sucks that it has come to an end one thing life has taught  is to stay strong, never give up, and keep moving forward which I will continue to do.

A new purple belt in hand, instructor back in Brazil, and team disbanded I guess the question everyone has been wanting to know is "What Are You Going to Do Now Monta"? I asked myself that same question and if you would have asked me earlier this month I would have told you I Don't Know. Fortunately now I do have an answer so here goes.

After visiting some new gym options, thinking, and talking with some close friends I have reached a decision. Starting next year sadly I will no longer be under Xande Ribeiro Jiu-jitsu and I am now apart of  ... Team (click link).

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If you click the link all I gotta say is ....GOTCHA !!!! ;-)

The reason for this decision has nothing to do with loyalty to the Bossman but rather a sense of happiness and satisfaction with the association I am apart of. Coolest thing I have discovered about being apart of the Ribeiro team is whether you looking to become a world champion or just another dude training, fellow  people that are apart of the group (at least the ones I have meet outside my gym team)  will be willing to help you the best way they can whether it is picking you up for the train station, hang out afterwards, giving advice, or even giving you a place to stay as an out of towner.

There is certainly no shortage of charity with this faction even when being caught in the confusing situation I found myself in after Xande's departure back to Brazil.So I figured why go through the pains of joining another academy, starting over, trying to fit in, and other quarrels  if a situation can be resolved/fixed. ( especially since I just train and compete on occasion).

Thanks to two special individuals (whose choose to remain anonymous) the option of remaining Ribeiro is now possible as  I will now be cross training between 2 Ribeiro gyms on a weekly basis. This way I can continue to maintain a regular training routine, stay a purple belt under the same team, and   above all it eliminates the "burning bridges"/ offending anyone factor with my actions.
I guess you can call me a Ronin  Ribeiro Guy.

Many great BJJ practitioners such as Tom Barlow, Adamson Brothers, Darragh O Conaill, and lets not forget about a truck load of 10th planet practitioners have followed this road/format I am embarking on and excelled well without the 100 % dependency of their instructor...So hey as the peer pressure of drinking would suggest "Don't Diet It, Try It" ( ok that was a bad example)

In addition my training won't stop there as I will now be devoting some of my time on Thursday Nights at my old college Cal State Los Angeles at the BJJ Open Mat. The CSULA Martial Arts Program is where I got my start from and I can honestly say if it weren't for the people that helped me I wouldn't be the person I am today. On many occasions when I left the college I wanted to go back but wasn't ready. Now with a purple belt , 9 years of experience, and a little more mature I think its only fitting I go back and give back to my community that did so much for me being the uncontrollable, angry, opinionated character I was at the time.

Also FYI that also means all you other  Xande Ribeiro Ronins  now have a spot to train on Thursday nights !! :-)

As for the rest of my plan for next year the script remains the same.... training, writing, Grapplethon events, traveling, challenging myself in competitions (going for 3-4 tournaments next year), and cant forget about my good ol paper job...So only thing to do at this point is.... Continue On.

Typing this last blog of this year all I can do is reflect and prepare for what is to come next year.
2013 was a wild and crazy year filled with ultimate highs and super lows points which has helped in my growth as a person. I don't know what 2014 will bring but one thing is 4sure whatever challenges come my way...the goal will always remain the same.

 Becoming a better man than I .........(awww I'm tired of writing this year you know the rest !!!!) :-)

Peace Out

monta (pronounced like Monday with a "T" replacing the "D")