Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Redondo Beach Home Of The BJJ Revolution Team
People always asked me about history in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Or the question I get the most is, “Where did you get your black belt or from who?” The short answers are I earned my black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from, Carlson Gracie Black Belt and World Master’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Champion, Professor Rodrigo Mederios! I did this after training at the time a total of 12 years. I was promoted to this rank October 28th, 2006. Rodrigo Mederios is from the Carlson Gracie Team in Brazil. This team was called the champions factory during the 1980’s through the 1990’s! This generation produced many championships of competition jiu-jitsu and vale tudo (Anything Goes Fighting) similar to the UFC Mixed Martial Arts. Vale Tudo had less rules.
I joined Rodrigo Mederios’ team in 2004 as a brown belt in jiu-jitsu. I had trained in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Los Angeles, California for ten years straight. Rodrigo co-founded the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Revolution Team (BJJ Revolution Team). Today there are affiliates all around the world. So when the topic of my history in jiu-jitsu comes up, I have to answer the question by stating where I started training first in Philadelphia.
Maxercise Sports & Fitness- This was my first academy and the first class I took under Steve Maxwell in 1995. I was a teenager in classes with all adults. Steve had a backup instructor named Phil Migliarese. At the time, Maxercise was an affiliate gym for the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy under Rorion Gracie, Relson Gracie and Royce Gracie. We practiced strategies and techniques endorsed by Grand Master Helio Gracie. In 1998, I have received 3 years of training, was a 3rd degree blue belt and I moved Los Angeles to be in instructors certification program under Rorion Gracie and Royce Gracie. I did this for two years and returned to Philadelphia to begin college. When I came home, Maxercise changed its affiliation to Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. I was promoted to purple belt under Relson Gracie. From there I went to Brazil to train twice & compete in the World Championships, did the cross country thing stopping at many jiu-jitsu academies and I also did the “Lets see what Europe is all about?” For many years as blue and purple belt I competed in all the major jiu-jitsu tournaments in the world.
Through Relson Gracie, Maxercise met Saulo Riberio who at the time the current muiltiple time Black Belt World Champion. In 2002, I was promoted by Steve Maxwell to brown belt with the endorsement of Saulo Riberio. Steve Maxwell was the 1st American to be promoted to Black Belt under Relson Gracie and after a short period; Maxwell changed teams to Saulo Riberio.
And this was how my journey was. I stayed with Maxercise each year. Over the years the team flag on the back of my kimono would change. I would experience so much good jiu-jitsu before all the DVDs, downloads, youtube and videos online through the Internet! My generation was different in that way. Jiu-Jitsu academies were different, but that is another blog post for sure!
Around 2002 and 2003, Maxercise split into pieces. All of the top guys left when Steve Maxwell changed teams from Relson Gracie for Saulo Riberio. Phil opened a new academy in Philadelphia and kept the affiliation with Relson. It was the right thing to do. A lot of students went with him. A competitor from Maxercise named Jared Weiner opened an academy in Philadelphia and a lot of students went to his academy. So there I was at the start of 2004! Steve Maxwell was not teaching anymore because he was deeply involved with Russian Kettle Bell training and fitness. Steve was like that; always 10 years ahead of everyone else and a the 1st of many. The main jiu jitsu instructor at Maxercise was Regis Lebre who was a black belt under Saulo Riberio and Royler Gracie in Brazil. He had moved to Philadelphia. At the time, I was at the University of West Chester completing my degree. I taught a jiu-jitsu program there and started out many students. Today some student from the program are becoming black belts and we keep in contact through jiu-jitsu.
With my studies, working and teaching jiu-jitsu I was busy. Any extra free time, I would travel to Maxercise or Jared’s academy called BJJ United! I never really went to Phil’s academy called Balance Studios; however, I was friends with everyone. During the time, everyone wanted me to pick an academy…there was a little pressure. I use to get calls from California and emails to join teams out there too. It was the time frame in the United States. Not a lot of black belts and I was very close to being promoted to one.
1st and only instructor to be certified in jiu-jitsu at Maxercise!
West Chester University Jiu-Jitsu Program after taxes!
The truth was…I was burned out with all things that were going on in Philadelphia. I wanted to finish my degree and live in California again. I would tell all the instructors this information when they were trying to get me to join their team. I would look them in the eye and say I am not joining your team or anyone’s team. I did not even feel I wanted to be with Maxercise anymore because Steve was gone and all my teammates had left. I would enter the academy on the weekend and I did not know anyone; it was crazy because we use to be all family. This was a new generation and I was sad. I called Rose Gracie. Rose is the daughter of Rorion Gracie. The telephone call was very helpful as they always were. Rose told me to go to San Diego to meet Rodrigo Medeiros and that she would me up with me there to make the introduction. It just so happened my university summer break was starting. I had about 4 months to do what ever I wanted because in the Fall I had one class to complete and I was finishing University with my degree. Off to San Diego I went. Before that I told Steve that I was going there to train with Rodrigo Mederios and surf. He knew I was leaving the team. His wife knew it too. I knew it too!
Rodrigo saved me from quitting jiu-jitsu after ten years of training! I have to say that right up front. When I was introduced by Rose, she told me that Rodrigo was just like me, but a little older…hehe. He was a surfer, a relaxed guy and good person she told me. However, that had nothing to do with the new group of guys of the BJJ Revolution Team that were waiting for me when I walked on the mats as a brown belt from Philly with surfer boy hair cut. These guys were about Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu or Warrior Jiu-Jitsu. These guys had a different mindset and all were tough. I was experienced in the traditional Helio Gracie style no time limit jiu-jitsu mindset and I was experienced in competition style jiu-jitsu with a time clock because of Saulo Riberio: So I was ready to take of the Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Style.
Over the summer I had a blast and was excited to go the academy. I would ride my bike there in Pacific Beach, San Diego. There were so much going on, but towards the end of the summer Rodrigo asked me to join his team. I told him I would think about it.
In my heart I hoped that Philadelphia would change and get better with Maxercise. And as it turned out, I completed university and was ready to return to California, but I was ask to start my own jiu-jitsu program out of a Martial Arts school. I chose to stay in Pennsylvania. I was asked by Royce Gracie if I wanted to fly is team flag as an affiliate, but told him that Rodrigo had taken care of me and that his academy was my new home. What a moment it was if you understood the business decision I just made! By going with Rodrigo I took myself out of the chance to be Royce Gracie’s first Black Belt or to be promoted with the first group of black belts ever. I understood the marketing at the moment, and to this day it is how I am with my life. With Rodrigo it was right. With Royce it was business. With anyone else it was business.
I joined the BJJ Revolution Team in 2004 and as I wrote above I was promoted to black belt in 2006 in Vermont! Rodrigo told the big group of students present that I joined the team the right way: Rodrigo knew me, surfed with me, partied with me, I stayed in his home and helped the team grow with my knowledge. After that I was standing as a black belt in jiu-jitsu! My dream when I was 15 years old. Next would be starting my first business: Running a jiu-jitsu program and running a website!
My best,
Prof. Tony PacenskI
2nd Degree Black Belt
BJJ Revolution Team
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Redondo Beach Home Of The BJJ Revolution Team
Elite Training Center
1628 South Pacific Coast Highway,
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 543-1600
www.elitetrainingcenter.net
