Review of Roy Harris Seminar October 2004

What a great week-end! The Roy Harris BJJ seminar was fantastic! We had another very strong turn out with 61 students attending. I want to thank everyone who came out and supported this event. I really appreciate it. Thank you.

Roy has been coming to Calgary for the last 4 years at least 2 times a year on trips that lasted up to 10 days in a row. His seminars have always been very popular with the attendance usually being over 50 students. His last two that took place this year had 65 in May, and 61 this last week-end. I feel these numbers are a direct result of his fantastic teaching style and this keeps the students returning each time he comes to Calgary. I want to thank Mr.Harris for all that he has given to us. The success of my gym has a lot to do with his help.

Here is a quick review from Mr Roy Harris: Greetings!

Today is Monday, October 25, 2004. I just returned home from teaching a two day Brazilian Jiu Jitsu seminar in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, hosted by Brian Bird and Sheila Bradish. The turn out was great: Sixty-one (61) people in attendance!!!

As an added benefit for those who attended this seminar, I handed out twenty (20) FREE copies of my instructional DVD: "Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 201: Intermediate Level Jiu Jitsu." That's right, one-third of those who attended the seminar got a free copy of this informative DVD! In addition to the DVD give-away, Mr. Brian Bird also gave a specially made t-shirt to everyone who pre-registered for this unique seminar! And if I remember right, fifty-seven people (from various Jiu Jitsu, Submission Wrestling, Judo and other martial arts schools) pre-registered for this event!

Now, over the course of the two day seminar, I covered:

Eight (8) hold downs from the side mount position. Two (2) hold downs from north and south. How to attack from the side mount. How to attack from north and south. Three (3) hold downs from the turtle position. How to attack the turtle position. Two solid hours of questions and answers.

Now, I want to give out some congratulations:

First I want to congratulate all of the students from BDB Martial Arts who tested for their Blue Belts. You have all been work very hard for this test and it really showed! You really represented the team well. They are:

John Louro
Brad Cardinal
Chris Lemky
Les Selvon
Doug McComb

Next I what to congratulate Sheila Bradish. (Soon to be Sheila Bird!)(17 days!). Sheila has been training hard for her test but I was still very nervous for her. That is, until she starting testing. Right from the start to the finish she looked great! She preformed all of her techniques with skill and confidence. Roy pushed her very hard both mentally and physically, and she never stopped giving her best. This is a major accomplishment and I am very proud of her.

I am glad I was not her test partner though! Willie Elman was her partner and Sheila put a beating on him! When Roy ask to see some throws from her, the first one she did was an O-Soto-Gari, and she just about put him through the floor! Thanks for putting life and limb on the line Willie!

We had one other promotion this week-end as well. Me! :-) As I really do not like to talk about myself so here is what Mr.Harris wrote:

"I would like to congratulate Brian Bird for passing his brown belt examination! Brian has worked long and hard for this belt! I am very proud of Brian and all the work he has done over the past couple of years. I am also proud of what he and his students have accomplished in Canadian BJJ, MMA and Submission Wrestling competitions over the past few years!"

You can see some pictures of the seminar and promotions at: http://www.nationalbjj.com/news_10262004.htm

Also keep your eyes open for the next copy of Kick Start Magazine ( www.kickstartmag.ca ) as they did an interview with Mr.Harris.

Once again. Thank you to everyone who helped support this event. Brian