I love them for many reasons but the number one reason is because I train with Relson and he does not hold anything back from me. I mean, I take unlimited training and even when the class is over he stays to give us tips or watch us train. The guy is 24 hour teacher, trainer, friend and family to me.
One night, class ran late and he rushed off to take a shower to go someplace. Some of my classmates were training for an upcoming event and started to roll. Relson comes out of the shower, fresh and clean and starts to tell everyone "Good class, thanks for coming my buddy." gives everyone a handshake and hug. He grabs his stuff from the office running really, REALLY late for whatever he has planned, and starts to go out the door, but something catches his eye. Two guys are sparring, rolling really hard and even though he is late for whatever, Relson starts back up the stairs to the academy and gets on the mat to explain what the one guy was doing wrong and what the other should have done. He got all sweaty again and his cell is just ringing, ringing, ringing. His shirt soaked with sweat. He pats the two guys on the back and says, "Good job." He then shakes my hand again, pats me on the back and smiles, "Telling me, oh man, I'm really late. Take care my buddy, good training.", then takes off. I can only imagine where he went or what they thought when he got to where he was going.
I met and got to train with Renzo, who is just funny as hell. I am so waiting for that documentary to come out so I can buy it. When he was in Hawaii training for the fight with BJ, Relson gave us strict warning not to bother him and Ricardo Almeida when they were training. But after a while, Renzo calls us over and gave us a free training seminar the night BEFORE his fight with BJ. That was awesome!
I met Royce at a fight also, maybe because I was with Relson or whatever but the guy was nice, took a couple pictures with me and encouraged me to keep training and wished me luck. Never had the fortune of taking a seminar or class with him though its still on my to do list.
Royler has been the most serious Gracie yet that I met. He came to the academy to TRAIN. I never really got to talk to him, shake his hand or take pictures or a private with him. When he came to the academy, he was serious and I guess it paid off because at the fights in Hawaii, he was really rocked by the slams he took. He looked out of it from where I sat, but he recovered and that triangle choke for the win.
I also met Renner, and he was very cool too. I was just a white belt at the time and I asked him some questions on his guard. He really took the time to explain it to me even though there was nothing in it for him. He ended up signing my GIA II dvds.
I met Ryan, briefly at the Renzo fight, took pictures with him and I am wishing him a quick recovery.
Igor very briefly also but he seemed nice to me.
Soon, I will be flying to Europe. I hope to train with Roger Gracie at the Gracie Barra UK and take a private lesson and classes while there.
So yeah, love all the way.
