Page 54 - Martial Science Magazine Feb/2015 #7
P. 54
A Travelling Ronin
Infinite MMA
Academy
By: Martin “travelling ronin” FranshaM
BACKGROUND: Despite never having been Over twenty years later I had the privilege of
involved in Combat Sports himself my father has visiting Infinite MMA Academy run by Adam
always enjoyed a good fight. One day he came Martinez. Coach Martinez is a PAN AM medalist
home with something new in his hand. It was a and trained directly under Royce Gracie. On their
VHS tape titled “The Ultimate Fighting Cham- website you will see claims that they are a home to
pionship.” We plopped down on the couch and Pro Fighters that have made it as far as the UFC
fired up the VCR with anticipation. I was taking and Bellator. Once you walk through the door you
kids Karate classes and with all the blind faith of can see why Infinite MMA Academy produces
a preteen child I prepared to see Karate dismantle champions. You have a clean, professional gym
every other fighter with crisp, clean hits. Instead, with a cage and ring that speak of dedication and
like so many other people, I watched a Jiu-Jitsu hard work (Hint: Schools often visually provide a
practitioner named Royce Gracie run through the reflection of the staff).
competition in one of the most dominant displays
of martial talent ever. Martial Arts changed for Gracie Jiu-Jitsu has two primary facets to it. A
me right then and you could no longer excuse not competitive, sporting side to it where the Gracies
having a ground game. have been instrumental in creating the UFC and
most recently Metamorphosis, and a self-defence
side. The self-defence aspects of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
don’t feature in the limelight as often as the sport
side but it is an important piece that grew from
Helio Gracie, was carried by Royce Gracie and
continues to be passed on by Coach Martinez and
his staff.
As a traveller I get to meet people around the
globe and being active in forums I find that
Jiu-Jitsu often is short changed by members of the
Reality-Based Self-Defence (RBSD) community.
You will hear arguments like “Jiu-Jitsu only works
on the mats” and “what if the guy has a weapon?
Jiu-Jitsu is useless.” This has always struck me as
I get shown how roll an opponent from both misinformed and ignorant. First, there is am-
reverse-scarf hold. ple footage and stories of Gracie challenge mat-
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