H.I. July 2005 Update

1) I just got back from a lovely trip to Galway, Limerick and Dublin, Ireland! Whew, what a fantastic trip it was! I have Mr. Shane Geary and Mr. Damien Walker to thank for such a glorious trip!

While I was there, I got a chance to teach private lessons, a public BJJ seminar, a private seminar to a security agency, as well as play two rounds of golf in Killarney and Portumna, Ireland. Time went by very quickly!

During the BJJ workshop at the University in Limerick, I got a chance to share some of my favorites techniques and positions with regard to controlling and attacking from the side mount position. We spent four glorious hours on controlling and positioning ourselves for the finish. Additionally, I also got a chance to give away 35 copies of my DVD instructional, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 201: Intermediate Level Jiu Jitsu to the 35 of the seminar participants (Yes, everyone in attendance got a copy!). Most of those who attended the seminar were from Ireland. However, there were several attendees from England, Poland and Slovakia!

During the private seminar for the security agency, I taught them several of my favorite escorting techniques, as well as a few choice ground control techniques. During the training, one gentleman was having difficulty with a particular technique. When I went to his group to demonstrate the technique on his partner, I found out why he was having difficulty: His partner was resisting FULL ON.

I tried to effect the technique and found that this fine young lad wanted to resist fully. So, to make a long story short, I gave up (very quickly) on trying to effect the primary technique (because the young lad was resisting so hard) and moved to the mount position and turned the lad onto his stomach. I gently wrapped my arms around his neck and applied enough pressure to get him to do what I wanted him to do (and that was place his hands on the ground in front of him). I got him to place one hand on the ground in front of him and was about to relinquish the pressure when the young lad decided he had more fight in him. So, I applied even more pressure (and gave him specific and repeated verbal commands) to get him to place both hands in front of him. When he had finally done so, I relinquished the pressure and stood up. Those in attendance gave me a round of cheerful applause. After the incident, one of the guys in attendance asked me if I could stay until Saturday to work an event with them.

I had a great time in Ireland. Ireland is definitely the friendliest country I have ever been in!

2) Congratulations to the following individuals from the Minnesota Kali Group Training Facility for recently passing their blue belt examinations in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu:

Trevor Kennedy
Mike Duffy
John Dornick
Mike Noreen

3) For everyone who attended last year's BJJ workshop at the Minnesota Kali Group Training Facility:

Do you remember I said I would be give you a free copy of this new instructional tape once I finished it? Well, I finished editing the tape, made a master copy and had duplicates made. I also mailed 31 copies of the tape to Sifu Rick at the Minnesota Kali Group. So, drop by and get your copy! I think you will like the instructional, and, I hope it refreshes your memory!

4) Speaking of the Minnesota Kali Group, I just came back from teaching a one day seminar at their facility. While I was there, I taught a two hour seminar on controlling and attacking from the butterfly guard, as well as a one hour session on the extreme basic of Kalis Ilustrisimo.

During the seminar, Sifu Greg Nelson and Sensei Kazeka Muniz graced us with their presence! It was good to see Sifu Gregg Nelson after all these years. He and I started training at Sifu Rick Faye's studio around the same time, 1981.

5) To those of you who donated to Tony Diego and Jeff Yurk's fund: Thank you! I know they will appreciate your generosity!

6. To those of you who sent postcards to my 8 year old friend in Colorado: Thank you! He thoroughly enjoy the card and had quite the time showing them off to schoolmates, family and friends. He especially enjoyed receiving the postcard from Hell, Norway! I got the chance to see the cards a few weeks ago. And, I want to thank all of you for participating!!!

7) Harris Academy Students: Are you interested in making some extra cash for your training at the academy? If so, speak with me in person when you have time. I have an offer I think you can hardly resist.

8) I have posted all of the additional pages for the extras on the Brazilian 101 Instructional DVD. Unfortunately, the URL on the DVD will not work because of the new system. But at least you can view the content. To view all of the content, perform a search for "BJJ 101."

9) I have updated the Where to Find page.

10) From July 5 to July 26, I will have a sale on private lessons: $250 for six (6) one-hour long lessons.

11) My seminar schedule for 2006 is packed. To date, there are seminars in the following months:

January: BJJ in Helsingborg, Sweden
March: BJJ in Galway, Ireland
May: BJJ in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and Obertshausen, Germany
June: BJJ in Rochester, New York
July: BJJ in Poznan, Poland
August: Instructor's Conference in Oahu, Hawaii
October: BJJ in Melbourne, Australia and Trondheim, Norway
November: BJJ in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and Obertshausen, Germany

Right now, I have one opening for a seminar in mid-April. If you are interested in hosting a seminar, please contact me ASAP.

Also, from this time forward, I will no longer be teaching more than twelve (12) seminars per year. So, if you want to host a seminar, you will need to contact me as soon as possible.

One last comment about seminars, I have made agreements with the seminar hosts in the following locations to do the same seminars at the same times each year:

May: Calgary, Alberta, Canada and Obertshausen, Germany
June: Rochester, New York and Galway, Ireland
July: Poznan, Poland
October: Melbourne, Australia
November: Calgary, Alberta, Canada and Obertshausen, Germany

If you want to have a seminar in your area, there will only be four (4) openings per year. Also, if you would like to host a seminar at the same time each year, please let me know that as well.

12) Next week, July 11-15, I will host the last publicly held Harris International Apprentice Level Grappling Instructor Course. This course has been a success over the years. I have been teaching this course twice a year since 1998. To date, Harris International has close to 100 instructors worldwide. Since the numbers are close to 100, I've decided I no longer want to expand the association. Rather, I want to top off the numbers at 100 so I can now focus my efforts on building a strong team. (I could continue to grow the association, but since I am only one man and can only do so much with the time I have been given, I've decided to limit my grappling association to 100 instructors.

I already have written an outline for a four (4) volume instructional DVD set that will be exclusively for my instructors. And in March of 2006, I will begin film these instructionals and make them available for my instructors. And, with the advent of the new 400+ page instructor's manual and this new four volume instructional DVD set, I plan to set a new standard for grappling associations worldwide! Additionally, with the advent of the new instructor conferences (set for San Diego - 2005, Hawaii - 2006 and Ireland - 2007), I think you will like the direction we are heading in!

So, for those of you who have signed up for the last Apprentice Grappling Instructor Course, you have done so at a very exciting time!

13) For those of you who will be attending the Harris International Grappling Instructor's Conference, here is the schedule for this year:

Friday (at the Harris Academy in San Diego)

2pm - 4pm: Triangle survival
4pm - 7pm: Sparring / dinner
7pm - 9pm: Escaping arm locks

Saturday (at the school in Murrieta)

8am - 10am: Escaping rear chokes
10am - 1pm : Sparring / lunch
1pm - 3pm: Escaping leg locks

Sunday (at the school in Murrieta)

8am - 8:15am: Intro to Kettlebells
8:15am - 10am: Review, questions and answers
10am - 7pm : Sparring, lunch, relaxation
7pm - 9pm: Greco/Freestyle/Judo

Monday (at the Harris Academy in San Diego)

9am - 12pm: A review of all course material, a question/answer session, one last roll with Mr. Harris. Bring your video cameras for this session!

This will be our first instructor's conference. We have around 20 some instructor attending this event. Plus, there will be a few VIP's in attendance as well.

I am very excited about the conference! Not only am I going to pour my heart out to you guys by teaching some really fun topics (in-depth), but I am really looking forward to all of you interacting with each other. I want all of you to be able to put a face on the screen names you see on the Harris International Forums, as well exchange e-mail addresses and stay in contact with each other!

Finally, the address and directions to the conference classes in Murrieta is located on the instructor's forum.

14) This Sunday, July 10, at 1pm, there will be a special event at my academy in San Diego. One of my students, who works for the San Diego Sheriff's Department, is going to hold a K-9 Demonstration. He and his K-9 friend will give a 90 minute demonstration on how K-9's work. This seminar is free of charge and is open to all Harris International students, instructors and affiliates from around the world.

Also, I have been advised to let you know to bring your children along for this demo! He has something very special in store for them!

15) Between July 20 and November 30 will be what we will call "SPECIAL" Wednesday. What's so special about SPECIAL Wednesday? Well, this will be the only day of the week when you will be able to take a 50 minute long private lesson for $50. I will make myself available for these lessons between 8am and 12pm. I will also post a private lesson schedule at the academy so you can see which hours are still open.

16) Lastly, for all of my instructors who own their own schools, I wrote an article just for you on the Instructor's Forum. This article is entitled, "Generating More Income." In this short article, I share with you some of the ideas I have used to stay in business for so long. These ideas have worked well for me. However, they all took effort and persistence. I hope you can use some or all of them to your benefit!

Well, that about wraps things up for July of 2005.

Good training to all of you,

Roy Harris