Lots in this post, with tons of pictures and a few videos, but with so much to talk about it's totally worth it!
The BB4BF West Coast Seminar
Wow!
What else can I say?! I signed up to go to a seminar fundraiser for a great cause knowing that it was going to be a great weekend, but I did not realize it would be that amazing!
One of the group pics from the weekend.
Let's start with the 'What?' Black Belts For Butterflies is a charity seminar that raises money for local organizations that help children with autism. The founder and head guy who pretty much puts this whole thing together single handedly, Rich McKeegan, is one kind hearted gentleman who reminds us all that life is bigger than just us. I don't know how he finds the time to put all this together but it was one busy weekend packed full of top notch black belts showing off great techniques. All sorts of sponsors were giving away cool stuff and setting up some raffles to help the charity even more. The story behind how Black Belts For Butterflies got created is a very touching one and I don't think I could reiterate it properly so here's the link for the full story: How and Why BB4BF Was Created
The man himself, Rich McKeegan.
Now let's cover the 'Where?' BB4BF is usually held in Connecticut, where it was founded. This time Rich decided to do something different and get out to a new place and help that area with this powerhouse fundraiser he's created. As it happens he decided to come to Seattle, just across the pond from me, to the home of another man with the heart of gold, James "300" Foster's club, Foster BJJ in Kent, WA. Coach Foster is always a joy to see and I was looking forward to seeing old friends at his club, added with the A-list instructors teaching and helping a good cause it was a triple threat weekend, I couldn't say no.
The giant, James Foster. I like getting pics with him and feeling so small.
Nate Adamson, or 'The Pretty One' as Renato call him.
Keith Owen, Rob Magao. photobomb by Leila.
A pic of all the instructors from Day 1.
Ok I know that was a lot of links but you'll find it was worth all the name dropping so I can quickly tell you all how the weekend now, sorry to those I missed. I wasn't able to get pictures with everyone but I posted what I could.
BB4BF shirt I got at the seminar
Lea of Choke Aloha, I love their designs, like the Lucky Cat all over the seminar.
After a long day of busy traffic I made it the Friday night open mat. It was a fun experience of meeting old friends, making new ones, and getting some fun rolls in. I also had a greatly amusing chat with the Adamson Brothers and Renato Laranja about women and dating while eating the best Ahi Poke in Seattle (seriously, he's #1 I don't like eating raw fish and I loved it and gladly ate it up!) AJ of Shoyoroll was handing out t-shirts to lucky people, and I so happened to be a lucky person. Given that I got a shirt for the open mat I was already up 2 new shirts before the seminar even began, and I planned on picking up swag at the seminar, as I always do, so this weekend was off to a good start for new swag! After the long day of traveling for the golden few hours at Foster's I headed back to the hotel to rest up for the big seminar the next day.
Shots from the open mat. It was packed!
Saturday morning I was rested and ready to go, it started off great with the pleasant surprise that the hotel I was staying at had a decent breakfast selection, complete with fresh baked biscuits to go along with all the other breakfast goods, fruit and yogurt. The week leading up to the seminar I had asked around for a ride to and from the hotel. As I ends up I made a new friend, Leila, who volunteered to give me a ride as well as others from my club, Coach Ari and Dan, who were staying downtown Seattle. Leila is from Texas so Seattle and the area was new for her to get around as well, but we managed and had a great weekend together, thanks again Leila for the rides and fun chats!
A rare picture with Leila, one where she's not photobombing or attacking me.
Both days the seminar started off with a touching story about Jiu-Jitsu bringing the community together to help out and be more than just for making yourself better but also the community around you better as well. I can't even try to re-phrase what Rich McKeegan described both days or Jer Sr's story about his son, Jer Jr but they touched me greatly, and I will hold those stories to my heart forever.
Rich talking to everyone about being a positive force on the community.
Jer Sr. Talking to us about his experiences with the community that helped him and his son out.
One of a kind gi, in memory of Jer Jr.
Once the tears were swept away we got into some great Jiu-Jitsu techniques. There were over 100 of us on the mats and every time we switched up instructors I tried to move around and work with someone new to meet new people and make new friends, it's half the fun going to seminars. The instructors, being both so experienced and passionate about the art the tiniest of details were shown for even the simplest move. I found I learned, or re-learned, so much over the weekend, maybe even too much by the end of the day. By supper time I was ready for a nap and call it a day.
The greats having a chat, probably about crazy expert level stuff.
Coach Foster showing us how to manhandle someone.
The Adamson Bros. chilling, drilling and looking good.
Saturday night the fights were on, so an early night of rest was out of the question. A bunch of people from the seminar had reserved seats for the UFC fights at a bar and I was able to get one of them. As tired as I was I'm glad I made it out. Hanging with the people from the seminar, all of which people I had just met that day, was a great experience as we watched possibly the best card of the UFC ever, at least in a very long time. It was a great night of building friendships, I look forward to more like them as I travel.
Making friends like these is what makes the seminars all worth it.
Another great friend made from the weekend, another place to see and train at in the US one day.
Sunday was more of the same, driving around with Leila as she picked on my Canadian accent, moving speeches followed by amazing Jiu-jitsu techniques and more meeting and making new friends. This is was my first seminar with Kurt Osiander, a man who's legend far precedes him. I knew he was very blunt in his teaching and talking, seriously not for the faint of heart as he has no filter, but he was also pretty funny and very detailed in this instructions. His personal flare added to the teaching made remembering easier. My favourite experience with him though is that he gladly made a video with Coach Ari and I to a training partner and good friend, Geoff, who happens to be a big Kurt Osiander fan. The video in harsher words criticized Geoff for not making it out to the seminar, it's a one of a kind video that anyone Kurt Osiander fan would to have made for them, hahah.
Kurt Osiander showing us how to drop people on their heads or their asses, as he said.
Renato Laranja, a spectacle as usual, showing some great details to the guillotine.
My black belt instructor, as well as Coach Ari and Dan's instructor, Kieth "The Rhino" Owen closed the seminar. On top of his usual great techniques for both self defence and tournament Jiu-Jitsu, he also spent his time dropping his signature knowledge bombs about life on all those who attended. I always love seeing Mr. Kieth at a seminar because he always has something I take away about training or thinking, something more than just good techniques. He's really a coach in life, not just on the mats.
Knowledge bombs, covering the small details, and always being comfortable, those are the important parts to a good seminar.
Remember folks, the professor is always watching...
After the seminar we had the raffles and I won two more shirts, one from Choke Aloha, who I love watching on Instagram with all their cool logos, and another Shoyoroll shirt. During the seminar I also picked up a BB4BF t-shirt and patch to add to my collection. That brought the end total of 5 t-shirts for the weekend, not bad, but I only kept 2 of them, the others I gave as gifts to friends back home, afterall, I can't bring all my shirts with me when I travel. There were all kinds of winners of all kinds of swag, it was like Christmas really, what a great end to the weekend.
Big Mike and Zach Baltierra. A year ago Zach was fighting for his life against cancer. I was so happy to see him well and on the mats at this seminar.
Another group shot from the weekend. So many great people in there.
A Panda's Odyssey Promo With Renato Laranja
As the seminar ended everyone was running around taking picture with one another and while I was able to take pictures with almost everyone I wanted to, I also was able to sit down with Master Renato and make a hilarious promo video for this blog. I was so grateful for him doing this for me, as it's getting it's share of rounds online. here it is in case you haven't seen it yet. I warn you it's a bit crazy, we didn't plan out anything beforehand and so I just went with whatever Renato was saying, hahaha.
Later on in the week once we got back to Victoria BC, since Mr. Keith was visiting for a short while we managed to fit in an interview. It was a very fun, informative and interesting interview. I like chatting with Mr Keith, he's just one of those people you always enjoy talking with, like if you go to a house party to always look for the one person you know has all the interesting stories. Here's the interview, it's about an hour long, even though it only felt like a quick chat with him. Enjoy!
Well that's it for now, hope you enjoyed, I got a few more things in stores before starting the journey in Nov. so stay tuned. If you want to help me out on my journey and see more of these videos made please sign up to my crowd funding site. There's all kinds of cheap plans you can sign on to and there's cool rewards with bigger pledges, check it out! Panda's Odyssey Crowd Funding Page!
Thanks everyone! Until next time, see you on the mats!
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