odennis - Gui Mendes did a seminar at my school that from just 2 days put my game on a different level. I know a lot of my teammates feel the same. I can't imagine what it must be like to train with him and Rafa full time.Ditto this. Seminar with gui was a Total game changer (I'm a black belt, if that matters). Everything about it, the instruction, the pace, the material. And it was taught in a way that I've retained everything I learned, which is nuts. Big takeaway. I'm bringing him to my home province in the fall, can't wait to do another one.
Depends on what you want to learn
On the Mat - Depends on what you want to learnWhat seminars have you been to that were great/amazing and what made them so? On the flip side have you been to a bad/horrible seminar and why was it? I have heard mixed opinions on Rickson seminars. A few people have posted that they did not like Royler's.
Roy Harris. No one has analyzed BJJ more than Roy. It´s just crazy how he has thought about every little detail.....
Rickson Gracie, no one has understand movement, and the abilities of the body better than him. It´s pure internal martial arts.....
The thing with Rickson is he shows small details and real practical techniques. Royler can argue he does the same but, the difference is Rickson will answer every question even if the seminar goes over the time. I can honestly say EVERY single person got personal attention from Rickson. And treated everyone with respect
I did a Roy Harris seminar, very detailed. I liked the numbered top positions.
Matt Thornton runs a very detailed seminar, but two days at 6-7 hours a day, it all ran together. Also I tapped to panic and claustrophobia when I rolled with him, so there's that.
Cobrinha was very cool, lots of neat stuff id never seen before, and lots of great details. Great private as well. He was wearing thermal underwear the whole time and I wanted to quit jiu jitsu after rolling with him.
Demian Maia put on a TERRIBLE seminar a Few months ago. Terrible. Dude just didnt care. While people were working on what he'd shown (mostly rehashed from his DVD sets) he'd walk around looking at the pictures on the wall and hitting the punching bags. Really disappointing.
And as I mentioned Gui's seminar was gold start to finish. Also wanted to quit after rolling with him. Not sure I've recovered yet. :)
I've got Caio terra coming up in a couple weeks.
Crazy to hear that about Maia. I have heard/read that he puts on a great seminar. Granted they had the seminar with him a few years back before he really got into the UFC.
Shawn Williams, he breaks everything down, make jiujitsu fun and ez.
dpro2716 -Ya I was surprised. It was like he couldn't be bothered. Sad sad
Crazy to hear that about Maia. I have heard/read that he puts on a great seminar. Granted they had the seminar with him a few years back before he really got into the UFC.
Marcelo Garcia. 2007, a few months after ADCC. Hands down THE nicest guy in BJJ. Taught his arm drag and back game, still use the stuff from that seminar. His story of the match with Ricco Rodriguez was priceless!
I'm sure even guys that normally put on great seminars have off days.
I went to a two-day (gi/no-gi) seminar with Maia and it was really well structured and full of good stuff, no complains although he didn't roll with anyone afterwards.
Bravo put on one of the best 'game-changing' seminars I've ever been too maybe five years ago? Totally changed my half-guard game instantly. I also like his teaching style a lot.
Every SBG seminar I've been to has been fantastic, but with my broken-ass body I have a hard time with all the drilling/rolling. For young guys/girls they would be perfect. Travis Davison in particular put on a great seminar with a totally connected set of techniques...unfortunately my body could only handle half the day.
I also had a miserable time rolling with Thornton. I seriously thought about quitting bjj after that roll :)
Some of my favorites over the years
Xande
Caio 2x
leandro lo
BJ Penn
Murilo bustamante
Andre Galvao
Mendes Brothers
But mendes brothers stick out in my mind the most; detailed, attentive, and their passion for the art really shows. I liked their teaching so much I've dropped into their academy a few times since then
best: Xande, Oleg Taktarov
worst: Megaton Diaz (MacKenzie Dern's father)
angrypirate - Marcelo Garcia. 2007, a few months after ADCC. Hands down THE nicest guy in BJJ. Taught his arm drag and back game, still use the stuff from that seminar. His story of the match with Ricco Rodriguez was priceless!
gotta agree,marcelo is 1 big smile
never did a seminar,what a nice guy
I think part of what makes for a "good" seminar has to do with WHEN you take it...
Some seminars I took as, say, a White Belt, I may have not been "ready" for. Conversely, some I've been to lately, I may have not gotten all that much out of, but maybe if I had taken the same seminar as a Blue or Purple Belt, I would have loved it. So timing is a part of it.
Also, sometimes a seminar is "fun" because of the vibe or who's teaching, but you don't learn all that much useful stuff. Other seminars, I didn't really enjoy the teacher, but learned something useful.
So it's kinda complicated to say who gives "the best" seminars across the board.
Tarado Safado - best: Xande, Oleg Taktarov
worst: Megaton Diaz (MacKenzie Dern's father)
First time I've ever seen someone explain who Megaton is by referencing his daughter, rather than vice versa.
I'm so very, very old :(
I refuse to consider anyone who is under said instructor's association.
please post only those who you're not associated with.
shen and myself,$60.00 got you 8 hr of techs
Priit something from SBG Estonia puts on great seminars