..they will be teaching at seminars?
Or do you care?
Would prefer they said exactly what they were going to be teaching?
That's one of the things I like about the Rener and Ryron. Usually, they advertise exactly what they will be teaching.
It can be a bit of a wild card as to who shows up, what level attendees are at, and what's requested. Some coaches will even request series that fit into the same line of whatever they've been teaching recently. I think many leave it open to sort of play the room. 
Thanks, Hillary.
Sometimes you need to cater to your audience
My seminars always have a theme. However going into the academy I have an extended version and a shortened version depending on the progression of the student population.
Yep I'd much rather attend if there is known theme. But of course like mentioned if theme wouldn't interest me there is higher probability of me skipping it completely.. 
I always taught in series and themes, but I guess I never explicitly advertised it. My mistake I suppose.
I just can't think of any other field of study that doesn't advertise what their seminar is about, fitness, wrestling (wrestling for MMA, wrestling for BJJ, takedowns, top, bottom...)conditioning, business, education, medicine...
I think this is one of the old Brazilian traditions that should die.
I think it may be an attendance technique. Those with Purple Belt Syndrome may see "Half guard?! My half guard is awesome! I don't need to go to that seminar!" And subsequently the seminar would have lower attendance by several members. It negatively affects the instructor and the seminar host, who want both numbers to cover their costs and a more well-rounded experience for all gym members.
I'm not arguing that you're wrong, I think you make great points. But I can also understand the other side of the coin.
Yes, that was one of the things I was thinking. "Purple Belt Syndrome".
I, personally, want someone to show me something that "I think I already know".
That gives me the "Wow" Factor.
nowaydo - Yes, that was one of the things I was thinking. "Purple Belt Syndrome".
I, personally, want someone to show me something that "I think I already know".
That gives me the "Wow" Factor.
I think that's not a view commonly shared. Most want to learn some crazy 'new' technique. Have you ever heard reviews of Rolyer's seminars? He shows basic stuff and people complain.
This also parallels attendance. Im sure if one of the Mendes Bros does a seminar...its packed. But a Sergio Penha probably isn't.
LCSULLA -nowaydo - Yes, that was one of the things I was thinking. "Purple Belt Syndrome".
I, personally, want someone to show me something that "I think I already know".
That gives me the "Wow" Factor.
I think that's not a view commonly shared. Most want to learn some crazy 'new' technique. Have you ever heard reviews of Rolyer's seminars? He shows basic stuff and people complain.
This also parallels attendance. Im sure if one of the Mendes Bros does a seminar...its packed. But a Sergio Penha probably isn't.
Interesting that you say that... I did a few seminars at some schools local to my area in order to raise money for med costs of saving a puppy that I adopted (@##ing parvo)
1. I gave a general topics (dealing with grips and posture, attacking from closed guard, transitioning from closed to open )
2. I've taught at some of the schools before, so specific techs that were appropriate for one school, would've been a repeat for a lot of people at another school
3. I specifically said that my teaching is extremely detailed.. Rather than teach a fancy new move that you'd see on youtube,I like to go to the basics and look at the smallest of details that make a huge difference in the success ratio of the move. To me, small details leverage big gains. You're probably already familiar with the move, so it's easy to immediately integrate into your game. A decision tree can get very complex, quickly. So if you can improve the success of moves at the root of the tree, you really simplify everything going through your mind.
Standard BJJ Seminar Disclaimer:
I'm gonna charge you a little too much money to show you some very impressive, but not especially useful stuff. What exactly doesn't matter because in 2 months, you will have almost zero memory of anything I showed. However, we can take a picture together and then for the rest of your life, you can list me as one of the instructors you have learned directly from.
LCSULLA -nowaydo - Yes, that was one of the things I was thinking. "Purple Belt Syndrome".
I, personally, want someone to show me something that "I think I already know".
That gives me the "Wow" Factor.
I think that's not a view commonly shared. Most want to learn some crazy 'new' technique. Have you ever heard reviews of Rolyer's seminars? He shows basic stuff and people complain.
This also parallels attendance. Im sure if one of the Mendes Bros does a seminar...its packed. But a Sergio Penha probably isn't.
Except most people could probably pull more from tightening up their basics, or the expounding on a basic comment than they could from something "WOW".
Mendes bro's will show you a million steps that you probably won't be able to do, and most likely won't even fit in your game. A seminar from a guy like Saulo will give you multiple things that could improve your game immediately.
I've always walked away from Saulo and Xande seminars with stuff I can use. Advanced Basics is the best word I can use to describe it in a lot of cases.
I have an entire seminar dedicated to the kimura. It has finished and set ups. Probably a lot or maybe even everything you've seen before but I guarantee I'll show details that will make you go back to the moves. Same with devastating de la Riva guard (attacks), destroying the dlr(passes and shutting down), and classic everyone likes favorite subs and setups.
When I started we had one weeks seminar with Brazilian guy and I thought it's good idea to attend all classes and memorize as much as possible. To date I think I don't remember anything from there.
However I would really like to focus few hours to even one specific grip or pass with lot of details. From those you always remember something and can work on it further.
i usually trust them
One of the things I like most about a Rener Gracie seminar is that it's applicable to anyone from a first day white belt to a black belt. He breaks everything down with such detail and always gives the "Why" so you know if you miss a detail you know what the consequences could be. Makes me focus on not missing the small details.
Love his back mount triple threat seminar
shen -
Standard BJJ Seminar Disclaimer:
I'm gonna charge you a little too much money to show you some very impressive, but not especially useful stuff. What exactly doesn't matter because in 2 months, you will have almost zero memory of anything I showed. However, we can take a picture together and then for the rest of your life, you can list me as one of the instructors you have learned directly from.
I cannot find anything closer to the truth relating to my own personal experience of almost 20 years of seminars.
Besides, the "Purple Belt Syndrome", I really think many guys just want to say I went to ________ seminar, to impress others, as if going to a high level guy's seminar will immediately make you looked upon as being high level or having a high level "friend".
Just admit it was a "fan-fair" and you wanted to meet the instructor. Nothing wrong with that.
But at almost 50 years old, my time, money and body are things I don't like to give away lightly.
I think Erik Paulson talked about the same thing you mentioned, Hillary.
I admit back in the late 90s or early 2000s, a Royce Gracie seminar change my view of BJJ (I forget that sometimes) because I was able take some of his exact teachings and use them on all of the blackbelt traditional JJ instructors I had at the time, with resistance...without drilling it once after the seminar, when they questioned my attendance.
This is also the era of DVDs and youtube. If it is something I can pick up on video...and have to go back again...and again, then I'd rather save my money.
I do think the true value is in the privates.